Apple is preparing to launch a new smart home display device as early as next month. Internally codenamed J490, the device features a square screen, a camera, and a microphone, and is designed to control smart home appliances, facilitate video calls, and play media. It runs a new operating system powered by Siri AI and requires an iPhone for initial setup.
The device is currently being tested by Apple employees and supports facial recognition for personalized content delivery, such as news, calendars, and music. While it shares design elements with iOS, tvOS, and watchOS, it does not use a standard Face ID sensor. The product will be available in two versions: one for wall mounting and another with a stand.
Apple has officially canceled plans for a dedicated stylus for the iPhone Duo. Instead, the company will enable support for the existing iPad Apple Pencil on the foldable device. Technical issues during the development of the original stylus led to this decision, with full compatibility expected to arrive by the end of 2026.
The company is also restructuring its Fitness+ subscription service due to high production costs and user churn. Recent layoffs have impacted the team, particularly those producing audio content like 'Time to Walk' and 'Time to Run'. Future updates for these segments will be less frequent, and the service may eventually be integrated into the main Health app.
