Apple’s smart gadget for the home?

Fans of the Apple TV hardware still have to wait for the upgrade, and if you were thinking of getting a TV box that supports Apple Intelligence, you can prepare yourself for potential disappointment. While rumors have it that Apple is planning to release an Apple TV model this year, one that could always have a chip capable of running Apple AI, it’s unclear whether any of that will happen.

More interesting is a discovery in the code that indicates Apple is working on a “HomeAccessory” device that could be powered by the same chipset as the iPhone 16 series. These chips will certainly support Apple Intelligence better than anything before them. We’ve also had a ton of rumors recently that seemed to confirm the existence of the A18 and A18 Pro chips.

The rumored Home Accessory product isn’t necessarily a HomePod. It’s certainly not an Apple TV. Interestingly, it appears to run a variant of tvOS. Are we looking at an iPad-like home robot that can follow you around your home or desk? Probably not.

According to MacRumorsApple is working on a “HomeAccessory17.1” device. The name is similar to the AudioAccessory identifier Apple has used before.

The exciting detail in the new codename is the number “17.1.” This is the expected codename for the A18 chips that will be coming to the iPhone this year. Leaks have already shown that Apple may be working on five iPhones with A18 chips, which has led me to speculate that the iPhone SE 4 may get one of them, and with it Apple Intelligence.

The blog claims the software is a variant of tvOS, similar to the HomePod. Rumors earlier this year suggested Apple could be working on a HomePod with a touchscreen on top. That seems like the most likely device to get the new Home Accessory name.

So what’s up with Apple’s robots? Well, Mark Gurman provided this tidbit in a pre-WWDC report:

Similarly, the ongoing Siri overhaul could be the basis for a future Apple robot, which is essentially a large iPad display that can move around by mimicking the movements of a human’s head. That device would be controlled primarily by voice — and having a more precise and sophisticated version of Siri would be invaluable.

A large iPad robot for the home or desk would be an even more exciting option for this Home Accessory device. But for now, that seems unlikely. This device would likely need to run an iOS version, not tvOS.

Additionally, Siri could get some exciting AI powers via iOS 18. But that won’t happen anytime soon, and the Siri AI experience will still be labeled as beta. No iPad robot product is likely to be ready for launch anytime soon.

I’ll also point to Gurman’s report from late February, which mentioned a HomePod with a screen, due in 2025. It’s unclear whether this device is actually the iPad robot he mentioned last month. Maybe it’s a precursor?

On the other hand, it is possible to create a HomePod with a circular touchscreen on top that will support Apple Intelligence technology.

Returning to the findings regarding the code, the blog mentions two unreleased Apple TV models spotted in the same code. They are AppleTV14.4 and AppleTV14.5. These codenames suggest that the 2024 Apple TV could get the same A15 Bionic chip as the 2022 models. And that iPhone chip is not good for Apple Intelligence. You need the A17 Pro or later to get Apple’s AI on iPhones.