Apple has released its new HomeView, a home hub for a smart home system which is also part of the Apple ecosystem.
The company hasn't been afraid of the existing competition – screen-based hubs for smart homes from Google and Amazon Alexa – and, indeed, has set its price at $299 / £299, comfortably above the equivalent devices in the alternative systems.
The device is not just an iPad on a speaker – or an iPad on the wall – however. It has a new operating system of its own, which owes a fair bit to WatchOS as well other parts of Apple's system.
The real question, though, is whether it offers an ideal solution.
Clearly you're not going to be picking this up unless you want to move to (or already have) an Apple-based smart home, and are in need of a central touch-screen to tie the devices together.
Apple's offering looks a lot like a modernized, miniaturized iMac G4. Interestingly for those acutely aware of the iMac it has a black bezel – like the Apple watch – rather than the white trim that some of us thought Apple intended to make the future with the latest iMac.
This device is even more pared back than an iMac, though – with no App store you cannot even install apps. You can make requests of Siri, peruse photos, and do the kinds of things you'd expect.
So, to answer the "Is it any good for photographers?" or indeed creators making video, the answer is "Not especially" – it's one more screen on which you can view files in your standard Apple photo album, but your phone already served you just fine there.
It is also indirectly compatible with a lot of other apps by acting as a remote display (essentially it pretends to be a car and allows CarPlay to take place), which may prove a little useful occasionally, but I don't imagine often.
Playing music, viewing photos, all is done using the Apple apps, so the device is clearly targeting a customer base that has a whole family using Apple devices with a family subscription.
It will, however, keep the answers private to each user.
It has built-in facial recognition using its 12-megapixel camera – not FaceID. For added security it might lack the 3D view of Apple's FaceID system.
What this can do is vbe kept informed about recent nearby uses of an iPhone, so if someone tries to unlock the device while the phone is a long way off it will at least have reason to be suspicious.
So long as you don't let people watch behind you when you ask a question, a reasonable degree of privacy is suggested – though we'll need to wait and see whether this holds out in reality.
Apple is introducing the 'Home Collection' of smart doorbells and cameras, in collaboration with LG and Schneider.
Apple's new devices, albeit released with partner companies, can all be managed through the Apple Home app and are all encrypted.
These are designed to build on the Apple Home collection, and will be launched for sale in early 2027. Matthew Costello, Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering, said: “Working closely with industry leaders LG Electronics and Schneider Electric, we designed every accessory to work seamlessly with Apple Home, so managing your home is simple, reliable, and private.”
