Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub will reportedly be revealed on October 13. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that the smart home device will be introduced alongside a new HomePod mini and an updated Apple TV device. All three products are set to showcase Siri AI, Apple’s revamped AI-powered assistant. The smart home hub, a new product category for Apple, will be the centerpiece. It will reportedly feature a 6-inch screen that can be mounted on a wall or placed on a countertop. The center is “almost as thick as an iPhone,” according to Gurman, and has bezels similar to older iPads. It looks like the center will look a bit like Apple’s iMac G4, thanks to a round metal base that houses speakers, microphones, and a metal arm to hold the screen. This also allows the screen to tilt, and Apple will reportedly sell a second wall-mounted version with a slimmer base underneath for the speakers and microphones. Apple will reportedly use a USB-C power supply for its home hub as the device does not have a battery inside. Gurman reports that the hub will be available in “Apple’s standard gray aluminum finish.” It looks like the new OS built around Siri AI for the hub will rely on iPad-like apps, as Gurman reports that the Messages app has a two-pane design. The hub will also reportedly support control of other smart devices, video calls, music playback, photo slideshows and intercom-style calling, with facial and voice recognition to identify users.
