After years of rumors, Apple finally unveiled the HomeView. The new device has a 7-inch ‘Liquid Retina’ display, and a domed speaker base. There’s a stainless steel hinge with tilt support. The new HomeView can dim down more than other Apple devices, so could be used as a nightstand unit if you don’t use the iPhone horizontally for a bedroom clock.
There is a separate wall-mount version of the device, too. It can be mounted by you or you can opt to drop bucks for a pro to do it. The HomeView can be preordered today for $299. The mounting kit for wall mounting will set you back $59.95 for the cheapest, or there are a couple other models that run $79.95 and $129.95. The pricy one is out next year. HomeView can recognize up to 6 users, and according to Apple it will deliver a “personalized experience” for each one. This includes a personalized Home Screen with apps and widgets. “Personal content stays private from others, while shared photo albums and music can be easily enjoyed by everyone in a household, including guests.”
The gadget supports Siri AI. As far as audio, it is no match for the HomePods. HomeView has 2 full-range drivers, a down-firing woofer, and two force-cancelling passive radiators. The 1st gen HomePod had 6 drivers and a woofer, and 2nd gen one has 5. Note that the wall-mounted unit doesn’t have the good speaker system. The table-top one comes in silver, starlight, rose pink, and space gray. The wall-mounted HomeView comes in just space gray or silver. HomeView isn’t initially available in the EU. That’s because Siri AI is not available in the EU yet. Also, there is only limited support for third-party apps.
Also announced today was the HomePod Mini 2. The updated Mini ships October 30th, but won’t support Siri AI at launch. It comes in green, pink blue, midnight, and white. The upgrade from the S5 to S10 chip should make the Mini’s capability better…honestly, version 1 is pretty helpless and the sound isn’t great. The HomePod Mini 2 is a pretty big jump in price from the original. It’s $149…compared to $99 for the first model.
I won’t cover the Apple Home Collection today, as these leaked and were already covered by me before…but they include the new door lock made in conjunction with LG, and the outdoor cams and thermostat.
I’m Clark Reid and you’re ‘Technified’ for now.
