Apple Home Screen Coming This Spring?

9to5Mac highlighted a detail mentioned in a report from The Information on Apple’s latest AI product development. The focus of the report is on Apple’s rumored AI pin, but there’s a small note on the rumored HomePad product.

“Apple is also working on a home product featuring a small display, speakers and a robotic swiveling base, designed with a heavy emphasis on AI features. That device could be released as soon as this spring, according to two of the people.”

There are three interesting bits here. First, it’s another source confirming this product is coming. Second, it's another source suggesting it could be ready to announce and ship in the first half of 2026. Third, the sources suggest it will have a motorized, swiveling base, which was previously rumored to be in a future version coming after 2026.

Apple event this week

Apple is holding an event for creators in LA from Tuesday through Thursday. It sounds like something more akin to this past hands on event in LA, instead of a traditional simulcast presentation. Yours truly was not invited. I am guessing this is about new MacBook Pros with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, along with more marketing for Apple’s Creator Studio software suite launching on Wednesday. We might also see Apple announce a new Studio Display.

If you are in the market for a new Mac, it's best to wait a few more days to see if anything changes in Apple's lineup.

Clawdbot

Federico Viticci at MacStories.net had a great article last week about his initial testing of Clawdbot. This is a new AI assistant that can run on your Mac, other desktop, or hosted machine. It listens for incoming messages you send to Clawdbot from your choice of messaging service, relays them to your choice of cloud-based LLM, and can take action from it with things on your computer. It can also control Sonos, Home Assistant, and Philips Hue. I bet more smart home integrations will show up soon. The project is relatively new, has a lot of momentum, and might be something you would like tinkering with. I am looking into it myself to see where it might fit in my smart home, workflow, and content.

The Schedule

Last week we had a fun live stream and I posted a video about Aqara’s U400 lock.

This week I have another exciting video in the works and another live stream on Friday.

I also randomly drew a giveaway winner for the Aqara U400 and I'll be shipping it out to them soon. Congratulations and thanks to everyone who signed up.

Vote for my mom!

I was spoiled as a kid because my mom loved to cook and bake lots of great food. My mom, Lori Welander, recently entered the Pillsbury Bake Off with a dessert recipe called Big Win Cookie Bark. Of course, I had to try some, and it’s a tasty way to transform ready-made cookie dough. Earlier this month, she won the sweets category and is now in the finals for the Pillsbury Bake Off! You can go check out her recipe and vote for my mom today, Sunday 1/25 only. Good luck mom!

I hope you have a good rest of your Sunday,

Eric