Apple is aiming high in the smart home sector: in March it will launch a competitor to Amazon’s Echo Hub, according to Gurman

The announcement of a new product category could be closer than we imagined. Mark Gurman says that the Cupertino company will present in March of next year a centralized control device for the smart home that can be hung on the wall and that will compete with Amazon’s Echo Hub.

According to the sources consulted by the Bloomberg analyst, the device, known internally as J490, will allow you to control a variety of connected elements in the home, such as Mondays, security cameras and thermostats. It will also incorporate a camera and microphones so that users can make video conferences.

Apple Intelligence at center stage

Rumors suggest that one of the smart home device highlights will be Apple Intelligence. The firm’s artificial intelligence (AI) system will seek to offer an eMore intuitive user experience and simple through Apps Intents, an app and task control system that has not yet been announced.

The new Siri will also have a prominent role in the device. While actions can be performed through the integrated touch screen, Apple expects users to primarily use their voice to interact with the device. Behind all this there will be a new operating system that will be a mix between the Apple Watch system and the iPhone’s “Standby” mode.

Illustrative image of a future Apple home device with integrated display

Leaked details about the product are scarce, but sources indicate that it could have sensors capable of determining the user’s distance and based on this change information on screen. For example, a temperature indicator when they are far away and smart home controls when they are nearby.

The product, as we say, should officially appear in March 2025. It would be part of a more ambitious plan by the technology company led by Tim Cook that includes other devices for the home, such as a desktop device with a mobile screen and robots that move around the house for the future.

Images | Xataka with DALL·E 3

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