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Bloomberg has reported that Apple intends to introduce a long-rumored smart home hub, a redesigned HomePod mini, and a Siri-enhanced Apple TV 4K on October 13. The report did not say whether these products will be revealed via a dedicated event or simply through press releases, as Apple has done with some recent launches.
ESPN has rolled out 4K HDR support in its streaming app on Apple TV and iPhone, covering major live sports including Monday Night Football, NBA, NHL, select college football, US Open tennis, and Super Bowl LXI. Content supporting the format is marked with a new '4K HDR' tag in the app, and ESPN says the upgrade brings sharper detail, color, and motion for viewers with sufficient bandwidth.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple will unveil a new smart home lineup on October 13, including a square six-inch smart display (code-named J490/J491), an updated HomePod mini, and a faster Apple TV 4K. The display reportedly uses facial and voice recognition and runs software blending elements of iPadOS, watchOS, and iOS's StandBy mode, with the whole lineup built to showcase Apple's revamped Siri.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple will unveil three new Home products on October 13, including a rumored 'HomePad' device and an updated HomePod mini, but a redesigned full-size HomePod won't be among them. Gurman says Apple still intends to update the larger speaker eventually, though no timeline was given.
Apple plans to release its smart home hub, internally codenamed J490, on October 13, according to Bloomberg. The device reportedly has a 6-inch display with a design echoing the iMac G4, and will arrive alongside an updated HomePod mini in new colors and a new Apple TV 4K featuring Siri AI support.
Apple's tvOS 27 update adds a setting that lets users restrict which apps can be opened under a specific profile on Apple TV 4K. Previously, profiles could limit content within the Apple TV app itself but couldn't stop a child from opening an entirely different app.
Leaker pdfu found code in tvOS 27 revealing hidden controls to toggle audio for the Snoopy screensaver on Apple TV 4K, including On, Off and a 'Reduced' setting. The leaker notes that none of the current Snoopy content packages include actual audio files yet.
MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris found images inside Apple's code showing a HomePod mini in five colors, including three new ones — green, pink, and blue — alongside existing white and black options. The same leak also revealed a fourth-generation Apple TV 4K that appears to keep its current external design, with no other specifications disclosed.
Details and images found in Apple's own code by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris suggest Apple is preparing a HomePod mini 2 in new muted color options, an iPad mini 8 with a repositioned front camera and A20 Pro chip, and an updated Apple TV 4K that looks similar to its predecessor. The leak follows Apple's recent launch of the iPhone 18 Pro and folding iPhone Duo.
Reports point to three long-anticipated Apple products launching in October: a redesigned MacBook Pro or Ultra with a touchscreen, OLED display and Dynamic Island; a new Apple TV 4K with an A19 or A19 Pro chip and Siri AI features; and a smart display device known as 'HomePad' with a camera and its own operating system blending iOS, tvOS and watchOS elements. The MacBook Pro would mark Apple's first major redesign in five years, while the Apple TV would be its first refresh since 2022.
Leaker pdfu shared code and video from audioOS 27 revealing a redesigned Siri interface for HomePod, built on the 'Linwood' system that powers Apple's Siri AI. The update includes new status lights in white, blue and orange, matching Siri AI's visual style on other Apple devices, though the feature isn't yet active for users.
Apple's tvOS 27.2 beta 2 now lets users pair four HomePods—two sets of two—wirelessly through the Home app to serve as surround speakers for Apple TV 4K, according to FlatpanelsHD. The feature currently works with Atmos and surround audio from video content, but lacks the ability to assign specific speaker roles like front and rear, and menu or game audio still only plays through the front pair.