Apple seems to be going closer to launching a new smart home hub device with a possible release window set for the end of this year. The device, described as a square -shaped tabletop screen for a compact iPad, is in development for some time as part of the wider AI strategy of Apple. Although this will not be the company’s most advanced smart home product, it can have groundwork for more ambitious devices in the pipeline. Mark Gurman of Bloomberg It is reported that this version-J490 will begin before introducing a more premium offering equipped with a robotic arm and AI-operated interaction by the name-Company. Despite the delay associated with Siri and APP Intents Integration, the internal test has already begun, indicating that the project is gaining momentum.

Says Gurman, “This device has become a major priority in Apple in Code-Nam J595, Apple, which is part of its scuffle to create AI-classric devices. The idea is a smart home display, a small ipad-like size, which can rotate around a person’s desk at the end of a robotic arm.” While the more advanced robot model is still one or two years away, the initial version is designed as a more accessible option. According to Gurman, “A lower-end version-one smart screen code-name J490 which does not have a hand-has been delayed by problems with the government. I hope J490 will hit the market by the end of this year at the end of this year (it stays in the air), with a robot version after a year or two years later.”

J490 will allegedly have a 7-inch display and a top-mounted camera with bezels. It is expected to support Apple Intelligence features and can run on a new operating system called Homos. Apple is called heavy banking on video features such as facetime, the hub is ranked as a domestic communication tool, in addition to acting as a control center for Homcomit and other smart home integration.

It is clear that the development of Siri is a hurdle. Gurman noted that Apple has to delay parts of the project due to “problems with Siri”, which has also affected the widespread rollout of Apple Intelligence. The development of AI assistant is expected to spread well next year, potentially delayed the arrival of more future models such as J595.

According to Gurman, some more experimental characteristics for J595 have been placed to streamline development. “To prepare J595 fast, I have been told that Apple has drawn some boulder features from the device that may reopened in the latter model,” they say.