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Bloomberg recently reported that Apple is working on "speakers with screens and cameras"—in other words, new HomePod models. Now, changes have been discovered in the tvOS 14.5 code that fuel this development.
Apple is said to be working on new HomePod models that have both a screen and a camera. However, their concept is not certain. This was explained by Bloomberg journalist and Apple leaker Mark Gurman. But now a discovery has been made that fuels the whole thing. The US blog MacRumors reportedthat employee Steve Moser discovered major changes while browsing the tvOS 14.5 beta code. According to him, Apple has added the FaceTime and iMessage frameworks in tvOS 14.5. In addition, a new AVFCapture framework has also been included, which relates to capturing images.
What does tvOS have to do with the HomePod?
Some of you may now be wondering what exactly tvOS has to do with the HomePod. Well, Apple has April 2020 tvOS is used as the basis for the HomePod software. This means that since iOS 13.4, the HomePod firmware is no longer based on iOS directly but on tvOS. As a reminder:
Both watchOS, iPadOS and tvOS are actually based on iOS. The previous operating system of the HomePod is also a customized version of iOS. All of these iOS variants differ in their adaptations to the respective devices and include unique interfaces or APIs and more.
Be that as it may, this means that features included in tvOS will also be included in the HomePod software, as they share the same base code. Therefore, the FaceTime, iMessage, and image capture frameworks added to the operating system in tvOS 14.5 could actually be designed for a future HomePod that has a screen and a camera. Both current HomePod models can already use FaceTime audio.
Frameworks could serve a different purpose
But the FaceTime framework discovered in the tvOS 14.5 beta is different from any code related to the existing audio FaceTime feature. Interestingly, the frameworks were only added to the tvOS 14.5 beta for select users. Gurman has explained in his article explainedthat there are no "imminent launch plans" for a HomePod with a camera and display. While the product is said to be in development, it could ultimately remain just an idea. It's worth mentioning that it's entirely possible that the iMessage, FaceTime, and AVFCapture frameworks introduced in tvOS 14.5 serve a completely different purpose. Therefore, this doesn't necessarily have to be related to a new HomePod. Nevertheless, the topic certainly remains exciting. (Image: Apple)
