Apple is working on a smart soundbar – a hybrid of HomePod and Apple TV with a FaceTime camera

According to a trusted journalist Bloomberg Mark Gurman, Apple is still working on a new HomePod device that combines a speaker, Apple TV features, and a FaceTime camera.

In the Q&A section your latest mailing Power On Gurman noted that he is confident in the release of the new HomePod column, which should become the central device in the house.

Q: Do you think there will be a new HomePod or home device?
Answer: I am absolutely sure that there will be a new HomePod – in particular, a device that combines HomePod, Apple TV and a FaceTime camera. I don’t think the classic HomePod is still in development, but there might be a new HomePod mini. Either way, the combo device will likely be Apple’s centerpiece, with HomePod mini speakers surrounding it throughout the home.

Last year, Gurman first suggested that Apple was working on an Apple TV/HomePod speaker combo that had a camera for making video calls through the TV. In April 2021, Gurman stated that the device will include standard Apple TV features such as watching videos and playing games, as well as using smart speakers to play music and use the Siri voice assistant.

The first report suggested that the product was in its early stages of development and that Apple might decide not to release the device or change key features. However, judging by Gurman’s latest speculation, Apple’s original plans remain in place.

Apple discontinued its top-of-the-line ‌‌HomePod‌‌ smart speaker in March 2021, leaving many wondering if a new generation is coming. HomePod mini, the smaller version of the HomePod released in 2020 has become much more popular due to its low price, so it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple eventually releases another version of the HomePod mini with new features, as Gurman suggests. But what the device that combines HomePod, Apple TV and a FaceTime camera will look like is still unclear.

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