Apple reportedly plans to deepen its smart-home push under new CEO John Ternus, starting with the launch of a long-delayed hub on 13 October.

Bloomberg reported the smart-home hub, code-named J490, will feature a roughly 6-inch square display mounted on a perforated speaker base, with the countertop version featuring an arm that allows users to tilt the display. A dedicated wall-mounted variant is code-named J491. The grey aluminium device runs on USB-C power without internal batteries or physical buttons.

The hub will use built-in microphones and a front-facing FaceTime camera to identify household members by voice or appearance, then display their calendars, messages, notes and contacts.

A virtual white ring light will illuminate users approaching in low light, while an iPhone can provide secondary authentication if facial recognition fails. A visitor mode will hide personal information from guests.

The tech giant expects customers to place multiple displays around the home for intercom calls, music streaming and control of HomeKit accessories. In the kitchen, the hub could also provide voice-guided recipes.

The iPhone maker is also updating its supporting accessories. The HomePod mini and Apple TV set-top box will retain their existing designs but gain faster processors capable of running Siri’s upgraded AI models.

The HomePod mini will also be offered in new pink and green colours. Apple is separately developing a premium 9-inch display mounted on a 360-degree robotic arm, as well as a refreshed full-sized HomePod, for later release.

The news site previously reported in March 2026 that Apple’s smart-home display was postponed because its revamped Siri digital assistant was not ready.

While Apple currently offers the HomePod, HomePod mini and Apple TV streaming box, it has long trailed market leaders Amazon and Google for branded smart-home hardware.

The post Apple lines up smart-home push with fresh devices appeared first on Mobile World Live.

Apple CEO John Ternus (pictured) is reportedly reshaping the company to speed product development and put engineering back at the centre of its strategy.

Bloomberg reported Ternus, who replaced Tim Cook on 1 September, wants to broaden Apple’s device line-up and strip out organisational layers.

Sources told the news agency Apple could move away from its usual product launch cycles and cut some middle-management roles to bring executives closer to engineering teams.

Ternus was previously the company’s SVP of hardware engineering and is reported to believe Apple needs to launch products faster and take more risks to compete in the AI era, while also seeking new revenue as growth in its services business slows.

Bloomberg reported Apple has begun cutting costs.

It reported the hardware engineering division recently cut managers and around six directors responsible for coordinating product schedules and teams.

Restructuring of teams working on Siri, Vision Pro and AI software engineering is also underway and Apple reportedly reduced staff at the Fitness+ group, which develops audio-only versions of its exercise classes.

Bloomberg noted the new CEO is keen to see how AI could cut development cycles and automate some tasks.

It stated Apple has a large product pipeline for 2027 including AirPods with external cameras, its first pair of smart glasses and a redesigned iPhone on its 20th anniversary.

The post Apple CEO Ternus refocuses on engineering appeared first on Mobile World Live.

For the first time in over a year, Google Maps has updated its satellite imagery of the Gaza Strip, allowing anyone with the app to see how a territory devastated by the Israeli military has changed. By updating imagery in 2024, 2025 and now 2026, Google has taken a step that other apps such as Apple Maps have not.

Seguir leyendo

The longtime hardware chief takes the top job as Cook becomes executive chairman after 15 years leading Apple.

The post John Ternus takes over as Apple CEO appeared first on BOL News.

Tim Cook moves to executive chairman as John Ternus takes the CEO role, putting Apple under new leadership at a crucial moment for artificial intelligence.

The post Tim Cook steps down as Apple CEO after 15 years appeared first on BOL News.