Apple's Next Big Thing: A Home Robot with iPad-Like Screen and Robotic Arm

Apple reportedly moving forward with iPad-like home device with robotic arm - SiliconANGLE

Apple reportedly moving forward with iPad-like home device with robotic arm Apple Inc. is reported moving forward with plans to develop a tabletop home device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm. The claim comes from Bloomberg's usually very accurate Apple analyst Mark Gurman, who, citing people familiar with the matter, says that the company has tasked several hundred people to work on the device. Along with offering an iPad-like display, the device will also feature a "thin robotic arm" that would allow the display to tilt, move up and down and rotate 360 degrees. The idea behind the device is said to be one of a "smart home command center," which includes support for videoconferencing through apps such as FaceTime as well as a home security monitoring tool. The device would also leverage Siri and Apple Intelligence, allowing it to respond to various verbal commands, recognize different voices and automatically orient the display to face users. Gurman claims that Apple has put Kevin Lynch, Apple's vice president of technology, in charge of the project. Lynch, who joined Apple in 2013 after serving as Chief Technology Officer at Adobe Inc., was previously in charge of Apple Watch before being moved to lead Apple's artificial intelligence group in April. The idea for the device was reportedly first presented to Apple executives a few years ago before becoming public earlier this year. The idea, as described in April, was a device that has a display that mimics head movements, such as nodding, of a person on a FaceTime session and a feature to lock onto a single person among a crowd during a video call. Apple executives at the time were said to have expressed concerns about whether consumers would be willing to pay top dollar for the device and there were also technical challenges with balancing the weight of a robotic motor on a small stand. While Apple has had a strong track record of bringing new successful products to market, often defining the spaces they enter - think iPhone, iPad, iPod and more, the company isn't as successful as it once was under the leadership of the late Steve Jobs. The best example of Apple's Midas touch failing under current Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook came earlier this year with the launch of Apple Vision Pro, the company's entry into augmented reality headsets. The pricey headset, which first shipped in February with a starting price of $3,499, is generally regarded as having been a flop; as of July, Apple had failed to sell 100,000 units of the device, versus plans to ship 500,000 by the end of the year. While it's too early to judge how the new device may go, the Vision Pro does show that Apple customers can be price-sensitive with non-core offerings. For any chance of success, Apple needs to keep the costs down and offer something unique, but a screen on a robotic arm so far doesn't sound all that impressive nor the next big thing.

Apple's Next Big Thing is Reportedly an iPad on a Robot Arm

Apple’s idea for its next smart home gadget will be like a Homepod attached to an Echo Show connected to an extended robot arm. Excited yet? Apple hasn’t had a perfect track record on smart home gadgets or smart cars. The Cupertino, California tech giant is reportedly now consumed by the idea of home-based robotics. We’ve finally got our first hint from a reliable rumormonger about Apple’s next big project. It's apparently a big-screen iPad attached to a tabletop robot arm. Think less Samsung Ballie and more Homepod, but with a screen that can twist and rotateâ€"all powered with AI. We’ve heard hints about this shift to smart home robotics earlier this year, but a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman claims Apple has put hundreds of staff onto its iPad plus robot arm concept. Gurman cites anonymous sources with knowledge of Apple’s latest efforts who say the arm would be a smart home “command center†that will be a Homepod, a videoconferencing window, and a security tool all rolled into one. Imagine if you stuck an Amazon Echo Show or a Pixel Tablet with its smart home hub dock on a thin, mechanical arm with built-in actuators to move it around. Apple first reportedly approved the idea back in 2022. However, the project has ballooned in recent months after the demise of the long-anticipated Apple-brand electric carâ€"as first reported by Bloomberg back in February. This also coincides with Apple’s big move towards AI, dubbed Apple Intelligence. The device will probably use AI to some degree and will likely use the AI-ified Siri to heed users’ directions. According to Bloomberg's report, CEO Tim Cook has backed the initiative. He’s sitting alongside head of hardware engineering John Ternus and VP of technology Kevin Lynch. Lynch was also at the head of Apple’s smart car project. VP of hardware engineering in charge of Homepod Matt Costello is also reportedly overseeing the hardware side of things. Smart home tech hasn’t been a moneymaker for many big tech companies. Last month, The Wall Street Journal reported that Amazon is burning billions of dollars on its Echo lineup. The company tried a loss-leading strategy to offer cheap devices to put Alexa in millions of homes. Amazon is trying to boost Alexa with AI, including Apple, Google, Samsung, and almost every major tech brand. Amazon wants users to buy a subscription to access this AI Alexa. The current version in testing is reportedly still using a modified version of iPadOS, a software suite known for trailing behind MacOS in terms of versatility. Perhaps the software will work better on a moving arm adhered to a tabletop, but Apple would still need to modify it heavily to create something quick enough to use on the fly.Â

Apple's Tabletop iPad Robot With Limbs Could Make Its Way To Your Home By 2027: Here's What This Twist On Amazon And Meta Products Might Cost - Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL)

Amid the search for new revenue sources, Apple Inc. AAPL has reportedly decided to develop a tabletop home device. What Happened: The device uses a thin robotic arm to move a large, iPad-like screen, offering a twist on home products like Amazon's Echo Show 10 and Meta's discontinued portal, reported Bloomberg, citing people with knowledge of the matter. The device is expected to function as a central hub for smart home management, a videoconferencing platform, and a remote-controlled home security tool. It might be controlled using Siri and the upcoming features in Apple Intelligence, including voice commands. See Also: Humane's AI Pin Reportedly Faces Major Setback As Returns Outnumber Sales: Marques Brownlee Says 'Shoutout To Everyone That Watched The Review And Still...' The project, codenamed J595, involves a team of over several hundred people. It was approved by Apple executives in 2022. However, it formally started ramping up in the last few months. The device is now a priority for Apple, with a potential debut as early as 2026 or 2027. The tech giant intends to lower the price to around $1000. The project will be under the leadership of Kevin Lynch, an Apple veteran who was previously involved in the development of self-driving cars, the report noted. Apple did not immediately respond to Benzinga's request for comments. Subscribe to the Benzinga Tech Trends newsletter to get all the latest tech developments delivered to your inbox. Why It's Important: Cupertino's decision to move into robotics was reportedly part of its effort to capitalize on Apple Intelligence Earlier in April, it was reported that Apple has been exploring robotics for several years. However, not all analysts were optimistic about the tech giant's foray into smart home devices. Previously, while Deepwater's Gene Munster shared optimistic views on Apple's latest plans to dive into the home robotics market, Wedbush analyst Dan Ives suggested that the company focus on only AI. "For Apple the Street wants Cupertino to focus on one thing to add the golden ecosystem: AI.....and certainly not robots in any form," he stated earlier. Check out more of Benzinga's Consumer Tech coverage by following this link. Read Next: Mark Zuckerberg's Meta Platforms Triumphs Over Independent Presidential Candidate Robert Kennedy Jr.'s Anti-Vaccine Group In Censorship Lawsuit Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs

Apple's next 'big thing' could be a home robot with iPad-like screen, this is how much it may cost | - Times of India

Apple, is reportedly working on a new home device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm, according to people familiar with the matter. The project, codenamed J595, aims to create a smart home command centre that could serve as a videoconferencing machine and remote-controlled security tool. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that a team of several hundred people at Apple is developing the device, which uses actuators to tilt and rotate a large screen.The product is envisioned as Apple's answer to Amazon's Echo Show 10 and Meta's discontinued Portal. The project, approved by Apple's executive team in 2022, has gained momentum in recent months. CEO Tim Cook and hardware engineering chief John Ternus are said to support the initiative, despite initial concerns from marketing and software engineering teams about consumer demand and resource allocation. Apple is targeting a price point of around $1,000 for the device, with a potential release date as early as 2026 or 2027, sources told Bloomberg. However, plans could change given the timeline. Kevin Lynch, Apple's vice president of technology, is leading the project. Lynch, who previously oversaw the Apple Watch and the now-cancelled self-driving car project, has enlisted key personnel from the Watch team and robotics experts to work on the home robot. The device is expected to be primarily controlled using Siri and upcoming Apple Intelligence features. It could respond to voice commands like "look at me" by repositioning the screen during video calls. According to Gurman's sources, Apple is also exploring other robotics projects, including robots that move around the home and even humanoid versions. The company recently posted job listings seeking experts in "robot manipulation" and AI models for robot control. While the project represents Apple's push into new revenue streams, some within the company question whether consumers need another tablet-like product, especially given the recent launch of the Vision Pro headset. The success of this home robot could be crucial in expanding the company's presence in the smart home market, where it has struggled to gain traction compared to competitors like Amazon and Google. The TOI Tech Desk is a dedicated team of journalists committed to delivering the latest and most relevant news from the world of technology to readers of The Times of India. TOI Tech Desk's news coverage spans a wide spectrum across gadget launches, gadget reviews, trends, in-depth analysis, exclusive reports and breaking stories that impact technology and the digital universe. Be it how-tos or the latest happenings in AI, cybersecurity, personal gadgets, platforms like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more; TOI Tech Desk brings the news with accuracy and authenticity.

Report: Apple Developing Robotics-Supported Display for Videoconferencing, Home Security

Apple is reportedly developing a device that combines an iPad-like display with a robotic arm, enabling it to perform tasks like adjusting to face the user during a video call. This is one of several projects the tech giant has undertaken as it aims to create new products, Bloomberg reported Wednesday (Aug. 14), citing unnamed sources. Apple did not immediately reply to PYMNTS' request for comment. The effort to develop the tabletop device is codenamed J595 and has accelerated in recent months after being approved in 2022, according to the report. Apple envisions the device as a tool for tasks related to smart home management, videoconferencing and home security; expects it to be controlled by the Siri digital assistant and Apple Intelligence artificial intelligence (AI) offering; and aims to release it by 2026 or 2027 for around $1,000, the report said. Several hundred people are now working on the project, per the report. While there have been mixed reactions to the project among departments within Apple, CEO Tim Cook is seen as a supporter of the effort, according to the report. In addition to this device, Apple is also working on mobile robots for use in homes, AirPods earbuds that include cameras and a giant, foldable iPad, the report said. The company is considering developing smart glasses and augmented reality (AR) glasses as well. Apple cancelled its decade-long, multibillion-dollar effort to build an electric car in February, shifting many members from the car team to the company's AI team. Senior executives decided to wind down the project amid concerns about profitability and the substantial investment required for the project. The company continues to invest heavily in research and development in other areas, including its plan to integrate generative AI across its product line. As PYMNTS has reported, Apple's rollout of AI features is set to take time and will not be included in the initial launch of the new iPhone and iPad software update. Cook said during an Aug. 1 earnings call that Apple is integrating ChatGPT into experiences within iPhone, Mac and iPad and that AI has "extraordinary possibilities." He added that Apple Intelligence will present a "compelling" reason to upgrade hardware.

An Apple-made Wall-E of sorts could launch as soon as 2026

For years, we've been hearing whispers about Apple building a smart home hybrid device. The company is reportedly developing an iPad-HomePod crossbreed that supports Apple Intelligence. With the latest batch of rumors, we're learning even more details about this device, including its potential launch year and price. According to Bloomberg, Apple is pushing ahead with its tabletop robot and could release it as soon as 2026 or 2027. The device is expected to feature Apple's AI features and a 360-degree robotic arm that repositions the screen based on the user's movements. The report reads: While the report mentions that Apple is internally testing a version of iPadOS on this hybrid device, previous leaks indicate that the company has also experimented with a variant of tvOS. The Cupertino firm could be trying multiple operating system approaches to see what works best in this new form factor before settling for one of them.