I Tried Out Apple’s HomeView Smart Display

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The Verge reports that Apple has announced HomeView, a $299 smart home display, and its reporter had a brief hands-on session. The device offers a 7-inch screen for Apple Home controls, camera feeds, FaceTime and Siri features, but several capabilities were shown in demonstrations rather than tested directly.

Apple has announced HomeView, a $299 smart home display, and The Verge has published a hands-on report describing its 7-inch touchscreen, Apple Home controls and Siri features. The device is designed as a household controller and assistant, but the reporter tested only some functions directly; several Siri capabilities were shown in demonstrations. See how it compares with the Echo Show.

The Verge’s Jennifer Pattison Tuohy describes HomeView as a compact device with a square Liquid Retina display and a small aluminum base that also serves as a speaker. Apple will sell tabletop and wall-mounted versions. In the reporter’s brief session, the screen appeared bright and responsive, and users could swipe between display “faces,” including designs resembling Apple Watch faces.

A dedicated Home Widget face presents controls drawn from Apple’s Home app. Tuohy used it to operate a thermostat, activate a scene and view live feeds from HomeKit Secure Video cameras. The device asked for face or iPhone authentication when she tried to unlock a door. The report says users can also tap through from a camera feed to nearby accessories, such as a garage door. Apple is also reportedly developing a smart home camera.

HomeView uses a series of swipes to move among faces, widgets and apps. Its apps automatically populate from the user’s phone, according to the report. A camera can be enabled through Control Center, while FaceTime uses Center Stage to keep participants centered. Tuohy also tried a cooking feature that transfers a recipe from an iPhone using Handoff and displays steps with in-line timers.

A Wall-Mounted Hub for Apple Home

HomeView puts Apple Home controls on a screen intended for walk-up use around the house, rather than requiring someone to find and unlock a phone. The reported ability to view camera feeds, adjust devices and access accessories from one display could make routine smart-home tasks more visible to household members.

The device’s larger pitch is linking smart-home actions with personal information. In a demonstration witnessed by The Verge, Siri used a message about a traveler’s arrival, estimated transit time and a request to schedule a coffee maker. If that kind of interaction works reliably outside a demo, it could let users coordinate household routines through conversational requests. The report does not establish how well it performs in everyday use.

Apple Home Features on a Screen

The Home Widget is described in the report as a larger-screen version of controls available in Apple’s Home app, with additional room for touch interaction. HomeView is also positioned as a personal assistant and shared home hub, rather than only a display for controlling connected devices.

Two showcased features extend beyond device controls. Siri can, in the company’s demonstration, use personal context such as messages and calendar information; Handoff can move a recipe from an iPhone to a guided cooking layout. Tuohy said Apple claims most recipes using Google formatting will work with the cooking feature. She did not test the range of supported recipes herself.

““The first thing that struck me about the HomeView was its size. It’s much smaller than I expected.””

— Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge

Everyday Siri Performance Is Untested

The hands-on account covers only a limited set of functions. Tuohy did not personally test Siri’s use of messages and calendar information; she watched a demonstration instead. The report also does not establish how consistently voice requests work, which personal data Siri can access in ordinary use, or how users control those permissions.

Other details remain open, including the full range of compatible cooking recipes and how well the interface works for different household members. The report gives the $299 price and planned shipping date but does not specify further availability details, such as whether both mounting versions ship at the same time.

Preorders Ahead of November Shipping

According to The Verge’s report, preorders are open and Apple plans to begin shipping HomeView on November 13. The next useful test will be a longer review of the device in a working home, including its reliability as a controller, the practical value of Siri’s personal-context features and the day-to-day experience of the wall-mounted and tabletop models.

Key Questions

What is Apple HomeView?

HomeView is Apple’s smart home display, built around a 7-inch square touchscreen. It is designed to control Apple Home devices and provide assistant, camera-viewing and communication features.

How much does HomeView cost?

The report lists a price of $299. It does not provide further pricing details for the tabletop and wall-mounted versions.

When will HomeView ship?

The Verge reports that shipping is scheduled to begin November 13. Preorders are open, according to the report.

What smart home controls did the reporter try?

Jennifer Pattison Tuohy used the Home Widget to control a thermostat, activate a scene and view HomeKit Secure Video camera feeds. A door-unlock attempt prompted face or iPhone authentication.

Did the reporter test Siri’s personal-context features?

No. The reporter watched a demonstration in which Siri used a message about a traveler’s arrival to help schedule a smart-home action. The report says she did not try that feature herself.

Source: rss