Apple may launch smart home display device as early as next month and is currently testing internally

Famous technology journalist Mark Gurman wrote that Apple (AAPL.US) is expected to launch a smart home display device as early as next month. This product will become one of the most anticipated releases in the early days of Ternus’s leadership at Apple, integrating control of all connected devices, video calls, intercom functionality, and media content, while also enabling users to access Apple services and applications. Internally codenamed J490, the device will run a new operating system built around Siri AI and is currently undergoing extensive testing in the homes of Apple employees. The device’s display is roughly square-shaped, can be placed on a base, has an appearance similar to a HomePod mini split in half, and can also be mounted on a wall. One of the main functions of the device is facial recognition through a front-facing camera system, allowing personalized content display based on the user’s identity. Apple is able to achieve this without a Face ID-level depth sensor, suggesting that facial recognition might also be implemented on the future iPhone Duo (which currently relies on Touch ID) without requiring the physical space typically needed for traditional facial recognition.