Apple continues to be struggling to compete within the good speaker area of interest. However its renewed curiosity within the HomePod reveals that it’s not completed releasing new HomePods. The HomePod may play a much bigger position within the good house of the long run, and Apple’s ecosystem definitely works effectively with good house devices. Upgrading the HomePod with a show virtually as huge because the iPad mini looks like a no brainer. Particularly contemplating opponents like Amazon and Google have bought “good shows” for a number of years now.
A widely known insider acquainted with Apple’s provide chain says that one provider is already getting ready to mass-produce parts that may go into a brand new HomePod with a show.
Per Ming-Chi Kuo, Tianma is the corporate that gained orders for the 7-inch panels Apple wants for the 2024 HomePod.
The iPad mini show dimension is similar to that 7-inch HomePod display. Apple used 7.9-inch panels for iPad minis that preceded the iPad mini 6. The present mannequin has a bigger 8.3-inch display. And older iPads already make for nice good house controllers, amongst different issues.
If Kuo’s info is correct, Apple will unveil the brand new good speaker within the first half of 2024. Tianma could be the unique provider of HomePod screens.
“The HomePod, which equips a panel, may allow tighter integration with Apple’s different {hardware} merchandise, marking a major shift within the firm’s good house technique,” Kuo writes.
The leaker doesn’t point out what Apple will name the brand new product, or which working system would possibly energy the HomePod with a show. However the OS will seemingly resemble iOS and iPadOS. The gadget may give the person entry to a number of apps and options with a give attention to controlling good house gadgets.
It may be a communication gadget enabling FaceTime calls and supporting different video chat apps. However that’s simply hypothesis in the interim, primarily based on latest studies that teased such options from a HomePod with a show.
Kuo additionally says Tianma’s long-term prospects in Apple’s provide chain look promising. The corporate would possibly comply with the likes of BYD Electronics and BOE. It could begin with low-end merchandise earlier than regularly rising cargo allocation and transferring to higher-end Apple gadgets. Kuo speculates that Apple would possibly job Tianma with manufacturing iPad panels if the HomePod with show endeavor goes effectively.
Whereas Kuo’s claims can’t be verified, folks excited about Apple’s HomePod can purchase the newest mannequin proper now. Apple refreshed the product earlier this 12 months: Right here’s our 2023 HomePod assessment.
As for good audio system with shows, you may take a look at certainly one of Amazon’s Echo Present fashions or Google’s Subsequent Hub.
