Apple Makes Another Move Into Smart Home Market With HomeView

Apple is making a major splash in the smart home market with its latest product, which competes with Amazon's Echo Show and Google Nest Hub.

The last day to showcase your progress to over 10,000 tech leaders at Disrupt is on October 2nd. Book fair table now.

Disrupt the doors opening on October 13th. Get your card and bring someone with you with a 50% discount. Register now.

Apple has taken a big swing in the smart home market. The company on Tuesday unveiled its HomeView smart home hub, which can act as a central control point for smart home devices, be used for FaceTime calls, play music, watch videos, display photo slideshows and more.

The new $299 device looks like a cube version of the HomePod, but with the addition of a display on the front. HomeView comes in two versions: one can be placed on a table and the other can be mounted on a wall. The 7-inch-wide hub has a FaceTime camera on the front and a microphone and speakers built into its base. There is no camera on the back.

Apple has preloaded the device with several apps, including Calendar, Messages, Photos, FaceTime, Notes, Reminders, Music, and Podcasts. That means if users want to check a calendar appointment, send a message, play music or look at photos, they don't need to touch their iPhone.

Apple sees this device as particularly useful in places like the kitchen. For example, someone cooking dinner can prepare a recipe, watch a video, check a calendar, or start a FaceTime call without using their phone.

One of the interesting aspects of this device is how it works with different types of replacements of a family

The hub runs Apple's updated Siri AI assistant and can recognize every single person in the house. Once it detects a person, the screen can show information targeted to that person, such as messages, contacts, calendar appointments, notes, and favorite apps. When another family member moves to the device, the experience changes automatically.

HomeView puts Apple in a more direct battle with Amazon and Google, both of which already have smart display products: Amazon has its own Echo Show line, while Google offers the Nest Hub.

Apple has had a mixed history in the smart home space, but products like the HomePod are struggling to catch up to the same level of popularity as competing devices. The new hub is an opportunity for Apple to change that by integrating home controls with the company's broader ecosystem.

The device has been rumored for a while now, with reports suggesting delays caused in part by Siri AI issues. These issues have also reportedly affected Apple's broader smart home plans.

This may be the first step in Apple's plans for the smart home space. Bloomberg's Mark Gorman previously reported that Apple could eventually push the concept forward with a more advanced version featuring a robotic arm. Such a device can move its display and interact in a more physical way.

Pre-orders start today and the device will be available for purchase on November 13. The device comes in four colors: silver, starlight, rose pink, and space gray.

When you make a purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This does not affect our editorial independence.

Lauren covers media, streaming, apps and platforms at TechCrunch.

You can contact or confirm Lauren by sending an email to [email protected] or by sending an encrypted message to laurenforris22.25 on Signal.

Get 50% off a second pass The Disrupt experience is meant to be shared. Grab your pass and bring a colleague, partner or peer for 50% off. Cover more ground by building connections, building momentum, and discovering what's next in the startup ecosystem.

Elon Musk attacks Ambani over Jagmeet Singh's India Starlink launch delay

Batteries are already cheaper than the natural gas turbines used in many of Tim de Chant's data centers.

Remember Orkut? Its founder wants to bring back Jagmeet Singh

The United States barred Microsoft, Adobe and major IT companies from the green card program for skilled foreign workers Ayesha Malik.

Elon Musk questions Ambani influence as Starlink India launches on Jagmeet Singh stands

The 19-year-old founder of Cal AI just raised $10 million for his new AI startup Julie Burt.