Apple might be currently developing a smart home dock for an iPad. This accessory can instantly turn a usual tablet into an infotainment display for home use.
Bloomberg tech writer Mark Gurman claims that it could lend some features to Google's current Pixel Tablet
What Does Google Smart Dock Do?
A tech insider claims that Apple is working on a smart home dock for iPad which is similar to Google Pixel Tablet.
According to MacRumors, Google has recently released a special smart home accessory that can power up its Pixel Tablet. Aside from charging the device, it can easily allow the users to use it like a smart home display which is what we usually see from Nest Hub.
"The dock keeps your device charged, makes your tablet helpful 24/7, and unlocks a whole new set of experiences in the home," the search engine giant wrote at that time.
Moreover, the company says you can have an impromptu dance party when you set the enhanced audio from the smart home speaker. You can also replay those memories in a picture frame with the help of Google Assistant, and you can do this with no hand interactions.
Simply put, if you dock the Pixel Tablet, you can easily use the rest of your smart home gadgets at home. You can instantly tweak the sleep temperature inside your bedroom without physically clicking a button.
Related Article: Apple's AR/VR Headset is Coming as Tim Cook Pushes for Launch Despite Design Team's Objection
Is Apple Releasing iPad Smart Dock Similar to Google Tablet?
Gurman discussed that the Cupertino tech firm could be working on a smart dock accessory that might be similar to Google's Pixel Tablet.
The tech reporter wrote in his "Power On" newsletter that the iPhone maker has plans to release a two-in-one smart home device that acts as a speaker and display at the same time.
Gurman says that the said functionality could potentially arrive in 2023. This might be connected to the previous report about the iPad charging dock that XDA Developers reported back in October 2022.
According to this story, Apple would unveil a tablet that can connect to a dock that also contains a speaker. The report mentioned that it could borrow Google's approach with the way it handles its Pixel Tablet with a dock smart display.
The smart home accessory could bring more versatility for users who wanted to FaceTime with their friends and loved ones since it will make use of the front-facing camera from the iPad.
The launch of this charging dock could coincide with the release of "homeOS," a new operating system that is currently in the works. It is rumored to be focused on smart home devices that are set to come in the future.
The "homeOS" was first seen in Apple's now-deleted job listing back in 2021. At that time, many people said that the rumored OS would be different from iOS, watchOS, and tvOS, per Tech Times.
Meanwhile, tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claimed that Apple's new HomePod with a built-in display is now in the works.
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