Apple TV fans will still have to wait for an upgrade, and if you think you’re getting a TV box that can support Apple Intelligence, you might want to brace yourself for potential disappointment. While rumors have it that Apple will release an Apple TV model this year, one that could still feature an Apple AI-capable chip, it’s unclear whether that will happen.
Even more interesting is a discovery in the code that indicates that Apple is working on a “HomeAccessory” device that could run on the same chipset as the iPhone 16 series. These chips will surely make Apple Intelligence work better than anything that came before them. And we’ve had a lot of rumors recently that seemed to confirm the existence of the A18 and A18 Pro chips.
The Home Accessory product we’re hearing about isn’t necessarily a HomePod. It’s certainly not an Apple TV. Interestingly, it appears to be running a variant of tvOS. Are we looking at an iPad-like home robot that can follow you around the house or office? Probably not.
According to MacRumorsApple is working on a “HomeAccessory17,1” device. The name is similar to the AudioAccessory identifier that Apple has used before.
The interesting detail of the new codename is the number “17.1.” This is the expected codename for the A18 chips that will arrive in the iPhone this year. Leaks have already shown that Apple could be working on five iPhones with A18 chips, which leads me to speculate that the iPhone SE 4 could have one and Apple Intelligence with it.
The blog post says the software is a variant of tvOS, similar to the HomePod. Rumors swirled earlier this year that Apple might be working on a HomePod with a touchscreen on top. It seems like that’s the device most likely to get this new home accessory moniker.
So what’s going on with Apple’s robots? Well, Mark Gurman gave this information in a report ahead of the WWDC event:
Similarly, the ongoing Siri overhaul could be at the heart of Apple’s upcoming tabletop robot, which is essentially a large iPad screen that can move to mimic the movements of a human’s head. This device will be controlled primarily by voice, and having a more precise and sophisticated version of Siri will be invaluable.
A large iPad robot for the home or office would be an even more interesting development for this home accessory. But that seems unlikely at the moment. This device would probably have to run a version of iOS rather than tvOS.
Additionally, Siri could get some interesting AI powers via iOS 18. But that won’t happen anytime soon, and the Siri AI experience will still be labeled as a beta. No robotic iPad product is likely to be ready for release anytime soon.
I also want to point out a report from Gurman from late February that mentioned a HomePod with a screen coming in 2025. It’s unclear whether this device is actually the iPad robot he talked about last month. Perhaps it’s a precursor?
On the other hand, a HomePod with a circular touchscreen on top, ready to support Apple Intelligence, could be possible.
Coming back to the code results, the blog mentions two unreleased Apple TV models spotted in the same code. These are AppleTV14.4 and AppleTV14.5. These codenames suggest that the 2024 Apple TV could get the same A15 Bionic chip as the 2022 models. And that iPhone chip is not good for Apple Intelligence. You need an A17 Pro or later to get Apple’s AI on iPhones.
News Source : bgr.com
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