There have been multiple rumors about Apple’s work on various Apple TV and HomePod hybrid devices with a touchscreen over the last few years, and new findings in the tvOS 18 update further hint at the development that Apple is doing in the home space.
A unique touchscreen interface was allegedly found buried in tvOS 18 beta 3 by 9to5Mac, and the finding is actually relevant to the HomePod because the HomePod’s software is an offshoot of the tvOS software. The interface is called “PlasterBoard” internally, and PlasterBoard is in line with the naming for other Apple interfaces, which include SpringBoard for iOS and iPadOS, PineBoard for tvOS, SoundBoard for HomePod, and SurfBoard for visionOS. The interface appears to feature just a Lock Screen with a touch-based keyboard for entering passcodes as of right now, with little else discovered about it.
The Apple TV does not include an option for locking it with a passcode, nor does the HomePod because as of right now, the HomePod only supports simple control gestures. The design that was found in the beta closely resembles the on-screen keypad that you see on an iPhone or an iPad.
Rumors have suggested that Apple is working on several home control devices, and the mix of rumors we’ve heard indicate that multiple development paths and prototypes are being explored. There have been rumors of a simple HomePod with a touch display at the top, a hybrid HomePod and Apple TV device with a camera, a HomePod with a screen and a camera, and an iPad/HomePod sort of combo that works as a centralized home hub.
A standard HomePod with an LED touch-based display at the top of the device could potentially be the first HomePod and display combo that we see. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said a HomePod with 7-inch display would launch at some point in 2024, and there have been leaked prototype images.
Last week, MacRumors found code referencing a “Home Accessory” device with a HomeAccessory17,1 identifier. No existing HomePod or Apple TV devices use the HomeAccessory identifier, but it is similar to the AudioAccessory identifier that Apple uses internally for the HomePod. Based on the numbering, this upcoming device is equipped with the same A18 chip we expect to see in the iPhone 16 lineup.
Popular Stories
10 Reasons to Wait for Next Year’s iPhone 17
Apple’s iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models concurrently, which is why we sometimes get rumored feature leaks so far ahead of launch. The iPhone 17 series is no different, and already we have some idea of what to expect from Apple’s 2025 smartphone lineup. If you plan to skip…
iPhone 17 ‘Slim’: Everything We Know So Far
In 2025, Apple is expected to discontinue the iPhone “Plus” device in its iPhone 17 lineup to make way for an iPhone “Slim” – although it may not actually be called this when it debuts in the fall of next year. Even though the iPhone 16 series launch is still over two months away, when you consider that we learned about larger displays on the iPhone 16 Pro models way back in May 2023, rumors…
Everything New in iOS 18 Beta 3
With the third betas of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 that Apple released today, there are additional tweaks to a number of features like Dark Mode icons, the Photos app, emoji in Messages, and more, with Apple appearing to be preparing for the launch of Apple Intelligence. Apple will continue updating iOS 18 over the course of the next couple of months, refining the beta prior to its launch….
Apple Leak Confirms Four iPhone 16 Models With Same A18 Chip
Code discovered in Apple’s backend by Nicolás Alvarez and shared with MacRumors confirms Apple’s plans to release four iPhone 16 models this year, and it indicates that the devices will all have the same A-series chip. There are mentions of new model numbers that are not associated with existing iPhones, and that have the numbering scheme Apple uses for its flagship devices. The code…
Best Buy Takes Up to $500 Off M3 MacBook Pro in New Sale
Best Buy this weekend is offering a big selection of discounts on Apple’s late 2023 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro, with up to $500 off select models. These deals are available to all shoppers and do not require a My Best Buy Plus or Total membership. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps…