What to expect from Apple’s ‘Welcome Home’ event
Apple’s “Welcome Home” event is expected to focus on smart home products, including a new hub, software and updated versions of the Apple TV and HomePod Mini. The announcements would mark a broader push into a market Apple has so far served mainly through its Home app.
Reports suggest the hub will have a six-inch touchscreen and could identify users to show their personal information, with iPhone confirmation as an additional security option. A possible new system, homeOS, is expected to combine elements of Apple’s existing platforms and support smart home controls, FaceTime and Apple apps. The HomePod Mini and Apple TV may receive new processors and Apple’s N1 chip, while LG could show compatible devices; the event is scheduled for 13 October at 9am ET.
- Apple is expected to unveil a dedicated smart home hub.
- homeOS may power the hub and add smart home features.
- Apple TV and HomePod Mini updates are also anticipated.
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Smart home products allow people to control household appliances, lighting, heating and security systems remotely through connected devices and apps. This is a rapidly growing market where companies like Amazon and Google have established leading positions by offering hubs and speakers that serve as the central control point for a home's connected devices.
Apple has made smart home products including the HomePod speaker and Apple TV for several years, but has remained relatively peripheral to the market. Most of Apple's smart home functionality has been delivered through its Home app on iPhones and iPads rather than through dedicated hardware specifically designed for the purpose.
Apple's "Welcome Home" event scheduled for 13 October signals a significant shift in the company's approach to smart home technology. The event is expected to involve new dedicated hub hardware with a touchscreen, updated versions of existing products, and possibly new software designed to streamline smart home control across Apple devices.