Apple announced the 7-inch smart-home device Apple HomeView. Priced at $299 in the US, it will not launch in Japan. The company also announced features including facial recognition that switches to personalized screens and the new Siri AI.
At its launch event, Apple introduced Apple HomeView, a tabletop device with a 7-inch display mounted above an aluminum speaker. Facial recognition switches the display for each registered user, while displays containing personal information are shown only when the user and linked devices meet certain conditions.
The assistant uses a new version of Siri called Siri AI. When combined with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, it is expected to answer questions using information from calendars and messages. A wall-mounted model is also available, and its dedicated mount can be installed either by the user or by a professional.
Key specifications include a 7-inch display, facial recognition, Siri AI, a wall-mounted model and a model supporting power over Ethernet (PoE). The standard and wall-mounted models are both priced at $299 in the US. Pre-orders have opened in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, India and New Zealand, with sales scheduled to begin on 13 November.
Japan is not among the launch markets, and Siri AI is available only in 8 English-speaking countries, with Japanese-language support not announced. The decision not to launch in the EU is also attributed to insufficient language support for Siri AI.