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Apple opened preorders for the HomeView smart home hub today. The HomeView is a 7-inch smart display and speaker that aims to be a central access point for up to six members of a family to access and control Apple’s ecosystem of devices, apps, and the Siri generative AI chatbot that’s currently in beta. Users can speak to HomeView to control smart home devices, such as, for example, telling Siri to close the smart blinds or activate smart locks. HomeView can also show a livestream for up to nine video feeds simultaneously. “With a supported iCloud+ subscription, HomeView works with compatible cameras to deliver intelligent, end-to-end encrypted recognition of people, familiar faces, pets, packages, and vehicles, notifying the household the moment someone arrives at the front door. With video descriptions for HomeKit Secure Video footage, HomeView helps users quickly understand what happened in a video clip without even watching it,” Apple’s announcement said. Competing with devices like the Amazon Echo Show, HomeView uses its integrated camera to identify who’s using it and show them their profile, which users can personalize with their preferred apps and widgets. Users can connect their HomeView profile to their Apple Intelligence-supporting iPhone or iPad and use the hub to access their Messages, Calendar, Reminders, and FaceTime. “With an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, Siri AI does more for each person—taking action across apps and surfacing relevant information from Messages and Calendar, playlists on Apple Music, and more by drawing on their personal context,” Apple’s announcement says.
document fetched 2026-10-14 03:03 · canonical https://arstechnica.com/apple/2026/10/apple-homeview-smart-home-hub-opens-for-preorders-at-299