Apple Expected to Reveal Smart Home Hub... Competition with Google and Amazon Intensifies

As Apple is reportedly set to unveil new products such as a smart home hub in the middle of this month, competition in the smart home market is expected to intensify further. Following the recent overhaul of Siri, there is growing speculation that Apple will make a fullfledged entry into a market long led by Google and Amazon. According to reports, Apple may unveil a smart home hub equipped with a 6inch square display around the 13th. The device is said to use voice recognition and facial recognition to display schedules, messages, notes, and apps differently for each family member, and is also expected to support functions such as home temperature control, door lock control, video calls, and music playback. Apple is also said to be preparing new models of the HomePod mini and Apple TV. Industry observers are watching to see whether Apple can boost its presence in the smart home market by leveraging its hardware competitiveness, as Google’s Nest and Amazon’s Alexa and Echo currently hold strong market shares.