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Apple’s new ‘homeOS’ will launch this month, here’s what’s coming
Apple reportedly plans to launch new Home products on October 13 alongside an all-new operating system rumored to be called ‘homeOS.’ Here are the details.
Apple’s highly anticipated ‘HomePad’ smart home hub is reportedly being unveiled on October 13. And per Mark Gurman, it will run on a brand new operating system that’s rumored to be called ‘homeOS.’
A recent Bloomberg report offers a lot of details on what to expect from homeOS. It reportedly features a blend of other Apple OS designs, including:
The default UI, per Gurman, “is built heavily around photo slideshows and clock displays, similar to the new StandBy Mode on the upcoming iPhone Duo” and users can “swipe up from the clock screen or photos to open the app launcher.”
We’ve seen multiple leaks this past week around this Photo Face in homeOS, as seen below.
Here’s the full list of preview images Apple has prepared to match the hardware color options of its home device.All of these assets are bundled in PhotosUIPrivate in the iPhone Duo simulator runtime. https://t.co/Ldi8rS8uu6 pic.twitter.com/UrUx4nVSD7
Siri AI will be central to homeOS interactions. Per Gurman on his new podcast:
The new operating system is basically, what would an OS look like if Siri AI had an OS? If Siri AI was not just an app on the phone, if it wasn’t just an interface on the phone. What if it was an operating system?…It’s all about this concept of personal search and personal context, being able to ask for songs, podcasts, notes, calendar items, photos that are bespoke to you.
Voice won’t be the only interaction method though. Apple apps and a Home Screen will be part of homeOS too. Siri AI can be used to control these apps, but touch input will be supported too.
Built-in homeOS apps will include Music, Podcasts, Photos, Weather, FaceTime, Notes, Calendar, Messages, Reminders, and more. No App Store is expected to be available, but third-party widgets can be brought over from your iPhone.