Apple is set to join the smart home display market with a new device intended for 2025. This marks the biggest step taken by the company in terms of going further into the realms of home automation and seamless smart home integration.

According to a report from The Verge and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the new display will come powered by homeOS-an operating system taken from the tvOS base platform currently in use with the Apple TV. This new OS is expected to enable the display to run familiar Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Home, ensuring users can easily manage various aspects of their home automation.

Another feature that will stand out in this new product is the "Apple Intelligence," a system yet to be seen on any other Apple smart home devices, including the HomePod. The outcome could enhance the interactivity and functionality when it comes to today's smart home ecosystems.

Design and functionality: a look into Apple’s vision

Reports say that the device will be pretty flexible, with prototypes featuring magnets for easy wall mounting, giving users more options for placement in their homes. The screen is said to come in a square shape to allow ease of integration within a living space.

Another exciting development is the possibility of gesture-based controls, as hinted by 9to5Mac, with a rumored device dubbed "HomeAccessory" that could respond to hand gestures from a distance. This innovation aims to make the user experience smoother and more intuitive, allowing users to control the device without needing to physically interact with it.

smart home display
Image Source: HT Tech

The new display is far more practical than some of the ideas Apple was floating earlier, including a HomePod with a screen or a robotic arm that could swivel for video calls. "It's more down-to-earth," Gurman says of this new approach. For many people, using an iPad has felt cumbersome; this dedicated device may prove the alternative. This new approach is “more down-to-earth,” says Gurman. For many people, using an iPad has felt cumbersome; this dedicated device may prove the alternative.

What does this mean for the future of smart homes?

Tech enthusiasts are already buzzing with this smart home display from Apple. Recent reports from MacRumors have revealed code related to the new device and its homeOS software that presumably will further fuel all the speculation and anticipation of its capabilities and potential.

This new launch, by Apple, sets out to redefine the manner in which human-beings interact with home automation systems. As more details unravel, it will be evident that maybe this new screen could revolutionize the user experience as it pushes Apple further into the home technology future.

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