Apple is working on a new smart home device, in which the screen will be mounted on a robotic arm. According to the report of Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, this device will be able to recognize the voice of the person talking in the room and move towards him. This project of the company shows Apple’s growing interest in smart home technology and devices based on AI.
According to the report, this project has been named ‘J595’ inside Apple. It will be based on the company’s smart home display concept, but it can have features like big screen and motorized arm. However, Apple has not yet officially announced this device.
The screen will be able to rotate 360 degrees
According to leaks, this robotic smart display of Apple can have a 9-inch screen, which will be mounted on a motorized arm. This arm can be capable of rotating up to 360 degrees. Its purpose is to make conversation and video calls with the people present in the room more convenient.
For example, if you’re making a video call while walking around the kitchen, the device’s screen may rotate in your direction, keeping you in frame. For this, the device is said to have voice recognition technology, which can identify the person speaking and turn the screen towards him.
However, these features are currently based on leaks. Apple has not given any information regarding the final features of the device.
Launch may take place between 2027 and 2028
According to the report, Apple can launch this robotic smart display between 2027 and 2028. It is expected to be introduced as a premium device, meaning it can be placed above the company’s existing smart home displays rather than as an alternative to them.
Its possible price could be around $1,000. However, this is just a guess and Apple has not confirmed the price. The report mentions options like HomeView Pro, HomeView Max and HomeView 360 as its possible names, but the official name has not been revealed yet.
There will be competition with Google and Amazon
With this device, Apple will have to compete with smart display and voice assistant products like Google Nest and Amazon Echo. According to the report, there are some software challenges regarding Apple’s smart home platform. There were reports that the launch timeline of the company’s normal smart home displays was affected due to delays in improving Siri’s AI features. Additionally, the platform’s reliance on the iPhone and lack of popular streaming apps like YouTube and Netflix may also limit its usefulness.
If Apple launches a robotic display priced at around $1,000, it will have to provide better AI features and easier use experience. At present this device is limited to initial reports and leaks, so changes in its price, features and launch timeline are possible.
