A bit of the user interface for a rumored HomePod smart speaker with a large touchscreen reportedly turned up in the latest beta for tvOS 18.
We’ve heard leaks and rumors about such a smart home device since at least 2021, but now the product seems to be moving nearer to release.
Touchscreen-focused HomePod on the horizon
Today, HomePod is primarily used as an audio player and/or a HomeKit hub. But Apple reportedly wants to turn the device into the center of a smart home by grafting on an iPad. Rather than relying on voice commands, as with current models, the future version supposedly will include a touchscreen.
That’ll require a much more comprehensive user interface than is needed by the small touchscreen built into current HomePods. And 9to5Mac says it found evidence buried in tvOS 18 beta 3 that Apple is building just such a UI.
“The new tvOS interface, or system shell, is internally called ‘PlasterBoard,'” said 9to5Mac. “Similar to SpringBoard (the iOS system shell), it provides some core interface elements for the system.”
However, there apparently isn’t much of the UI to be found in tvOS 18 beyond a lock screen. It seems there’s still plenty of work to be done. And that’s not surprising. An unconfirmed report earlier this year indicated Apple won’t release the HomePod with a large touchscreen until 2025 at the earliest.
What will this rumored Apple device do?
All the leaks have been vague on what Apple intends the product to be used for. It could be something as simple as displaying weather forecasts and upcoming appointments.
But there are greater possibilities. A HomePod with a large touchscreen could be a kitchen computer, always ready to play video or show recipes. A front-facing camera would enable FaceTime calls. The device could even be used for accessing social media, email, etc.
Apparently, we’ll find out in 2025.
