Within the newest beta of tvOS 18.4, there are new hints of Apple’s work on a sensible residence hub accent that is rumored to be coming as quickly as this 12 months. MacRumors discovered that Apple has added ChatKit framework to the tvOS code, which is curious as there is no such thing as a Messages app obtainable on the Apple TV or the HomePod.
The ChatKit framework added to tvOS 18.4 contains reactions and notifications for tapback reactions added to iMessages, like “[person] disliked this” or [person] reacted with [emoji],” which might not be relevant to Apple’s present units that run tvOS.
Each the Apple TV and the HomePod are constructed on tvOS, and the upcoming sensible residence hub can be as nicely. Whereas the Apple TV and HomePod wouldn’t work with the ChatKit code options added to tvOS 18.4, Apple’s residence accent seemingly will.
The sensible residence “command middle” that Apple is creating is anticipated to have built-in Apple apps, and it is potential that a type of apps will embody Messages.
It’s value noting that there’s a shared codebase for tvOS and iOS, so this addition might imply nothing, however these ChatKit options had been already included in iOS and have simply been added to tvOS with the tvOS 18.4 beta.
Apple’s upcoming system will function a central hub for sensible residence administration, however it should additionally assist video calls, viewing photographs, looking the online, listening to music, getting information, and extra. It’s stated to look one thing like an iPad with an all-display design, however will probably be smaller, coming in at solely six inches sq..
Customers will seemingly have the ability to set it on a desk or mount it on a wall, and the expectation is that there can be multiples all through the home. It can embody some sensors for options like sensing the temperature or detecting close by folks.
There isn’t a concrete phrase on when Apple’s sensible residence hub will launch, however it might come within the second or third quarter of 2025.
