Apple Retail Stores Preparing for New Home Product Launches
MacRumors • • technology
Key Points:
- Apple is reorganizing parts of its physical retail stores this fall to accommodate new home products, specifically updating the "Avenues" perimeter walls where accessories like HomePod and Apple TV are displayed.
- The store changes include rearranging accessory sections and adding bays for upcoming devices, such as an upgraded Apple TV and a new HomePod mini featuring faster chips and improved sound.
- Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggests the scale of these retail modifications points to preparation for launching a long-anticipated smart home hub with a display, rumored as the HomePod with Display or "HomePad."
- This new home hub is expected between October and early next year, featuring a 7-inch square display, options for tabletop or wall mounting, and a new tvOS-based operating system with enhanced Siri AI integration.
- Code hints reveal the device’s home screen will support customizable widgets and icons similar to the iPhone’s Lock Screen, requiring dedicated in-store space for customers to experience its functionality and ecosystem integration.
