Apple appears to be working on a new operating system called homeOS, and while we don’t know exactly what products will run it, given the name it looks like Apple could be planning a revamp of its smart home ecosystem.
MacRumors has discovered a few references to 'homeOS' in the latest developer beta of tvOS 17.4. Those references don't include any clues as to what the OS is capable of, but given that the name is appearing in code for other operating systems it’s likely that Apple is testing its compatibility ahead of a planned launch.
As always, until Apple officially announces homeOS there’s no guarantee we’ll see it released publicly, and even if a smart home revamp is on the horizon, Apple could call the operating system something else; ahead of the Vision Pro launch Apple looked set to call its software xrOS or realityOS – even trademarking these names – before settling on VisionOS.
That said, this isn’t Apple’s first official reference to homeOS. The name first appeared in job listings the company posted back in 2021, before those were altered after 'homeOS' was spotted by reporters.
A new home for Apple tech?
Currently, Apple has two smart home product lines – its HomePod and HomePod mini smart speakers – that use its HomeKit smart home network and the Matter standard. In our Apple HomePod 2 review, we commended the most recent release’s sound quality, but its lack of Bluetooth support and Siri’s limited usefulness make it tough to recommend as a smart speaker for a household not filled with Apple tech.
Rumors suggest that Apple could be planning to launch a third HomePod model with a screen, either releasing a standalone product, or enabling users to attach an iPad mini to their HomePod. With the scope of its smart home tech evolving, it would make sense that Apple would want to introduce a new operating system to unify its products, rather than continuing to use a modified tvOS for HomePod as it currently does.
If a new HomePod is on the way there’s no telling when or how Apple might announce it – the HomePod 2 was surprisingly announced via a press release, rather than on-stage at an event like most Apple products. But if new software is coming then we might see it announced at this year's WWDC, Apple’s annual developer conference, which usually takes place in June.
This would give software developers the chance to find out more about the new operating system, so that they could potentially start working on apps for it. We’ll have to wait and see if the announcement is made at WWDC 2024, or another event.
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Hamish Hector
Senior Staff Writer, News
Hamish is a Senior Staff Writer for TechRadar and you’ll see his name appearing on articles across nearly every topic on the site from smart home deals to speaker reviews to graphics card news and everything in between. He uses his broad range of knowledge to help explain the latest gadgets and if they’re a must-buy or a fad fueled by hype. Though his specialty is writing about everything going on in the world of virtual reality and augmented reality.
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Regarding the concept of homeOS mentioned in this article, it appears that Apple is working on a new operating system called homeOS for its smart home ecosystem. While the exact details and capabilities of homeOS are not yet known, references to homeOS have been discovered in the latest developer beta of tvOS 17.4. This suggests that Apple is testing the compatibility of homeOS with other operating systems before a planned launch. It is important to note that until Apple officially announces homeOS, there is no guarantee that it will be released publicly, and the operating system may undergo name changes before its launch.
The introduction of a new operating system like homeOS could potentially indicate a revamp of Apple's smart home products, such as the HomePod and HomePod mini smart speakers. Currently, Apple uses a modified version of tvOS for its HomePod, but a new operating system like homeOS could unify Apple's smart home products and provide a more integrated experience. Rumors suggest that Apple may also be planning to launch a third HomePod model with a screen, either as a standalone product or by enabling users to attach an iPad mini to their HomePod.
As for the timing of the announcement, it is uncertain when or how Apple might announce a new HomePod or the homeOS operating system. In the past, Apple has made product announcements through press releases rather than on-stage events. However, it is possible that an announcement could be made at Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC, which usually takes place in June. This would give software developers the opportunity to learn more about the new operating system and start working on apps for it.
In summary, Apple appears to be working on a new operating system called homeOS for its smart home ecosystem. While the exact details and capabilities of homeOS are not yet known, references to homeOS have been found in the latest developer beta of tvOS 17.4. The introduction of homeOS could indicate a revamp of Apple's smart home products, and rumors suggest the possibility of a new HomePod model with a screen. The timing of the announcement is uncertain, but it could potentially be made at Apple's WWDC conference.
