Apple Tests AI-Powered Smart Home Display and Evaluates J490 Prototype
Apple is testing a new AI-powered smart home display codenamed J490 to compete with Amazon and Google, while reportedly scrapping a dedicated Apple Pencil for a dual-screen device.
Apple is advancing its efforts to enter the smart home display market, currently dominated by Amazon's Echo Show and Google's Nest Hub. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is conducting extensive internal tests of a new home device codenamed J490, with prototypes currently being evaluated in employee homes.
Device Design and Features
The device is reported to feature a design that can either sit on a base resembling a halved HomePod mini or be mounted on a wall. It is expected to include a compact screen, Wi-Fi connectivity, a built-in camera, and microphones. The operating system will reportedly combine elements of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, with initial setup and operations synchronized via an iPhone.
A standout and privacy-sensitive feature is the camera system. Gurman notes that the device will use facial recognition to identify which family member is looking at the screen, automatically tailoring displayed content such as apps, notes, calendar meetings, news, music, and podcasts. The interface will also feature a home screen, widgets, and customizable clock faces.
Integration with Apple Intelligence
At the core of the device will be an advanced, AI-powered Siri designed to execute cross-device searches, manage accounts, and perform complex in-app actions. Users will be able to request specific photos, play recently shared audio files, or update calendar events and notes using natural language commands.
Although Apple previously aimed for a 2024 launch, development hurdles related to Apple Intelligence delayed the timeline. While an official release date has not been announced, recent leaks suggest a possible debut later this year.
Apple Pencil Plans
Meanwhile, Apple has reportedly scrapped plans for a dedicated Apple Pencil designed for a dual-screen iPhone Duo. The stylus was intended to be shorter and magnetically attach to the device hinge, but technical issues prior to mass production led to its cancellation. Instead, Apple plans to introduce support for existing iPad Apple Pencil models by the end of 2026.
