GoKawiil
Tech News
9to5Mac's daily podcast rounded up its top stories for October 13, 2026, covering reported developments related to HomeView, the Apple TV 4K, and the HomePod mini. The episode was sponsored by Backblaze and is available through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, and 9to5Mac's RSS feed.
Apple's updated Apple TV 4K adds far-field microphones for hands-free Siri commands and uses AI to pull context from apps like Messages, letting users ask it to play shows mentioned in texts. Siri can also answer trivia about on-screen content, displaying text-only responses in a corner of the screen rather than speaking over audio. The new Siri Remote can also emit a sound to help users locate it, similar to the AirPods 'find' feature.
Apple's new HomePod mini 2 replaces the 2019 model's S5 chip with the more powerful S10, enabling Siri AI capabilities such as natural conversation and more accurate general knowledge answers, though this won't be available at launch. The speaker also gains a visual feature called Sound Glow, which syncs its touch-surface lighting with music and album artwork, and supports multi-speaker surround sound setups with other HomePod units via Apple TV.
Apple held an unstreamed 'Welcome Home' event on October 13 where it introduced seven new smart home products, headlined by its first smart panel, the $299 HomeView. The lineup also included a new HomePod mini, an updated Apple TV, and Home Collection devices made in partnership with LG and Schneider Electric.
Apple has released the HomePod Mini 2, replacing a model that had gone unchanged for six years. The new speaker runs on Apple's S10 chip, also used in the Apple Watch Series 10 and 11, and adds Siri AI support, surround sound pairing with Apple TV 4K, and an LED lighting feature tied to audio playback. It retains prior capabilities such as HomeKit hub functions, Sound Recognition alerts, and its compact design.
Apple announced that its new Siri AI features, launching with the redesigned Apple TV 4K, will also come as beta software to Apple TV 4K units dating back to the second generation released in 2021. The update will arrive as part of tvOS 27.2 this fall, on or before the new Apple TV 4K's November 13 release date.
At its 'Welcome Home' event, Apple introduced the HomePod Mini 2, a four-inch smart speaker powered by the new S10 chip that optimizes music playback in real time. The speaker starts at $149, ships in five new colors on October 30, and will later gain expanded Siri AI capabilities through a software update. Basic Siri functions like reminders, questions, and Apple Home device control are available at launch.
Apple's website confirms that HomePod mini 2, shipping October 30, will not include the Siri AI assistant features advertised as a key selling point at launch. A footnote on Apple's site states Siri AI is 'coming in a future software update,' with the delay also confirmed in Apple's press release.
Apple has announced a new Apple TV 4K streaming box featuring an A19 chip, said to be 50% faster with double the graphics power of its predecessor's A15 chip, plus three far-field microphones for hands-free Siri use. The device, priced at $299, also supports pairing with two HomePod Mini 2 speakers for four-speaker surround sound and is available for pre-order now, shipping November 13.
Apple unveiled HomeView, a wall- or tabletop-mountable smart home hub with a 7-inch screen that recognizes individual household members by face and shows them relevant information. The device starts at $299 and ships Nov. 13, alongside a refreshed $299 Apple TV 4K with a trackable remote and a $149 HomePod Mini in new colors. All three products feature Apple's recently released Siri AI, letting users carry conversations from the hub to their iPhone or iPad.
Apple introduced the HomePod mini 2 at its smart home event, raising the price to $149 from the original's $99 launch price in 2020. The new speaker features an S10 chip for improved audio performance, smart home alarm detection, a glowing visual display called 'Sound Glow,' and tighter integration with other Apple devices. Siri AI-powered multi-turn conversations were announced but will arrive later via software update, with pre-orders starting immediately and shipping October 30.
Apple announced Apple Home Collection, a line of smart cameras, thermostats, a video doorbell and a smart deadbolt lock made in partnership with LG Electronics and Schneider Electric. The devices, priced from about $40 to $400, set up via iPhone and are managed entirely through the Apple Home app without separate accounts. Apple says availability starts in December, with some products arriving in early 2027.