Apple dropped another interesting hint about the development of the HomePad, and it was curiously revealed during the developer sessions. In one of the sessions on “Interactive Fragment Design,” new UI frameworks designed for App Intents can be seen. Their form is very similar to widgets as we know them, although these are more visually appealing and invite action when tapped. These on-screen elements could be designed for Apple’s HomePad.
A WWDC session may have revealed the interactive features that will be featured on the HomePad.
The HomePad references keep coming, and in iOS 18.6, a code associated with a device with an operating system that doesn’t yet officially exist, homeOS, was discovered. This code refers to a wallpaper with a resolution of approximately 2176 pixels wide, which could mean a screen size of approximately 7 inches.
The session held at WWDC shows these snippets in a way that’s interactive and designed to appear at the top of the screen. They could be designed for the iPhone and iPad, although existing rumors about the HomePad are also taken into account. One technical aspect regarding the height dimensions of the snippets is noteworthy. Apple recommends 340 points to avoid “friction when scrolling .” It’s likely designed for a screen viewed from a distance; it makes perfect sense for it to be the HomePad. Another point worth highlighting is the text size and color contrast, both of which are large, but in the case of the text, it’s much larger than what’s seen on the iPhone or iPad.
Does Apple have the HomePad ready yet?
It’s worth noting that Apple already has the HomePod ready, so much so that it was prepared to be launched during the spring, although it was delayed due to the problem we all know with Siri. In this case, Apple seems to have made the most of the time to continue developing the operating system. It is important to do this in view of the launches of new operating systems such as iOS 26 and macOS Tahoe because they will also be present for the iPhone and the Mac. Once developers can master the subject, the HomePod could be launched, and the same developers already have the opportunity to use these fragments without any problem.
So many rumors about this make us think that Apple’s HomePad is getting closer to being launched. There are no new rumors regarding this topic yet, although we have no doubt it could happen next September, along with the iPhone 17 and the new Apple Watch.
