GoKawiil
Tech News
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is widely testing a home hub smart display powered by Siri AI, which could debut as early as next month. The device reportedly uses Face ID for user recognition and will come in both stand-mounted and wall-mounted versions, with its own home screen, widgets and StandBy-like clock faces.
A veteran smart-home reviewer argues that Apple's next major hardware push should be a dedicated home computer that processes data locally rather than another cloud-connected screen. She notes that new CEO John Ternus described the iPhone using language—an 'intelligent personal hub' focused on local processing and privacy—that better fits a smart home hub than a phone. The piece also points to Anker's Eufy MindBase, shown at IFA Berlin, as an early example of this 'super hub' category supporting Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Thread, Zigbee and Matter.
At IFA 2026, Reolink introduced the OMVI 2i Ultra, a wire-free security camera pairing an 8MP wide-angle lens with a separate 5MP pan-tilt-zoom lens that tracks subjects even after they leave the wide shot's frame. The device runs on a removable 10,000mAh battery rated for up to six months and includes a 6W solar panel for extra charging, with availability set for this fall though pricing is still unannounced. Reolink also revealed the $199.99 Home Hub 2 for local, subscription-free video storage and search, plus a $199.99 TrackFlex WiFi camera with dual-lens 4K recording and AI tracking.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is making major layout changes to its retail stores this fall, including reorganizing the Avenues sections and adding new accessory bays. While Apple was expected to release only a refreshed HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K, the scope of these store changes suggests the long-rumored smart home hub with a display may launch at the same time.