Apple iPad smart home hub dock is rumoured to be on the way

Apple hopes to make the iPad a more permanent part of the household by transforming it into a smart home hub and speaker.
The iPad, Apple TV, and HomePod mini are crucial to the operation of Apple’s HomeKit framework. However, Apple seems determined to change that by creating a centralized, controllable, and devoted fixture for the home.

Mark Gurman, in an early issue of Bloomberg’s “Power On” newsletter, repeats speculation that iPad- and speaker-integrated standalone devices may soon become available as the nerve center of the connected house. Apple appears to be considering a second strategy, this one involving an iPad, which could provide the same advantages.

Gurman makes reference to Google’s May debut of the Pixel Tablet, at which time the search giant announced its plans to offer a docking attachment that would transform the tablet into a smart display and home management device. According to Gurman, Apple is reportedly developing equivalent features that might launch as soon as 2023.

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Besides the freestanding hub, this also features a docking station for the iPad. It is speculated that the two ideas may be stored on a tabletop in the kitchen, the living room, or the bedroom.

A hub-style smart device would be a natural fit for the HomePod line, and there have been rumors of improvements and a new model coming in the first quarter of 2023.

Apple iPad smart home hub dock is rumoured to be on the way — Apple iPad smart home hub dock is rumored to be on the way

To some extent, Apple has also prepared the groundwork for the accessory in iOS 16, with the companies revamp of the HomeKit architecture resulting in a quicker and more dependable Home app. With Matter compatibility, HomeKit can now interact with a wider variety of smart home products.

To begin with the hardware, it has been speculated that Apple will implement a new four-pin Smart Connector design in its iPad Pro products. An iPad docked with such a connector may supply both data and power.

And some people wonder

Where do I find the setting to allow the iPad dock to be visible?

Just a quick swipe up from the bottom of the screen will show the Dock, where you may select the app you wish to use from any open window. On the left side of the Dock, you’ll see your most frequently used programs, and on the right, the Dock will recommend programs based on what you’re now doing on your Mac or iPhone.

Is Apple working on a home hub we can purchase?

The HomeKit integration with iPad has been discontinued. Apple has discontinued iPad support for usage as a home hub, meaning that customers who want to take advantage of hub-enabled features like remote accessory control via Siri and location-based automation will need to upgrade to a HomePod, HomePod mini, or Apple TV.

Can I use the iPad as a smart home hub?

Your iPad needs to be in your house, active and linked to your home Wi-Fi network for it to function as a home hub. The new Home architecture, which is more dependable and efficient, and will be available later this year as a separate update in the Home app, does not support the iPad as a home hub.

Can you explain what the iPad’s Dock feature does?

The iPad Dock is a convenient place to keep apps you use frequently or have recently opened, saving you time by eliminating the need to navigate through several screens and folders. Slide Over or Split View mode makes it possible to operate two programs at once for streamlined multitasking.

To what extent would an Apple home hub benefit me?

When you’re not at home, you can still control your lights and security camera using a HomeKit home hub that functions as a relay for your HomeKit accessories via iCloud. Because HomeKit is restricted to your home Wi-Fi network by default, a HomeKit home hub is required.

What is the difference between Apple home and HomeKit?

To sum up Apple HomeKit’s two components: In and of itself, HomeKit is a standard, a back-end software technology that devices must adhere to in order to join the HomeKit ecosystem. Apple Home, an iOS app available on iOS devices and Macs, serves as the consumer-facing analog.

Is a smart hub really necessary?

Home automation devices that use a protocol other than Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, such as Zigbee or Z-Wave, require a hub to function. If you only have one or two smart home devices and they don’t need to communicate with each other, or if you don’t mind using several apps to manage them, you probably don’t need a smart home hub.

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