Dreaming of an Apple Smart Display
The Google Smart Display launched recently and much like Android Wear Google started off launching with a few hardware partners instead of launching their own device. The entire project came as a surprise this year at CES instead of being announced at Google I/0 last year, but it feels like a definite evolution of Digital Assistant hardware from being solely limited to smartphones or smart speakers. This is a category that I would love Apple to be involved in, I have wanted a tablet-appliance for a few years and I can think of several use cases for them. I think that this would be a good product that could compliment a Homepod as an unique form factor instead of them just introducing a cheaper/smaller unit.
Here are a few things I’d hope that Apple brings to the category:
Digital Photo Frame: This would be a great place to show off iCloud photo albums. Apple has been all about iPhone photography since the advent of the iPhone 4 and this would be a great way of sharing photos with others beyond just handing them your phone. I would love an Apple digital phone frame at my desk at work, in the kitchen, or on the nightstand. I take a lot of photos, but do not print a lot of physical photos anymore. I’d love a create screen to just passively cycle through select iCloud Photos. I’d also hope they make an API for 3rd party developers like Google Photos, Flickr, Adobe Lightroom , Facebook photos, and Smug-mug to plug their services into. Maybe if you tap on the photo then it launches the respective services’s app so that you could take advantage of features exclusive to a service such as 360 video on Facebook or dig into your Lightroom albums.
Apple Music, AudioBooks, and Podcasts: I think that a smart screen would serve as a great HomePod Mini. It could also serve as a nice Airplay 2 target for 3rd party apps, but I think being able to listen to Apple Music or Podcasts like a HomePod would be really useful for a kitchen, office situation, or at night when you’re ready to go to bed.
Apple News: Siri on the iPhone and HomePod have the ability to play the latest news stories and I think that they could extend this audio feature to video streams like Google does on the Lenovo Smart Display or Amazon does on the Echo Show. Apple News already has a video section from 3rd party providers and I think this would be a great place to showcase that
Cooking: As a single guy with a cat, I should be cooking more, but I’m bad about not cooking for myself beyond basic stuff. I’ve brought my iPad into the kitchen before to make some stuff, but I think it would be handy to have an appliance that you could use Siri or the touchscreen to thumb through while you cook also, multiple timers are all the rage in the kitchen I’ve heard.
Calendar and Reminders: I would love to be able to ask Siri on a smart display what my agenda is for the day and see my upcoming calendar events and upcoming tasks. I think it would also be great if Apple supported 3rd party reminder apps like they do on WatchOS 5 and Siri commands on iOS 12.
Siri Shortcuts: Siri Shortcuts are going to be a really part of the Apple ecosystem going forward. Being able to trigger them from a smart screen would be really useful. In this regard it could be better than a HomePod because you could see your results.
Homekit : Being able to control HomeKit devices with Siri on the smart screen or quickly adjust a light, temperature, front door lock, or see a camera feed would be really handy.
Apple Shows, Netflix, and more: Being able to watch Netflix, Apple live TV programming, or others would be handy in the kitchen area. Hopefully one day Apple comes a out with a streaming television service, but I think they could fill out a smart display with 3rd party content, especially if they sync the credentials, show process, and whatnot through the TV.app on the AppleTV.
FaceTime, Animoji/Meemoji, and iMessage: I think including a FaceID camera would be a good way to authenticate users for this and it would allow the sending and receiving of iMessages and Animoji+Meemoji. As a shared device I think it would be fun to have one of these shared screens in the living room, bedroom, or kitchen. Maybe introduce family or friend messaging. I think it could make the Siri Display a fun communal device.
There are problem more categlories I could come up with, but I think these would be a solid foundation for an Apple appliance display for your home. I think it would be a better form factor than a HomePod in every room for those interested making their home an Apple-powered smart home. I’m not going to hold my breath for this categlory out of Cupertino, but I can always dream. I think its a great idea.
