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Apple Pulls Some Features From Rumored Smart Home Robot [Updated]
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Honestly it seems like Tim is super soft on the execs. All we hear is delays, bugs, cancellations... Come on, Timmy!
Can you quantify the nobody? Apple wouldn’t produce a product that has zero interest, that just doesn’t make sense.
There are other devices in the market that do similar things, so it’s not like “nobody” is asking for it. Maybe the universe isn’t as big as the iPhone, but yeah there is a market.
> that lets users "control appliances"
Meanwhile the #1 complaint of modern LG washers is you HAVE to use an app to access all the features
Apple used to be compared to being an appliance. Now all appliances are being cheapened out because they can offload the tech expense to another purchase that's just more hassle and nonsense...
And FaceTime? We're gonna stand at a wall or stare at a HomePod? Why would ANYONE do that?
Meanwhile the #1 complaint of modern LG washers is you HAVE to use an app to access all the features
Apple used to be compared to being an appliance. Now all appliances are being cheapened out because they can offload the tech expense to another purchase that's just more hassle and nonsense...
And FaceTime? We're gonna stand at a wall or stare at a HomePod? Why would ANYONE do that?
I think I'm aligned with you here. I presume Apple has data showing there is demand for this type of product and market to capture (I would hope...), but I don't understand the value of what I'd be getting here outside of a...speaker? I just rather use my iPad/iPhone/Watch/MacBook Pro/Vision Pro - one of which is likely going to be on my person at any given time - and use the screens I already have to control my home or FaceTime with others.
My mom has the Google/Nest hub thing, and I have told her several times that has to be the most useless product I have seen because she controls everything from her phone.
I say just improve your AI and lean on Siri to control to your home and have a place to attach an iPhone or iPad magnetically (let it charge at the same time) to serve whatever use case requires a screen.
I guess I'm just not the target audience for this or am failing to understand the value prop. But I will say - for a company that likes to talk about "screen time", they sure are determined to add more and more to our homes. (That's not a complaint on my end - I want anything and everything in my life integrated, for the most part. I'd happily take an Apple Dishwasher if they can make one better than the ones I've used in my life.)
It seems Apple would do well if they'd go and fix some of the problems in their existing products instead of coming up with new products and features.
For example Siri was a great idea but somehow rather than getting better it's been getting worse over the years.
Just today I had a situation were I sneezed near my Homepad and Siri responded with: "Ok, now playing a selection of music from iHeart Radio". I am not sure if that's funny or just tragic.
For example Siri was a great idea but somehow rather than getting better it's been getting worse over the years.
Just today I had a situation were I sneezed near my Homepad and Siri responded with: "Ok, now playing a selection of music from iHeart Radio". I am not sure if that's funny or just tragic.
Is the “setback” Apple realizing no one wants this?
We don’t need another screen cluttering our lives! This product is absolutely ridiculous. We’re already drowning in iPhones, iPads, and iMacs. This thing is destined to crash and burn.
Apple is clearly dying… OpenAI is the company that’s going to dominate the future.
Apple is clearly dying… OpenAI is the company that’s going to dominate the future.
Once again, someone made up or embellished thin rumors because without that they have no actual attention, then their fairy tale didn’t materialize and they shifted to the predictable “the project/feature/initiative was scaled back/delayed due to decisions/technical issues.” For once, they should just admit they heard a bum rumor and it never was happening.
Um...maybe because they've got little else in the pipeline and need some new products ("innovation") to keep their shareholders happy?
Another day, yet another failed Apple vaporware - move along, citizens.
Apple has scrapped some of the features that it had planned for its long-rumored smart home hub device, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Fortunately, some of the features could be added to future models of the device.
"I'm told that Apple has pulled some bolder features from the device that could reappear in subsequent models," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter this week. However, he did not reveal any of the specific features that were pulled.
Apple made this decision in order to get the smart home hub "ready faster," according to Gurman. The device's launch was already postponed after Apple delayed its personalized Siri features, which are expected to be a core aspect of the hub, per his previous reporting. In his newsletter this week, he said that he expects the device to be released "by the end of this year at the earliest," but the exact timeframe "remains up in the air."
Apple has yet to confirm that such a device exists, of course, so this is not an official delay.
Gurman had previously said that the home hub would be "Apple's most significant release" of 2025, as it represents the company's "first step toward a bigger role in the smart home." He said the device will be like a "smaller and cheaper iPad" that lets users "control appliances, conduct FaceTime chats, and handle other tasks."
The device is expected to be similar to a HomePod with a screen, with rumored features including a 6-inch or 7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support. Gurman said it can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall.
In March, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the device would enter mass production at some point after WWDC 2025, which begins June 9.
Article Link: Apple's Rumored Smart Home Hub Has Faced a Disappointing Setback
Quality wise, it feels like everything is rushed.
Feature wise, it feels like they are taking way too much time to make things happen tho.
This Google Home/Meta Portal device should have happened 5-7 years ago, the market for it is dead now.
It’s absolutely the guy on top, and no one else.
Without vision and laser-focused leadership, discipline falters. Chief Activist Cook is even worse than Spindler at this point.
Agreed. At this point the day to day ops over at the BIG fruit stand reads like a comedy of errors. This wouldn't have been the "norm" under Jobs and wouldn't have been acceptable.
Another huge scoop from Gurman! “Bold features pulled, unclear what they were.” Such revelation, much bombshell.
The same people who want a Google Home and/or Echo Show. There’s millions of people who would find this useful, including me, if for no other reason than an awesome photo frame.
Why would Apple sell a cheap base for their existing products when they can sell you another expensive screen/speaker combo? 😅
The device is expected to be similar to a HomePod with a screen, with rumored features including a 6-inch or 7-inch display, an A18 chip, and Apple Intelligence support. Gurman said it can be attached to a tabletop base with a speaker, or mounted on a wall.
Say what now?
It's similar to a HomePod, but you can attach it to a speaker. Right. Let's attach a speaker to a speaker. What's this, stereo straight out of the box?
I’m waiting on the day when Steve (and Joni) AI runs the company - at least I wish 🙏🏼
Tim was probably good for Apple when Steve died, RIP 😢 - still miss his Apple’s.
But then design team etc left and Tim have no ideas what to do today.
Probably do his best to keep the stockholders happy - but without happy customers it will go as it goes.
Tim was probably good for Apple when Steve died, RIP 😢 - still miss his Apple’s.
But then design team etc left and Tim have no ideas what to do today.
Probably do his best to keep the stockholders happy - but without happy customers it will go as it goes.
Yes Gurman walking back his rumors is the norm these days.
Apple never announced this.
Y’all are too emotionally invested in rumors.
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And the Gurman cycle continues with everyone here performatively being upset with Apple for removing unknown features from an unannounced product still in development.