As Apple debuts Siri AI in the home, it’s focusing on a beautiful screen and hiding your text messages from your kids, rather than on innovative smart home features.
That’s according to analysts at Counterpoint, who also say sales in Q3 2026 were 20 percent down on the previous year, as supply shrinks and prices rise. Samsung held the top spot, helped by Galaxy Z Fold 8 sales, with Apple close behind.
A last-minute report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that Apple’s smart home hub will be called HomeView, not HomePad and will ship in mid november. He says it won’t be an iPad-like experience with an App Store, and will offer a much more limited experience.
It’s like using cloud-based AI tools, but the privacy makes it more appealing.
Apple potentially used a shell company named Home Services LLC to secretly file for a “HomeView” trademark in the U.S. and various other countries last year, around the same time that another shell company named Home Operations Suite LLC that also might be linked to Apple filed for a “homeOS” trademark.
Perhaps the phrase is for something that will be announced at the October 13th “Welcome home” event? At least we don’t have to wait too long to find out.
Apple has reportedly told suppliers to cut production of components for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max by up to 15 percent in the face of weaker demand, according to Nikkei Asia. The company isn’t alone, though. IDC predicts a 16.7 percent year-over-year decline in smartphone shipments, but reports prices are up 27.6 percent.
A filing says the deal allows Apple to hire employees and license IP from Huxe, founded by Jason Spielman, Raiza Martin, and Stephan Hughes, who previously designed Google’s NotebookLM (now Gemini Notebook). Huxe offered personalized AI podcasts, but as MacRumors notes, it announced it was shutting down in May.
