Apple launches HomeView hub with upgraded Siri

Apple has unveiled a new range of smart home products, led by the HomeView, an iPad-like screen designed to hang on a wall or sit on a table and control other devices around the home.

The HomeView starts at $299 and has a 7in screen and face recognition. It can control doorbells, thermostats and smart locks, and showcases Apple's AI-upgraded Siri. Preorders opened on Tuesday, and the device is due to go on sale on 13 November.

A smarter Siri

Apple says the new version of Siri is more capable and conversational, drawing on information from personal apps such as Messages and Calendar to give more relevant answers. "It's powered by Apple Intelligence with Siri AI at its core, drawing on personal context from your iPhone to help you find what you need and get more done, all while keeping everyone's information private and secure," the company said.

A family of devices

The launch came with updates to the HomePod smart speaker and Apple TV, and a range of accessories made by LG and Schneider Electric with help from Apple. They include a Schneider smart thermostat, LG indoor and outdoor security cameras, a doorbell camera, a floodlight camera and a smart lock that can be opened from the Apple Home app.

Not in Europe

The HomeView will not be sold in the European Union, Apple said, because its Siri AI features are not available there under EU regulations. Apple has clashed with EU regulators over the Digital Markets Act, which requires big technology "gatekeepers" to open up their platforms to rivals, and has delayed several features in Europe as a result.

A crowded market

Apple has tried for a decade to make headway in the smart home, without major success. It launched its Home app in 2016 and HomePod speakers in 2018, but both have faced strong competition from Amazon's Echo devices and Ring doorbells and from Google's Home speakers. Amazon launched new premium tablets only last week.

Analysts say Apple has faced two big hurdles: making its products work with the huge range of third-party gadgets, and the limited ability of Siri to give useful answers. The upgraded Siri is meant to address the second.

The company is also under pressure from newer rivals. AI developers including OpenAI have hardware ambitions of their own.

Why it matters

The smart home has long promised more than it delivered, with many households owning a smart speaker or doorbell but few linking everything together. A central screen with a capable AI assistant is the industry's latest attempt to make the connected home simple enough for most people to use, though questions about privacy and how much personal data the devices draw on are likely to follow.