{"id":54328,"date":"2025-05-20T23:55:57","date_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:55:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/?p=54328"},"modified":"2025-05-20T23:55:59","modified_gmt":"2025-05-20T21:55:59","slug":"homeos-overview-features-release-compatibility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.apfelpatient.de\/en\/allgemein\/homeos-im-ueberblick-funktionen-release-kompatibilitaet","title":{"rendered":"homeOS at a glance: features, release, compatibility"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple is working on a new operating system \u2013 homeOS. The platform is said to be specifically designed for use in the smart home and may be released as early as 2025. Although there's no official confirmation yet, many clues point to Apple working on a dedicated smart home system that can control the entire home via Siri and Apple Home. Here's what's known about homeOS so far, what to expect, and when it might be released.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over the years, Apple has developed an entire family of operating systems: iOS for the iPhone, iPadOS for the iPad, macOS for the Mac, watchOS for the Apple Watch, tvOS for the Apple TV, and visionOS for the Vision Pro. Each is optimized for its respective hardware but based on a common core. Rumors of another OS called homeOS have been surfacing for years \u2013 including in job postings and lines of code. Now the evidence is mounting: homeOS is said to be Apple's new operating system for a planned smart display.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is homeOS?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

HomeOS is \u2013 as of now \u2013 an operating system for Apple's smart home products that hasn't yet been officially announced. It will likely run on a new device that's a hybrid of an iPad and a HomePod. The display would be the central control point for everything that happens in the smart home. A release date of late 2025 is being discussed, but this depends heavily on how the development of the associated device progresses. Delays are possible, not least due to internal issues with Siri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Technical basis: tvOS as a foundation<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

homeOS will likely be based on tvOS, similar to the current HomePod software. The user interface could therefore include familiar elements\u2014for example, the new screensaver controls, the redesigned Control Center, and the Music app with lyrics display. Many of these designs are more suited to an interactive smart display than a television. The question is whether homeOS will eventually replace tvOS and the HomePod software or exist alongside it as a separate platform. There is currently no concrete information on this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Functions: Central for your smart home<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

homeOS will be the heart of your smart home. It's designed to help you see who's at the door, whether windows are open, or how to control your blinds. Cooking recipes, news, music, and voice control with Siri are also among the planned features. Apple Home\u2014formerly HomeKit\u2014will be fully integrated. It'll let you control lights, temperature, locks, vacuum cleaners, and much more.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matter and Thread: The technical standards in the background<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

homeOS will support Matter, an open smart home standard that enables compatibility with Apple Home, Google Home, and Alexa. Additionally, homeOS serves as a Thread border router. Thread is a wireless protocol that creates a stable, self-organizing mesh network in the home. Apple has already built the necessary hardware into several devices, including the iPhone, Apple TV, and HomePod.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Siri and Apple Intelligence in focus<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

homeOS will rely heavily on Siri. Voice control will be central and likely based on the next generation of Apple Intelligence. The HomePod already recognizes different voices \u2013 homeOS should be able to do this as well. This gives you personalized responses depending on who is speaking. This is especially useful for features like Cooking Mode: You can send a recipe from your iPhone or iPad to homeOS and walk through it step by step using voice commands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The interface: Adapting depending on the distance<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

An interesting detail: The homeOS interface could dynamically adapt depending on how close you are to the display. If you're farther away, for example, it would only show a time screensaver. If you get closer, widgets, weather information, music controls, or a home screen would appear. This idea isn't new, but Apple would package it into a high-quality user experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These apps are planned<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

At launch, homeOS will likely primarily support Apple's own apps, including Home, Music, Podcasts, Weather, Photos, News, and Apple TV. Particularly exciting is the new recipe feature recently integrated into Apple Messages. Third-party apps will not be available at launch. This initially limits the possibilities, but could change with a later update like homeOS 2.<\/p>\n\n\n\n