Apple Plans Aggressive New Push Into Smart Home

Apple plans to launch a smart home hub device on October 13th, Bloomberg reported.

The hub has a roughly 6-inch square display that can sit on countertops or be mounted on walls, the news outlet reported. The device will showcase the capabilities of Apple’s overhauled Siri, which was recently released after a delay of two years, and be able to recognize people who interact with it. The screen will display the identified user’s personal information, such as messages and upcoming calendar appointments.

With the new product, Apple is moving into a crowded market. Google and Amazon launched their own smart home displays years ago. Apple has dipped its toe into the smart home over the years, with features like HomeKit to let devices hook into Apple’s software, but has limited success compared to rivals.

As part of this push, Apple is also releasing an updated HomePod mini and a new Apple TV.