The rumor that Apple could have its new home product ready continues to provide new clues. This time, it’s hidden code in the new iOS 18.6 beta found by 9to5Mac. A line of code in a file that, based on the title, could be attributed to the future HomePad with the HomeOS operating system. Recall that this launch was planned for last spring, but evident delays with Siri forced Apple to postpone it. It seems that it will be ready, at the earliest, in September, along with the iPhone.
Apple’s HomePad is giving a new clue in the iOS 18.6 beta.
According to a line associated with ProgressUI, a line of code was found within iOS 18.6 over an image that indicates the Apple logo on that new product. The resource would indicate that it would be an exclusive image to be loaded in homeOS. Normally, different sizes of an Apple background image are contemplated , in this case, it is the apple logo. They vary for the sizes of iPhone and iPad. In the case of the line of code, it indicates the number 1088 with a 2x scale, so it increases to 2176. The resolution of this image would be for a size similar to that of an iPad mini. What is interesting is that this coincides with a previous report that indicated that Apple was testing the new operating system on an iPad mini.
Mark Gurman previously reported that Apple’s smart home display would have a 7-inch screen. Based on this, the approximate screen size could be around 8 inches, though it could have a lower pixel density than the iPad mini.
Being a screen with a lower pixel density, it could be a cheaper product than an iPad.
The HomePad may not have the most spectacular display, and that’s simply because you won’t be able to use it like an iPhone or iPad, as it’s always close to you, but rather at a distance. It’s also likely to have a higher number of microphones to achieve better audio fidelity when receiving Siri requests. In this case, having a lower pixel density screen could contribute to its affordable price.
The downside to finding this small line of code is that there’s no further information about a possible release in the aforementioned month of September. If Apple sticks with Siri as one of the product’s main tools, the launch could be delayed even further. What can we expect from the HomePad as the ultimate home device? Is anything additional required to make it a hit with users?
