It's been a busy few weeks for Apple, with the US technology company announcing some of its biggest new products in years.Just last month, it showcased its iPhone Duo with a foldable display, which goes on sale next week.Now the firm is back with another totally fresh device called the HomeView.
It's built to control those endless smart gadgets, such as lights, plugs, thermostats and cameras, that many of us now have dotted around homes.Apple says it's fully compatible with many accessories already on the market, and it can be used to see who is at the front door, get the heating ramped up, or easily turn all smart bulbs on and off.In fact, a simple voice command, like "I'm home", will instantly spring lights and other devices into life.
But Apple wants this to be more than just a control centre.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Tech news, reviews and latest gadgets plus selected offers and competitions I would like to receive emails from the Daily Express featuring our latest products, services, offers, and promotions from across the Reach Plc family.Subscribe Invalid email You agree you are 18 or over.
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More Info.It can be used as a digital photo frame, offers music streaming with karaoke-style lyrics on the display, and it can make FaceTime video calls to friends and family via an inbuilt Centre Stage camera.Just like an iPhone, the home screen is fully customisable and can be set up to show the time, date and remind users of upcoming events in their diaries.The HomeView is also very smart.Thanks to facial recognition, it can tell who is staring at the 7-inch Retina display and then switch to unique family profiles.
Each household member can choose their on-screen preferences, and it also means things such as text messages can be sent via the device without fear that other people can snoop or take a sneaky look.The minute the user walks away, those texts can no longer be read or opened by guests or other family members.It's clever stuff, and it allows up to six people to have profiles.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTAnother smart feature of HomeView is Apple's latest Siri assistant, which has been deeply integrated into the device.
This allows users to ask for songs to be played, events to be added to calendars, messages to be sent or general questions they want answered.Article continues below ADVERTISEMENTSiri can even set reminders or switch on smart home devices at specific times of the day.Another standout feature is a recipe mode.Users can find a dish they want to cook on their phones via a website and then send it to the HomeView.
This new device then automatically displays the required ingredients along with a simplified cooking method on the screen.It even offers instant one-touch timers which match the recipe.To make sure it suits all homes, the HomeView comes in two form factors: a wall-mounted version with a screen, or a model with a built-in stand.Both feature internal speakers, although the HomeView with the attached base delivers improved audio that can easily fill a room.The HomeView is basically a digital hub for the home, designed by Apple to be used in areas such as hallways, kitchens, or even bedside tables.
The display can even be dimmed to just 0.3 nits, ensuring it doesn't glow too brightly and keep owners awake at night.Virgin Media deleting email addresses unless you pay 99p | Express.co.uk Urgent email warning issued to anyone with a Tesco Clubcard Like all of Apple's devices, the firm says it's been built around privacy, with numerous safeguards included that make sure personal data is kept private.This includes profiles not opening on the HomeView unless another device, such as an iPhone, has been unlocked nearby by the account holder.It comes in numerous colours, including Silver, Starlight, Rose Pink and Sage Grey and is priced at £299.Along with HomeView, Apple has announced a new Home Collection featuring smart devices created in partnership with LG.There's a video doorbell with dual cameras for monitoring driveways and checking for any parcels that may have been delivered.An indoor camera is also launching that automatically folds away when the owners get home to stop false alerts and concerns about being watched.
These products will arrive soon and offer a simple setup and full integration with the HomeView.
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