Hey,
Appleās āWelcome Homeā event was supposed to be the big smart home moment.
Every time Apple launches something new, it feels like you should upgrade.
So before you spend $299 on anythingā¦
š Appleās New Home Gear: Who Should Buy It (And Who Shouldnāt)
This is for anyone thinking about HomeView, the new Apple TV or the HomePod mini 2.
š Apple HomeView: the new hub
Itās Appleās first proper smart display: a 7-inch touchscreen sitting on a HomePod-style speaker.
Source: Apple
Hereās what Iām not sure about:
Guests: your Messages and Calendar only show up when it recognises your face and your paired iPhone or iPad has been unlocked recently. Guests get a basic household view: controlling accessories, weather, timers, music
No iPhone? You get the basics, like general questions and music. The personal stuff needs an Apple Intelligence iPhone or iPad
Itās very locked down: thereās no App Store, and no YouTube, Netflix or Disney+ at launch
āTV showsā on HomeView: Appleās own TV app is listed as running from your iPhone, not on the display itself
Wall-mounted version: same price, but the audio takes a hit (and you still have to mount the thing)
Weāll probably get one in for a video, so Iāll test it properly.
š HomePod mini 2: a very small bump
Letās be honest, this is a minor update.
New chip (S10) and a new āSound Glowā light
New colours
Four-speaker surround when paired with the new Apple TV
Siri AI isnāt there at launch. It needs a software update later
If youāve already got a HomePod mini, thereās no rush.
Source: Biometric Update
šŗ Apple TV 4K
You get an A19 chip, 128GB of storage, hands-free Siri and a Siri Remote you can finally find (it can chirp when you lose it). It also supports four-speaker HomePod surround.
This is the one thatās got people disappointed. Itās a nice box. Itās just a lot of money for something that plugs into the back of your telly.
Source: CNET
š The LG problem
The Apple Home Collection (the video doorbell, smart lock, cameras and thermostat) is built in partnership with LG. The thermostat is also made with Schneider Electric. And LG is currently dealing with a security scandal.
In September, Gamers Nexus and Level1Techs published an investigation claiming LGās smart TVs scan your home network and could be exploited to record audio. LG denies spying on conversations, and says the network scanning is standard across the industry.
To be fair, thatās about LGās TVs, not these products.
But when youāre putting a camera on your front door and a lock on your house, trust matters. Itās just not the best partnership to have right now.
šÆ Apple Home: who should actually bother?
If youā¦ | Do this |
|---|---|
Want a basic hub and live in iPhone-land | HomeView (but wait for reviews) |
Have Android phones in the house | Skip HomeView |
Already own a HomePod mini | Donāt rush to upgrade |
Want a first Apple smart speaker | HomePod mini 2 |
Want a streaming box | Think twice at this price point |
Need a smart lock, doorbell or camera | Shop around first |
Want the best value overall | Whatever you already own |
š± Enjoying this newsletter? Share it with a friend whoās as obsessed with tech as you are:
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