Apple launches HomeView, its first smart display, for $299

[Abbie61]

Apple has launched HomeView, its first smart display, at its Welcome home event. We covered the event announcement last week, and 9to5Mac now has the full details. It costs $299, pre-orders opened on 13 October, and it ships on 13 November

The tabletop model has a 7 inch square screen on a domed speaker base, with a tilting steel hinge. The screen reaches 500 nits for bright rooms and can dim down to 0.3 nits for use on a bedside table. A wall mounted version uses Schneider Home mounts, which are sold separately from $59.95

The display adapts to how close you are. From across the room it shows simpler information, and it adds more detail as you get nearer. It can recognise up to six people and give each of them their own Home Screen. Display modes include a photo frame, a Snoopy theme, smart home controls and a camera view showing up to nine feeds at once

It runs Apple's new Siri AI, has a Center Stage camera for FaceTime calls, and uses two drivers plus a woofer for sound. Apple also launched a new Apple TV 4K and a second generation HomePod mini at the same event. HomeView will not be sold in the EU for now, because Siri AI is not available there

Apple has been slow to enter the smart display market, which Amazon and Google have dominated for years. But it often arrives late and does things more carefully. The personal Home Screens and the very low dimming level suggest a lot of thought has gone into how people use these devices at home

Will you buy a HomeView? And can Apple catch up with Echo Show and Nest Hub this late?

Apple unveils new HomeView smart display: pre-order today for $299 - 9to5Mac9to5mac.com

[Shuttle24]

Recognising up to six people with their own Home Screens is clever. Family devices usually show everyone the same thing

Personal calendars and reminders for each person would be very handy. Privacy controls for face recognition will matter. Apple usually handles that well