Apple Aims to Launch Five Additional Home Products in the Upcoming Year

Reports suggest that Apple is gearing up to significantly broaden its Home product range in the upcoming year, with several launches anticipated shortly. Here are five new Apple Home products speculated for the next year.

## New Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2

Any moment now, we anticipate the next Apple product rollouts to encompass two Home devices: Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini.

Speculations regarding the upcoming Apple TV 4K imply that it will:
– Feature an A17 Pro chip, an upgrade from the current A15 Bionic
– Provide support for Apple Intelligence
– Incorporate the N1 wireless chip Apple recently unveiled
– Potentially come with an integrated camera

Regarding the HomePod mini 2, expected enhancements include:
– A new chip to substitute the existing S5
– Enhanced audio performance
– New color options, possibly including red
– Support for Apple Intelligence and the latest Siri
– An upgraded ultra-wideband chip
– The N1 chip

While these two products are merely enhancements of existing hardware, the remaining three rumored launches for the year ahead signify entirely new offerings.

## HomePod Touch or ‘HomePad’

The highly anticipated HomePod with a display was initially expected to arrive this March, but with the delay of Siri’s AI enhancements, Apple postponed the product’s release as well. A debut is now anticipated in March or April 2026.

Although the product name is still uncertain, ‘HomePad’ once seemed probable, whereas ‘HomePod Touch’ now appears more likely.

HomePod Touch will feature a 7-inch predominantly square display and will operate on brand new homeOS software.

homeOS will include pre-installed system applications such as Safari, Music, Notes, Calendar, Photos, Reminders, and more.

Widgets will be a key functionality, akin to the iPhone’s StandBy feature during wireless charging.

The new AI capabilities of Siri driven by App Intents are expected to be a major attraction.

Mark Gurman recently mentioned that the product could be priced around $350 and will come in two variants: one with a speaker base and another designed for mounting on walls and other flat surfaces.

## Security Camera and Video Doorbell

Lastly, Apple reportedly plans to introduce two new smart home accessories in 2026.

According to Bloomberg:
1. Security camera: “in-home, privacy-centric security camera”
2. Video doorbell: “Face ID-driven digital doorbell”

These two new devices will signify a significant change in Apple’s approach to the smart home.

Previously, Apple was mainly content to allow third parties to develop HomeKit accessories, but it appears now that Apple intends to compete with its own products.

Commenting on Apple’s security camera, Mark Gurman states:
>The device is equipped with facial recognition and infrared sensors to identify who is present in a room. Apple envisions users placing cameras throughout their homes to facilitate automation, such as turning off lights when someone exits a room or automatically playing music preferred by a certain family member.

Gurman has also reported that the video doorbell may offer integration with third-party smart locks. It’s also plausible that the company will introduce its own smart lock or collaborate with a specific partner.

Which upcoming Apple Home products are you most eager about? Share your thoughts in the comments.

iOS 26.1 Release Candidate Now Released: Important Modifications and Enhancements

Apple has unveiled iOS 26.1 RC to beta testers prior to the official rollout of the software update. Here’s what modifications are on the way for the iPhone in iOS 26.1.

### Liquid Glass Toggle

The standout feature in iOS 26.1 is the Liquid Glass toggle. Apple is incorporating the choice to alternate between transparent (the existing design in iOS 26) and tinted. The tinted variant alters the opacity level behind elements such as notifications and tab bars. Other Liquid Glass visual components like optional clear app icons remain unchanged.

The toggle can be located in Settings > Display & Brightness > Liquid Glass on both iPhone and iPad. The Mac also acquires the toggle in Settings > Appearance > Liquid Glass, although the variations in macOS are less noticeable.

This newly added option complements existing accessibility features like increase contrast, reduce transparency, and others.

### Lock Screen Swipe

iOS 26.1 brings a new toggle that may be appreciated by a broader audience. For the first time in several years, users can now disable the gesture to swipe open the Camera from the iPhone lock screen.

The new toggle is accessible via Settings > Camera > Lock Screen Swipe to Open Camera.

This shortcut originated as a swipe-up gesture before evolving into a right-side swipe gesture in iOS 10. From the iPhone X onwards, Apple included Lock Screen shortcuts for Flashlight and Camera by default.

Recent iPhones also come equipped with the Camera Control button, introducing a third method to access the Camera. Prior to that, the Action button provided another way.

While the swipe function persists, the option to disable it in Settings can prevent unintentional swipes that accidentally launch the Camera app.

### More

Additional changes found in earlier iterations of iOS 26.1 pertain to Apple Intelligence, AirPods Live Translation, Apple TV, and iPad Slide Over.

Apple Intelligence now supports Chinese (traditional), Danish, Dutch, Norwegian, Portuguese (Portugal), Swedish, Turkish, and Vietnamese.

AirPods Live Translation enhances its support to include Chinese (Mandarin simplified and traditional), Italian, Japanese, and Korean. This feature debuted with iOS 26 on AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3, and AirPods 4, supporting US and UK English, French, German, Portuguese (Brazil), and Spanish (Spain).

Apple is changing its streaming video service name from Apple TV+ to just Apple TV. The rebranding will feature “a vibrant new identity,” according to Apple. The first indication of this vibrancy is the new icon for the Apple TV app.

The Settings app has also introduced a Local Capture section under General. This setting allows users to modify where Local Capture files are stored. There’s an option to set Local Capture to only include audio as well.

iOS 26.1 further enhances the way alarms are dismissed with a Slide to Unlock interface, incorporates a swipe gesture for switching songs in the Music app, and offers many other improvements.

### Availability

iOS 26.1 RC is currently accessible for developer beta testers. The official release version is expected to be available in about a week.

iPadOS 26.1 Release Candidate Now Available Prior to Official Release

# iPadOS 26.1 Release Candidate: What to Anticipate

Apple has recently released the iPadOS 26.1 Release Candidate (RC), indicating that the software update is nearing its public debut. This update is especially thrilling for users as it unveils a host of new features and enhancements designed to enrich the iPad experience.

## New Features in iPadOS 26.1

The forthcoming iPadOS 26.1 will present numerous notable features, particularly for beta testers who can engage with the most recent build ahead of the public rollout. Here are some of the key highlights:

– **Liquid Glass**: The update adds a new ‘Tinted’ option that boosts opacity, allowing users to further personalize their interface.

– **Slide Over**: This multitasking feature makes a comeback, offering users a distinct method to handle apps. However, it’s crucial to highlight that Slide Over now accommodates only one app at a time, as the feature no longer allows stacking multiple applications.

– **Apple Intelligence**: The functionality expands to incorporate eight new languages for AirPods live translation, improving accessibility for users worldwide.

– **Music Controls**: Users can now swipe on the MiniPlayer to switch tracks, optimizing the music listening experience.

– **UI and Feature Enhancements**: Besides the major updates, several minor user interface changes and enhancements aim to sharpen the overall user experience.

The reintroduction of Slide Over is particularly important for iPad users, as it improves multitasking capabilities. Despite its restriction to a single app, many users have shown approval of its return.

## Performance and Stability

The latest iteration of iPadOS 26.1 is crafted to deliver an enhanced experience for beta testers, concentrating on performance, bug resolutions, and stability. Apple has been responsive to feedback during the beta period, ensuring that users experience fewer obstacles while navigating the new features.

## Expected Public Launch

With the Release Candidate now accessible, the public launch of iPadOS 26.1 is anticipated to take place within the coming week. Users who have been evaluating the beta are encouraged to share their insights, especially regarding performance and usability.

## Conclusion

iPadOS 26.1 is set to offer a variety of enhancements that cater to both casual and power users. As the public release nears, excitement grows around the new features and improvements that will soon be accessible to all iPad users.

Apple Unveils macOS Tahoe 26.1 Release Candidate: Fresh Features and Enhancements

Apple is launching the release candidate version of macOS 26.1 for developers, along with the public beta, preceding the imminent public debut. Here’s what you can anticipate.

## AI foundations, fresh icons, and Tinted Liquid Glass

Since the initial beta, Apple has incorporated several modifications behind the scenes to prepare the system for MCP support, in addition to introducing more third-party AI functionalities beyond ChatGPT on Image Playground. These enhancements have not been officially revealed yet.

Apple has also introduced a toggle that allows users to opt for either the existing Liquid Glass design or a subdued variant, referred to as Tinted, which enhances contrast.

Once more, Apple has revised the Macintosh HD icon, responding to feedback regarding the revamped design launched with macOS 26.

macOS 26.1 additionally unveils the new Apple TV icon and contains mentions of a second-generation Apple Pro Display XDR.

We are exploring the new release and will update if anything significant emerges.

## How to install the new beta

Here’s how to set up the macOS Tahoe 26.1 RC:

1. Backup your Mac
2. Open System Settings
3. Navigate to General ⇾ Software Update
4. Click the ‘i’ icon adjacent to Beta Updates
5. From the dropdown menu in the upper right, select the macOS Developer Tahoe Beta
6. Click ‘Done’

Did you notice any changes in today’s beta? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Apple Unveils Release Candidates for watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and Other Updates

Apple’s upcoming major round of software updates is nearing release: today the RC (release candidate) versions of watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, and more have been launched.

## Next round of software updates is nearly set to launch

New Apple software updates have been undergoing beta testing for just over a month, and they seem almost ready for deployment.

These upcoming updates consist of:

– iOS 26.1
– iPadOS 26.1
– macOS Tahoe 26.1
– watchOS 26.1
– tvOS 26.1
– visionOS 26.1
– HomePod 26.1

Today, Apple has introduced the RC versions of these updates for beta testers.

According to Apple’s past patterns, public releases for these updates are expected to arrive within about a week—plus or minus a few days.

So far, the most significant changes noted during the beta phase have been confined to Apple’s three primary platforms: iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.

These updates feature new options to modify the Liquid Glass design, a substantial Apple Intelligence language enhancement, along with the reintroduction of Slide Over on iPad, among other minor updates.

For tvOS, watchOS, visionOS, and HomePod, modifications have been scarce.

There’s a new Apple TV app icon, likely to align with the upcoming more “vibrant” branding for the Apple TV streaming service. However, the TV app itself has remained unchanged in the betas thus far.

Bug fixes, security enhancements, and performance upgrades may turn out to be the main highlights for Apple’s “lesser” software platforms this time. But we will keep you updated on any changes we find.

Have you spotted anything new in watchOS 26.1, tvOS 26.1, or visionOS 26.1? Share your thoughts in the comments.