Latest news with #J490
Mint
14-07-2025
- Business
- Mint
Apple's long-rumoured Smart Home Hub delayed until 2026 amid Siri overhaul: Mark Gurman
Apple's long-anticipated smart home hub, once expected to launch in 2025, is now unlikely to arrive before 2026, according to the latest update from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The device, intended to serve as a central controller for HomeKit-compatible accessories, has reportedly been delayed due to Apple's ongoing development of its next-generation Siri assistant. The product, internally referred to as J490, is believed to resemble a hybrid between a HomePod and a small touchscreen display. It has been under development for some time and is expected to feature a 6- to 7-inch screen, possibly square in shape. It may also include mounting options for walls and a detachable speaker base for flexible use in different domestic settings. At the heart of the delay is Apple's dependence on its upcoming AI-powered Siri upgrade. The new voice assistant is expected to leverage 'Apple Intelligence' and an expanded App Intents framework, which would allow Siri to offer more context-aware, on-device responses and improved control over third-party apps. These capabilities were initially tied to the rollout of iOS 18.4, which itself has been delayed, pushing back the launch of the hardware. Gurman notes that the smart hub's features are heavily reliant on these AI advancements. Without the necessary software infrastructure, Apple has reportedly opted to postpone both the hardware and its integrated features. A prior internal target of March 2025 has now been scrapped, with 2026 seen as a more realistic launch window. Beyond serving as a hub for smart home automation, the device is expected to support FaceTime video calls, display interactive widgets, and potentially integrate with a new Apple-designed home security camera. References to such a device have recently been discovered in the iOS 18.6 developer beta, pointing to a screen resolution consistent with that of the iPad mini, reinforcing existing speculation about its size and display capabilities. Earlier this year, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had predicted the hub would enter mass production by the third quarter of 2025. However, that timeline now appears uncertain given the delays in software readiness. Meanwhile, internal testing reportedly continues, with select Apple employees trialling early versions of the device in real-world environments as recently as March.
Hindustan Times
27-05-2025
- Business
- Hindustan Times
iPhone 17 Air likely to debut alongside iPad-like smart hub later this year
While the iPhone 17 series, including the ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air, is expected to dominate headlines later this year, Apple is also preparing to launch a new smart home device aimed at challenging Amazon and Google's dominance in the space. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is working on a smart home hub, codenamed J490, featuring a 7-inch display with a square iPad-like design. The device will include a front-facing camera, internal speakers, and potentially a built-in battery, allowing for flexible placement around the home. The smart hub will reportedly support Apple Intelligence, the company's AI system designed to power next-generation contextual interactions across devices. It will allow users to control smart home devices, make video calls, and access personal assistant features using both touch and voice commands. The device is expected to function similarly to Amazon's Echo Show or Google's Nest Hub, but with deeper integration into Apple's ecosystem. This includes compatibility with watchOS-style widgets and the iPhone's Standby mode. A new operating system, potentially named homeOS, may be introduced to power the user interface. The J490 hub is Apple's first serious entry into the smart home display market after years of limited success with HomePod and Apple TV as control points. The move aligns with Apple's broader strategy to expand into Matter-supported smart home automation, enhancing compatibility with third-party accessories. Gurman notes that Apple is also developing a more advanced smart home product, codenamed J595, which includes a robotic arm that can reposition the display to follow users around a room. However, that device isn't expected for another one to two years. With AI capabilities becoming increasingly central to smart home platforms, Apple is betting that integrated intelligence and a privacy-first approach will appeal to users wary of always-on microphones and third-party data sharing. The J490 hub, expected to debut later this year, marks a renewed push by Apple to become a meaningful player in home automation and AI-driven assistance. The product could be formally introduced at a fall event alongside the iPhone 17 line-up. Pricing and availability details are yet to be confirmed.
GSM Arena
27-05-2025
- Business
- GSM Arena
Apple is preparing to launch several new smart home products
In the last few years, Apple has been trying to penetrate markets outside its traditional ones, including the automotive industry. Now, according to the latest report from Mark Gurman, Apple is eyeing the smart home market as well. In the past, Apple dipped its toe with the HomePod and HomePod mini, but it wasn't the success the company hoped for. It looks like Apple is taking a second shot at this with several new smart home products that will likely be released by the end of 2025 and in early 2026. One of them is an iPad-like device with a robotic arm. This sounds like a futuristic device, but the report doesn't go into details about what the purpose of the device will be. Additionally, the company is preparing a lower-end model without the robotic arm. It's codenamed J490 and was supposed to launch sooner, but Apple is reportedly ironing out some issues with Siri. If all goes well, it can see the light of day by the end of this year. Source
Tom's Guide
26-05-2025
- Business
- Tom's Guide
Apple's first smart screen could still launch this year — but you'll have to wait for the robotic version
Last October, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman wrote that Apple was planning two distinct smart screens to stake a bigger claim in the connected-home market. Now, in the Q&A section of his latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Gurman has provided an update. The good news is that the devices are a 'major priority' for Apple as 'part of its scramble to make AI-centric devices'. The bad news is that the company's ongoing issues with Siri development have caused problems that will likely delay the more interesting model with its robotic arm, and possibly see some features being stripped out of the basic version, too. 'The company wants to get this device to market as soon as possible, but there's been a snag,' Gurman writes, explaining that while the more basic J490 screen could still arrive by the end of this year, 'it remains up in the air' thanks to 'problems with Siri'. After the J490 is out of the door, Apple will turn its attention to the J595 — a far more ambitious version, where a smart display can 'move around a person's desk on the end of a robotic arm'. This is expected 'a year or two later', meaning we're looking at a release at some point between the end of next year and 2028, depending on just how delayed J490 is. Even with this delay, J595 may not be as ambitious as originally intended. While Gurman claims that the device will ship with its own 'unique AI personality', his sources have stated that Apple has 'pulled some bolder features' in order to ensure it reaches the market as fast as possible. These features, whatever they are, could 'reappear in subsequent models'. So what will these devices be like when they finally emerge? According to Gurman's original report, J490 will be an 'affordable iPad-like screen' with a price point that might attract consumers to install a few around their houses. Indeed, Apple has reportedly tested prototypes with magnets for wall mounting. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It sounds a lot like Amazon's Echo Show smart screen, but naturally with a focus on the Apple ecosystem. Think streaming Apple TV Plus, making FaceTime calls and accessing planning apps such as Calendar and Notes via a new operating system called homeOS (based on tvOS that powers Apple TV). J595, meanwhile, will be aimed at power users, priced at 'perhaps around $1,000'. The screen would be 'positioned atop a swivelling robotic arm', with a 'focus on home security monitoring, advanced videoconferencing and media playback with high-quality audio.' As well as the aforementioned AI personality, the device would utilize Apple Intelligence to assess its surroundings, who's interacting with it and what they're doing. Like the Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub, both devices will also allow users to control their smart home appliances easily. Still, Apple Intelligence will apparently 'offer home automation on steroids' while providing 'precise control of applications, devices and media'. J595 is undoubtedly the more interesting-sounding product, but it wouldn't be the first robotic smart screen. It may be the first mainstream one, however: while Amazon released its $1,499 Astro robot in 2021, four years later, it's still only available in the United States via an invitation.
India Today
26-05-2025
- India Today
Apple Smart Home Hub likely to launch towards year-end
It seems like Apple appears to be moving closer to launching a new smart home hub device, with a potential release window set for the end of this year. The device, described as a square-shaped tabletop screen akin to a compact iPad, has been in development for some time as part of Apple's broader AI strategy. While it won't be the company's most advanced smart home product, it could lay the groundwork for more ambitious devices in the pipeline. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that this version — codenamed J490 — will likely debut before the company introduces a more premium offering equipped with a robotic arm and AI-driven interactivity. Despite delays tied to Siri and App Intents integration, internal testing has already begun, signalling the project is gaining states, 'This device, code-named J595, has become a major priority at Apple as part of its scramble to make AI-centric devices. The idea is to have a smart home display, sized like a small iPad, that can move around a person's desk on the end of a robotic arm.' While the more advanced robotic model is still a year or two away, the initial version is designed to be a more accessible alternative. According to Gurman, 'A lower-end version — a smart screen code-named J490 that doesn't have an arm — has been delayed due to problems with Siri. I expect J490 to finally hit the market by the end of this year at the earliest (it remains up in the air), with the robotic version following a year or two later.'advertisementThe J490 will reportedly feature a 7-inch display with bezels and a top-mounted camera. It is expected to support Apple Intelligence features and may run on a new operating system called homeOS. Apple is said to be banking heavily on video features like FaceTime, positioning the hub as a household communications device, in addition to acting as a control centre for HomeKit and other smart home integrations. It's clear that Siri's development remains a bottleneck. Gurman notes that Apple has had to delay parts of the project due to 'problems with Siri,' which have also impacted the wider rollout of Apple Intelligence. The AI assistant's evolution is expected to stretch well into next year, potentially delaying the arrival of the more futuristic models like the to Gurman, some of the more experimental features for the J595 have been put on hold to streamline development. 'To get the J595 ready faster, I'm told that Apple has pulled some bolder features from the device that could reappear in subsequent models,' he adds.
