The tech world is buzzing about Apple’s anticipated entry into the smart display market, with reports from Bloomberg suggesting that the launch could happen as early as 2025. Recently, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg shared insights in his PowerOn newsletter. According to Gurman, this new device may take design cues from the iconic iMac G4.
Gurman observes, “The screen is angled on a compact base, reminiscent of the circular foundation that debuted a couple of decades ago.”
The iMac G4 holds a significant place in Apple’s design legacy. Steve Jobs, the company’s co-founder and then-CEO, was influenced by designer Jony Ive as they conceptualized the new Mac desktop.
When the iMac G4 debuted over twenty years ago, Jobs praised it as “the biggest change in desktop computers” and highlighted its upgrades. “This is the best thing, I think, we’ve ever done,” he was quoted as saying at a bustling Macworld event.
Today, the iMac G4’s unique swiveling arm design, which connects the LCD panel to a hemispherical base, is still celebrated as one of Apple’s most remarkable achievements in hardware design. It seems Apple is drawing from this rich design heritage for its latest venture into a new product category.
According to Bloomberg, the screen on Apple’s forthcoming smart home device is expected to feature a square-like format, approximately the “size of two iPhones placed side by side.” Meanwhile, the base is likely to house the speaker system.
This device is intended to be a central hub for managing other smart home gadgets and accessories. It will operate on a custom OS, informally referred to as homeOS, with a user experience somewhat similar to that of the iPad.
The smart display is anticipated to include applications such as Notes, Calendar, and FaceTime. Additionally, Apple envisions it functioning as a dynamic photo frame, showcasing slideshow images from its Photos library and serving as an entertainment center for videos.
It’s noteworthy that this device is expected to leverage Apple’s intelligence capabilities, indicating significant processing power, especially for a device positioned as an entry-level smart display.
In addition, Apple is reportedly developing a high-end variant featuring a robotic arm design, which could come with a price tag around $1,000.
Although Apple has not officially acknowledged its work on this new category of smart devices, the company appears eager to expand its AI integration into various products and capture a share of the market currently dominated by Amazon’s Echo Show.
For those interested in design concepts, London-based designer Xhakomo Doda has created renders imagining a modernized iMac G4. Additionally, a hardware enthusiast successfully integrated Apple’s M1 chip into an iMac G4 chassis for a contemporary twist. It will be intriguing to see if Apple sticks closely to its original design inspiration or opts for a completely new approach in the upcoming year.