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A Reddit user named pdfu says they found strings in HomeView's settings app bundles and the Home app indicating the device could record and livestream video using HomeKit Secure Video. The strings reportedly describe four modes—Off, Detect Activity, Stream, and Stream & Allow Recordings—plus privacy features like a recording indicator light, an audible chime, and notifications when settings change.
Strings found in HomeView Software 27.2 by X user pdfu indicate Apple plans to let the device's built-in 12MP Center Stage camera function as a HomeKit Secure Video camera. The leaked setup text describes four operating states (Off, Detect Activity, Stream, Stream & Allow Recording) and three presence modes (When Home, When Away, When Asleep), alongside privacy safeguards like an on-screen indicator, an audible chime during streaming or recording, and alerts when settings change.
A Reddit user named pdfu discovered strings in HomeView 27.2 software suggesting Apple is developing security camera functionality for its smart home hub, including motion detection, live streaming, and recording. A setup page reportedly references using HomeView as a security camera with HomeKit Secure Video. Apple has not confirmed these features publicly.
Apple has begun taking preorders for HomeView, a 7-inch smart display and speaker meant to serve as a shared hub for up to six household members. The device uses voice control via Siri to manage smart home gear like locks and blinds, can show up to nine camera feeds at once, and recognizes individual users via its built-in camera to show personalized profiles. With an iCloud+ subscription and a paired Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad, it can also surface Messages, Calendar, Reminders, FaceTime, and Apple Music content.
Apple has introduced the HomeView, its first smart home display, featuring a 7-inch Liquid Retina touchscreen, a 12MP camera, and built-in Siri. The device is available in both wall-mounted and tabletop versions and includes a Home Widget that mirrors the Apple Home app, letting users control thermostats, locks, cameras and scenes directly from the screen.
Apple introduced the HomeView, a 7-inch square smart home hub, at its 'Welcome Home' event. The $299 device comes in wall-mounted and speaker-base versions, supports Siri, video calls, HomeKit Secure Video, and functions as a Matter controller and Thread Border Router. Preorders open today in four colors, with shipping starting November 13th.
Apple has rolled out several new perks for iCloud+ subscribers over the past few weeks, including upgraded HomeKit Secure Video with 4K support, AI-generated clip descriptions and searchable footage tied to iOS 27. The company also raised the custom email domain limit from three to ten addresses, and in more than 100 countries outside the US, iCloud+ now bundles Apple TV and Apple Arcade at no extra cost.
Apple's iOS 27 update adds major upgrades to the Home app, led by improvements to HomeKit Secure Video. Compatible cameras can now stream and record in 4K, up from the previous 1080p cap, while Apple Intelligence adds AI-generated video descriptions, clip search, and highlighted 'noteworthy clips.' The update also introduces real-time notifications that consolidate related alerts into a single updating message instead of several separate ones.
Apple's newly released iOS 27 introduces daily usage caps on server-dependent Apple Intelligence features like image generation, but iCloud+ subscribers on most paid tiers get expanded access beyond the free limits. The update also brings AI-powered upgrades to HomeKit Secure Video, including video descriptions, clip search, and automatic highlighting of notable footage for compatible home cameras.
Apple's Home app now offers AI-generated descriptive summaries and natural language search for security camera footage. These features require a paid HomeKit Secure Video subscription, with top-tier plans reaching up to $60 per month.
With iOS 27 and tvOS 27, Apple has added Apple Intelligence features to HomeKit Secure Video, including AI-generated text summaries of camera footage, video search, and the ability to merge clips from multiple cameras. These features require pricier iCloud Plus plans, starting at $9.99 a month for one camera and rising to $59.99 a month for coverage of up to five cameras.
WIRED's 2026 video doorbell guide lists three additional models that just missed the top picks: the $100 SwitchBot Smart Video Doorbell with a built-in display, the $100 Aqara G400 Select wired doorbell with local storage and optional HomeGuardian subscription, and the $170 Philips Hue Secure Video Doorbell offering 2K resolution and Hue light integration. Each has strengths and drawbacks, from slow displays to bulky designs to reliance on paid subscriptions for advanced AI features.