Apple is preparing to enter a new category of devices, in this case, that of smart screens in the style of Echo Hub of amazon. As published by Mark Gurman in Bloomberg, the device is known by the code name J490 and its announcement is scheduled for next March.
J490 will have an appearance similar to that of an iPad, will allow you to control smart home devices and make video calls, among other functions, and can be hung on the wall with the help of a bracketalthough it will not be the only option. Apple has also created a base, with integrated speakers in the style of the Pixel Tablet, with which it can be placed on any surface. Another variant will consist of a robotic arm that can tilt and rotate the screen 360 degreesfollowing the user’s position.
In addition to offering a centralized way to control lights, security cameras, sensors, thermostats and other home automation devices, the screen will use sensors to determine the distance the user is and adjust content based on it. For example, if you are far away, it will display room temperature information and when you get closer it will automatically switch to home automation controls. It is also expected to support the feature Handoffwhich allows users to continue a task from one device to another.
Although the screen is touch, the device It is designed for use by voiceboth with Siri and Apple Intelligencewhich will play an important role and help navigate through applications.
The screen, with thick edges, will have a diagonal of 6 inches and its size will be the equivalent to 2 iPhone together. The operating system it will have is described as ‘a mix of Apple Watch and the way StandBy recently launched by the iPhone’.
It will be a high-end device that will cost up to 1,000 dollarsdepending on the accessories that are added. The screen, by itself, will have a lower price.
This could be the first in a new series of Apple products focused on the smart home. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, usually a reliable source of Apple news, recently noted that the company plans launch a smart camera by 2026.