At Apple's NYC experience, I got an early look at HomeView, its new smart home display. I still have unanswered questions, but my early take is that I like it. A lot.
Most of you have seen the general rundown on the hardware. It's a 7-inch Liquid Retina display, perched atop a speaker base or mounted to a wall, that you can control with your voice or touch. It has Siri AI built in to operate your smart home, answer questions, find your lost Apple TV 4K Siri Remote, or otherwise control it. A built-in camera can recognize up to six distinct users to load personal information, such as message history or calendars.
The device ships with a series of Apple apps such as Calendar, Safari, and Music, with additional apps supported via iPhone, like Apple TV. But the first impression is about design. It's small, even cute, and the display feels just the right size for a nightstand, desk, or kitchen counter. It is bright and crisp from anywhere, and it can dim enough to work well beside a bed.
The faces are a standout. Some are new, while others are borrowed from Apple TV and Apple Watch. The Flow face reacts to your movements in the room, and a sundial-style face fades its numerals in and out over time. The Snoopy face takes cues from the calendar and weather, pulling out an umbrella when it rains. The Photos face, which can draw from a shared album, lets family members outside the house contribute new photos easily. These faces look polished and useful, though deciding between practical controls and gorgeous clock faces will be tough.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing