This is when Apple is rumored to be launching the HomePad

Apple's very long-rumored "HomePod with a screen", sometimes referred to as the HomePad, is now said to be finally launching on October 13, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

This "smart-home hub code-named J490" is allegedly "at the center" of the company's strategy for the smart home. At the same time, Apple will also be launching an updated HomePod mini, as well as a new Apple TV 4K box. Both of those are a very long time coming - the former's predecessor dates from 2020, while the latter's is from 2022.

All three new products will support the new Siri AI. The HomePad (or whatever it ends up being called) will apparently have a 6-inch screen which can be mounted on a wall or placed on a countertop. The device is "about as thick as an iPhone" and has bezels similar to those on older iPads.

It will have a round metal base that houses speakers, mics, and a metal arm which holds the screen up. The arm will allow the display to tilt. The wall-mounted version will come with a thinner base for the speakers and mics. The HomePad will use USB-C for its power supply, it won't have a battery. It seems like it will only be available in one color, which Gurman describes as "Apple's standard gray aluminum finish".

The apps that open on the screen will look like those on an iPad, with a two-panel layout for things like the Messages app, for example. The HomePad will let you control other smart devices, it will make video calls, play music, show photo slideshows, and will also support intercom-style calls. It will have voice and facial recognition to identify who is talking to it.

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