My observations about the HomeView and other tidbits

So many thoughts right now…

  • It was a low-key unveiling, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise; the HomeView is an accessory in the grand scheme of things.
  • About performance: A18 is the same processor as in the MacBook Neo. Fast content switching is a must in a multi-user setup. Based on the older Apple TV 4K, which has an older processor, this is promising. The switching sequence shown in Apple’s promotional material seems to corroborate this.
  • Dependencies on the presence of a modern iPhone signed into Apple Intelligence for some features are surprising.
  • The design is cute yet classy, but the arm behind the screen is shorter than I thought it would be. The design doesn’t remind me of the G4 iMac. At 7 inches, the screen is a tad bigger than rumors predicted. This leaves room (pun intended here) for a larger screen version with an articulated arm.
  • I’m ok with the lack of an App Store dedicated to the HomeView. I expect Apple to add some app functionality in the future.
  • The $429 price tag for the wall-mounted version, identical to the tabletop version, is an Apple tactic to discourage users from buying a cheaper version and adding external wireless speakers.
  • The power adaptor design presents a not-too-deep block with the USB plug on top. This design lets you place furniture close to the wall.
  • I’ll order mine so that I get it when I come back from Thailand in mid-November.
  • The new Apple TV 4K is the same price. I would have preferred a cheaper 64GB version; I don’t need 128GB, and I don’t play games on the Apple TV. Built-in microphones are a godsend; no remote needed for voice commands. Yeah.
  • One more thing: what’s missing from today’s announcements? The return of a secure, Apple-branded home networking device à la AirPort.
Auto-generated description: A wooden cabinet with two doors and a single drawer is topped with a potted plant having trailing green leaves with a HomeView sitting on the top.

Imagining Apple HomeView placement

I know where I’ll install Apple’s upcoming HomeHub… sorry, HomeView1, when I can get my hands on it. It needs to be central but not distracting when it displays photos2. Central enough so I can ask questions and get audible answers, like with the HomePod3. Close enough to reach and interact with on a whim. HomeView capabilities could be a deciding factor in where it lands in my house, or whether I get more than one.

  1. What a bad name. HomeHub would be much better. Come on, Apple! ↩︎

  2. I like it when I pass by a photo frame, peek at what is currently shown, then move on. ↩︎

  3. HomeView should have been the HomePod instead of a dumb speaker. ↩︎

I’m considering selling my RODECaster Video S. I never recorded a video with it. I realized that software-only solutions and setups are more flexible and easier to operate. I’m not a hardware guy when it comes to video production. 😔

The guessing game

I’m really looking forward to Apple’s new home device. I wish it would be called “the HomePod” because it reflects what the device is about. Now that Apple already uses that name for their rather dumb speaker, reusing it would be tricky, but not impossible. Apple could rename the current HomePod and the HomePod mini, yet it’s tricky. HomeHub might be the second-best name and would fit the personal-hub concept John Ternus discussed recently. Your iPhone is your personal hub, while the HomeHub is your home hub… duh. You can see a great device design approximation on YouTube from ‘fpt’. It’s rather cute.

I’m already trying to figure out where I will install it in my house.

Being selective with AI

Lately, because token usage in subscriptions has become costlier, I’ve become more selective about the models I choose for prompts. I switch between models like Haiku, Sonnet, and Opus based on the complexity of the prompt and the effort needed to produce a high-quality response. Is anyone else adopting this approach?