References to iPad mini in tvOS 17.2 beta revive 'HomePod with display' rumors

AppleInsider said:

Apple already has a lot going for it in the smart home category, with HomeKit and poducts [sic] like a HomePod and Apple TV helping users set up and manage a smart home network in their abode. 

OK, I gave away my last ATV, as I don't need or use it (I have a Roku TV that has the ATV app on it or the rare occasion I watch something on ATV) but don't recall ATV actually having any networking capability. What is this reference to? Because if the rumor might include such a ATV with a touchscreen to actually work as a new Airport...well...whoa. Take my money. 

eightzero said:

AppleInsider said:

Apple already has a lot going for it in the smart home category, with HomeKit and poducts [sic] like a HomePod and Apple TV helping users set up and manage a smart home network in their abode. 

OK, I gave away my last ATV, as I don't need or use it (I have a Roku TV that has the ATV app on it or the rare occasion I watch something on ATV) but don't recall ATV actually having any networking capability. What is this reference to? Because if the rumor might include such a ATV with a touchscreen to actually work as a new Airport...well...whoa. Take my money. 

If you aren't aware that the Apple TV has had both Ethernet and WiFi since it's first iteration then I can see why you would find it unusable, but I can assure you that the Apple TV is faster, has a much cleaner interface that is less prone to crashing, and do not make its money by selling ads or your viewing habits to others. That said, if you don't mind any of those caveats or find the entry price of an Apple TV too high then the Roku is a perfectly fine device.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17595384/roku-ceo-anthony-wood-ads-hardware-business-interview-business-model

Xed said:

eightzero said:

AppleInsider said:

Apple already has a lot going for it in the smart home category, with HomeKit and poducts [sic] like a HomePod and Apple TV helping users set up and manage a smart home network in their abode. 

OK, I gave away my last ATV, as I don't need or use it (I have a Roku TV that has the ATV app on it or the rare occasion I watch something on ATV) but don't recall ATV actually having any networking capability. What is this reference to? Because if the rumor might include such a ATV with a touchscreen to actually work as a new Airport...well...whoa. Take my money. 

If you aren't aware that the Apple TV has had both Ethernet and WiFi since it's first iteration then I can see why you would find it unusable, but I can assure you that the Apple TV is faster, has a much cleaner interface that is less prone to crashing, and do not make its money by selling ads or your viewing habits to others. That said, if you don't mind any of those caveats or find the entry price of an Apple TV too high then the Roku is a perfectly fine device.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/7/20/17595384/roku-ceo-anthony-wood-ads-hardware-business-interview-business-model

I understand the ATV box had a ethernet port (that I used) and the ability to receive WiFi input (that the now owner of that box now uses) but I don't see that as "set[ting] up and manag[ing] a smart home network in their abode." When they use the term "smart home network" I'm guessing this isn't synonymous with creating and managing a WiFi network? It is something associated with latest craze in Internet of Shit Things devices? Shirley ATV isn't anything more than a Wifi receiver, right? Or have I completely missed the boat? 

eightzero said:

AppleInsider said:

Apple already has a lot going for it in the smart home category, with HomeKit and poducts [sic] like a HomePod and Apple TV helping users set up and manage a smart home network in their abode. 

OK, I gave away my last ATV, as I don't need or use it (I have a Roku TV that has the ATV app on it or the rare occasion I watch something on ATV) but don't recall ATV actually having any networking capability. What is this reference to? Because if the rumor might include such a ATV with a touchscreen to actually work as a new Airport...well...whoa. Take my money. 

Certain versions of the Apple TV 4K also act as Thread border routers (LAN to Thread routing) to bring Thread/matter smart home device support into Apple HomeKit. This is distinctly different from the higher level networking functionality (WAN to LAN routing) provided by Apple's Airport products.

A reasonable model for what Apple is potentially envisioning with iPad mini + HomePod integration is more akin to Amazon's 3rd Gen 10" Echo Show product, which resembles a HomePod with an iPad mini permanently stuck to it. If you think about it, Apple could achieve comparable functionality using separate HomePod and Apple TV devices. The differentiator from Amazon's approach would be the fact that you could still use the iPad mini as a standalone device. Seems reasonably straightforward.

I really hope that the person creating the picture with the mini iPad stuck to the front of the homepod did it for space reasons rather then believing it would be done that way --> blocking soundwaves leaving the homepod from the front....