For those who’ve been struggling to determine Apple’s residence technique over the previous few years, you’re not alone. Many imagine that’s just because the corporate doesn’t actually have one. Nonetheless, there’s loads of proof that it’s working exhausting to determine it out. Nonetheless, it’s been a wild journey and an usually complicated mess.
In 2020, Apple gave the impression to be on the verge of coming into the lounge with a bang. We noticed the introduction of the HomePod mini, and tvOS 14.2 got here together with an thrilling new Dwelling Theatre Mode, permitting two full-sized HomePods to be paired up with an Apple TV to create a shocking Dolby Atmos sound stage.
On high of that, rumors continued of a strong new Apple TV that will incorporate an “A14X-like” chip designed to deal with the subsequent technology of Apple Arcade video games. It felt like an thrilling time for Apple’s residence leisure ambitions.
Sadly, in early 2021, every part fell aside. First, Apple inscrutably killed off the full-sized HomePod solely 4 months after saying the Dwelling Theatre Audio characteristic — which labored solely with that authentic HomePod.
Then, as people had been nonetheless flocking to scoop up some full-sized HomePods earlier than all of them disappeared, Apple added insult to harm by releasing a brand new Apple TV 4K with options unique to the discontinued good speaker. Apple even put an image of the unique HomePod on the again of the field to point out customers they may pair two HomePods for wi-fi encompass sound — assuming they may nonetheless get their palms on two HomePods.
Apple partially rectified this a couple of months in tvOS 15 when it added the power for the HomePod mini for use with the Apple TV. Nonetheless, the smaller audio system weren’t able to Dolby Atmos 5.1 or 7.1 encompass sound, making it a small comfort for many who needed to construct a wi-fi Apple Dwelling Theatre expertise. Anyone who has tried a pair of stereo HomePods in opposition to a stereo pair of HomePod minis is aware of they aren’t in the identical league.
What’s Subsequent for Apple TV and HomePod?
Since then, Apple seems to have tacitly proven a diminishing curiosity in tvOS. Through the Worldwide Builders Convention (WWDC) keynotes of the previous few years, the Apple TV and tvOS have performed a step by step diminishing position, culminating on this 12 months’s WWDC, the place neither the product nor its working system obtained any point out in any respect.
After all, tvOS 16 remains to be coming; it merely isn’t prone to provide something thrilling sufficient for Apple to take the time to speak about it.
Nonetheless, even when this 12 months’s tvOS launch is comparatively uninspired, that shouldn’t be taken to imply that Apple doesn’t have greater issues in retailer.
Reviews of Apple’s work on new residence gadgets have been making the rounds for over a 12 months now, and simply because these merchandise haven’t materialized but doesn’t imply they’re not coming finally.
As an illustration, when amassing the varied experiences of a brand new Apple TV from two years in the past, it turned clear they had been speaking about two totally totally different merchandise. A type of was the A12-powered Apple TV 4K we obtained final 12 months. The opposite one is probably going nonetheless on the horizon.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who shared a few of these earlier experiences, revealed in his Energy On e-newsletter this week that the long-rumored premium Apple TV remains to be in improvement and will tie into a number of the extra delicate options coming in tvOS 16.
The brand new Apple TV, code-named J255, is in improvement with an A14 chip and a further gigabyte of RAM. That compares with the A12 chip introduced as a part of the 2021 Apple TV final 12 months and could possibly be helpful for added gaming capabilities rolling out in tvOS 16.
Mark Gurman
For one factor, Apple plans to develop Sport Controller help throughout all of its working techniques, together with tvOS 16. That’s not stunning, as Apple has been enhancing recreation controller help every year because it embraced the PS4 and Xbox controllers in iOS 13.
Nonetheless, mix these with different new tvOS 16 options like multiuser help so members of the family can robotically carry up their very own profiles and video games, and SwitfUI for tvOS to assist builders create richer Apple TV apps and it’s simple to see how issues are beginning to take form. Indications of a brand new Siri Distant have additionally been discovered within the iOS 16 and tvOS 16 betas.
Apple can also be mentioned to be engaged on a lower-cost Apple TV, so we’re once more on the apex of listening to rumors about two totally totally different gadgets. There’s prone to be much less confusion this time round, although, because the entry-level Apple TV can be on the reverse finish of the spectrum. Particulars are scant, however the normal sense is that this can be meant to compete with gadgets just like the Roku and Amazon Hearth TV sticks, targeted primarily (or solely) on video streaming.
The complete-sized HomePod may additionally return this 12 months, offering a much-needed resolution for these Apple TV 4K customers who missed out on the final mannequin. It’s not anticipated to be as thrilling as a display-equipped HomePod Hub or “iMac-like” HomePod Max. Nonetheless, Gurman’s sources say that it’s going to embody the identical S8 chip coming to the Apple Watch Collection 8, match the audio efficiency of the unique, and should actually have a show on high with multitouch capabilities.
[The information provided in this article has NOT been confirmed by Apple and may be speculation. Provided details may not be factual. Take all rumors, tech or otherwise, with a grain of salt.]