Apple introduces HomeView smart display in renewed smart home push
Published By Regional Desk
Apple has unveiled a new smart display called HomeView, a voice-controlled device powered by an upgraded version of its Siri AI assistant, as the US technology giant makes another attempt to establish itself in the smart home market.
The device features a square seven-inch touchscreen mounted on a speaker base and will be priced at $299 in the United States, with sales starting 13 November.
Smart home ambitions
Apple has long struggled to gain traction in the smart home segment, where its HomePod speakers have lagged behind Amazon’s Alexa and Google’s AI-enhanced devices. Analysts view the new hardware as a strategy to reinforce customer loyalty to the Apple ecosystem, especially as AI rivals such as OpenAI develop their own devices.
HomeView is designed to function as a central command centre for the household, controlling connected devices such as lights, locks, thermostats and cameras. It also supports FaceTime video calls, plays music and video, and serves as a digital picture frame when not in active use.
Apple has formed partnerships with South Korea’s LG and France’s Schneider to integrate door locks and thermostats.
Leadership and AI overhaul
The launch is one of the first major product releases under John Ternus, Apple’s former hardware engineering chief, who succeeded Tim Cook as chief executive on 1 September.
The centrepiece of the new device is Siri AI, a revamped version of Apple’s assistant powered by Apple Intelligence. The company is marketing it as a more conversational helper compared with the original Siri. Siri AI is built on AI technology from Google Gemini and is central to Apple’s efforts to catch up with rivals in generative artificial intelligence.
EU market delay
Apple said that HomeView will not be sold in the European Union for the time being, as the company works to ensure that Siri AI complies with Europe’s competition rules. The company stated that it is cooperating constructively with the EU to find a way for the product to enter the European market.
The regional context: The smart home market is growing globally, with technology firms from the Arab world also investing in connected devices and AI assistants.
