Apple is gearing up to enter a new product category with a wall-mounted display capable of controlling appliances, handling video calls, and harnessing artificial intelligence for navigating applications. This device is aimed at catching up with competitors in the smart home market.
The product, internally code-named J490, is expected to be unveiled as early as March. It will function as a home command center and focus on a new "Apple Intelligence" AI platform. CEO Tim Cook is banking on this device to help Apple make inroads into the smart home sector, where it has lagged behind companies like Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.
The design features approximately a 6-inch screen that resembles a square iPad, about the size of two iPhones side by side, with thick bezels around the display. It includes a front-facing camera, a rechargeable built-in battery, and integrated speakers, available in silver and black.
The device will have a touch interface that merges the operating system of the Apple Watch and the recently released StandBy mode for iPhone. However, Apple anticipates that most users will primarily control the device through voice commands using the Siri digital assistant and the Apple Intelligence system. This hardware is designed around App Intents, allowing AI to precisely manage applications and tasks, expected to debut in the coming months.
