Apple seems to be working on a new operating system called HomeOS, and while we don't know exactly which products will run it, judging by the name, Apple may be planning to revamp its smart home ecosystem.
Macrumors on tvOS 17Some references to "homeos" were found in the latest developer beta version of 4. These references don't include any clues about the features of this operating system, but given that the name appears in the ** of other operating systems, it is likely that Apple is testing its compatibility before planning its release.
As always, we can't guarantee that we'll see it released publicly until Apple officially announces HomeOS, and even though a smart home makeover is coming, Apple can call the operating system something else; Before the release of the Vision Pro, Apple seemed ready to name its software XROS or RealityOS, registering these names even before opting for VisionOS.
That said, this isn't the first time Apple has officially mentioned HomeOS. The name first appeared in a job posting posted by the company in 2021 before being changed after reporters spotted "homeos."
Currently, Apple has two smart home product lines — HomePod and HomePod Mini smart speakers — that use its HomeKit smart home network and Matter standards. In our Apple HomePod 2 review, we praised the sound quality of the latest version, but its lack of Bluetooth support and Siri's limited usefulness make it difficult to recommend it as a smart speaker for homes without Apple technology.
Rumor has it that Apple may be planning to launch a third HomePod model with a screen, either by releasing a standalone product or by letting users connect the iPad Mini to their HomePod. As its range of smart home technology continues to evolve, it makes sense that Apple wants to introduce a new operating system to unify its products, rather than continuing to use a modified tvOS for HomePod as it does now.
If a new HomePod is about to launch, no one knows when or how Apple will announce it – the HomePod 2 was unexpectedly announced through a press release, rather than taking the stage at the event, as most Apple products do. However, if new software is coming, then we may see its announcement at this year's WWDC, Apple's annual developer conference, which usually takes place in June.
This will give software developers the opportunity to learn more about the new operating system so that they can potentially start developing applications for it. We'll have to wait and see if this announcement will be made at WWDC 2024 or another event.