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On the 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcast, hosts Chance Miller and Benjamin Mayo discuss rumors that Apple's smart display, dubbed 'HomePad,' could launch on October 13 with a small square screen. They also cover leaked photos suggesting imminent iPad mini and HomePod mini updates, reports that Apple executive John Ternus wants to make the company more nimble, and the new Apple Watch Readiness feature.
Tractive has released the Cat 6 Mini, a smart collar for cats that adds health metrics like heart and respiratory rate alongside location and sleep tracking. A reviewer tested the device on her cat for a month, comparing it to earlier models including the Fi Mini and Tractive's original Smart Cat Tracker.
Yoto has released new versions of its Yoto Player ($150) and Yoto Mini ($110), both priced $40 and $30 higher than prior models. The key addition is a dedicated button letting kids access favorite audio without inserting a physical Yoto Card or using a parent's phone, alongside improved durability including splash resistance.
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.
Following the M6 Mac mini launch, reports indicate Apple will bring the M6 chip to the entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro and a redesigned-color iMac this fall. A new M6 MacBook Air and M6 iPad Pro with a vapor chamber are expected in early 2027, while Pro and Max chip variants won't arrive until M7 in 2027.
Apple is said to be preparing to release its long-rumored smart home hub device around mid-October, alongside a refreshed HomePod Mini. The report suggests both products could debut close together in the same timeframe.
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.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple will reveal its long-rumored smart home hub alongside a new HomePod mini and an upgraded Apple TV on October 13th. The hub reportedly has a 6-inch tiltable display on a round metal base, resembling the iMac G4, with a separate wall-mounted version, USB-C power, and a gray aluminum finish. All three devices are expected to highlight Apple's revamped Siri AI assistant.
According to a Bloomberg report, incoming Apple CEO John Ternus wants the company to release products on a more frequent schedule than its traditional fall and spring events, and to move faster and experiment more to keep pace in AI. Bloomberg also reports Ternus is weighing flatter management layers, and that Apple's hardware engineering unit recently cut several engineering program manager roles, following earlier layoffs on the Siri and Vision Pro teams.
GMKtec has launched the Evo-X5 Pro, an AI-focused mini-PC built around AMD's top-tier Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 495 chip paired with 192GB of LPDDR5X-8533 memory. The 2TB SSD configuration costs $6,799, while the 4TB version reaches $7,099, with the chip's three power profiles ranging from 54W to 160W peak.
A leak from Aaron Perris indicates Apple's upcoming iPad mini refresh will include an A20 Pro chip and thinner bezels, alongside previously reported OLED display and water-resistant design. A commentator argues the device should also adopt the split-screen with picture-in-picture multitasking feature seen on the iPhone Duo.
A tech commentary compares foldable phone screen sizes to compact tablets, noting devices like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offer displays close in size to the iPad Mini's 8.3-inch screen. The piece argues that folding phones combine smartphone portability with tablet-like screen space, and can eliminate the need for a separate cellular data plan that many tablets require.