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Tech News
The Information reports Apple is working on a higher-end smart home display, codenamed J595 and possibly branded HomeView Ultra, with a 9-inch screen mounted on a robotic arm that swivels to track users during video calls. The device is said to be planned for a 2027 announcement with shipments beginning in 2028, priced around $1,000. This follows Apple's first HomeView smart display, a $299 7-inch panel launching next week.
According to The Information, Apple is developing an autonomous home robot, internally code-named J595 and possibly to be branded HomeView Ultra, that can roam a house to support FaceTime calls and turn on lights when someone enters a room. Sources who worked on the project say CEO John Ternus is pushing the effort forward, with a target price above $1,000 and a launch planned for 2027, though delays could push it to 2028. The project reportedly began with prototypes in 2018 under then-CEO Tim Cook's approval.
Apple has delayed its smart home robot, reportedly codenamed J595, until at least 2027 or possibly 2028, according to The Information. The report says the device's hardware has been ready for about two years, but software delays have held up its release, with the software team reportedly scaling back planned features to focus on FaceTime and basic home automation like controlling lights. The device is expected to carry a roughly $1,000 price tag and feature a 9-inch display mounted on a swiveling robotic arm.
Apple's iOS 27.2 update extends Dual Capture, which shows both front and rear camera views at once, to group FaceTime calls after previously limiting it to one-on-one calls. The update also adds support for third-party sign language interpreter apps and live captioning services within FaceTime, plus an Edge Light feature for iPhone Duo users.
Apple has released iOS 27.2, adding beta support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish to Siri, along with the ability for the assistant to recall details from earlier conversations. The update also brings Apple Pencil compatibility for the foldable iPhone Duo in apps like Notes and Preview, new FaceTime features such as Dual Capture and third-party captioning, and updates to Messages, Shared Albums, Podcasts, and a Multiview feature for watching multiple live sports streams.
Apple has rolled out iOS 27.2, a software update for iPhones that adds new capabilities to Siri along with changes to FaceTime and Messages, plus bug fixes. The update is available now as a download for compatible iPhones.
Apple rolled out iOS 27.2 on Monday, its first major update to iOS 27, adding the ability for Siri to recall details from earlier conversations and pull information from voicemails, Safari history, photos and calendar invitees. The update also enables simultaneous front- and rear-camera use on FaceTime calls and adds support for sign language interpreters or live captioners during video calls, alongside updates for iPad, Mac and Apple Watch.
A writer who picked up Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo at the Fifth Avenue store describes using it for a day, noting trade-offs like Touch ID instead of Face ID, an under-display FaceTime camera, and limited app optimization. They argue these shortcomings are less disruptive than expected, and say app support has already improved since launch as developers update their software for consumers rather than early reviewers.
Apple's upcoming iOS 27.2 update, expected next week, extends Dual Capture to Group FaceTime calls after launching as a one-on-one feature in iOS 27. It also splits Apple Podcasts' Up Next queue into separate New Episodes and Continue Playing sections, and brings tvOS-style user profiles to the iPhone's Apple TV app.
Apple is preparing to release iOS 27.2 next week with updates to six built-in apps. Highlights include a revived 'Suggested Actions' feature in Messages, a new user-profile selector for the Apple TV app on iPhone and iPad, Group FaceTime support for Dual Capture's simultaneous front-and-rear camera feeds, and new smart-lock controls in the Home app including a 'Lock After Closing' option.
Apple released the iOS 27.2 release candidate on Oct. 19, over a month after iOS 27 launched. The build expands Siri AI beyond English into French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, adds a FaceTime feature letting users run front and rear cameras simultaneously, and introduces a new Apple Music color scheme. Apple previously said the foldable iPhone Duo will launch Oct. 23 on iOS 27.1, with other devices able to update to 27.2 afterward.
WhatsApp now lets people join 1:1 or group calls through a browser without owning a WhatsApp account, via a new guest calling feature. Guests must be invited and approved by the host, cannot start calls, send messages, view phone numbers or add participants, but can use screen sharing, hand-raising and emoji reactions with no time limit. Meta also said a calendar-integration plugin for Google and Outlook is coming later this year.