Mystery 'homeOS' reappears in tvOS beta

Code references in the first developer beta of tvOS 17.4 to "homeOS" could be an indication that Apple is working on a new operating system aimed for use within a person's home.

The developer betas of Apple's operating systems often include references to unannounced or soon-to-launch products. In an inspection of the latest developer beta for tvOS 17.4, there appears to be some for an unreleased operating system.

References uncovered by MacRumors mention "homeOS," an operating system that appeared in a pair of job advertisements in June 2021 and November 2021. In both cases, homeOS is named alongside iOS, watchOS, and tvOS, before being altered after reports spotted the term's usage.

Outside of the references, there's no indication as to what exactly homeOS will be used for, aside from the name hinting at the environment where it will be probably used.

Apple already operates HomeKit, its smart home framework, which seems like a logical usage for the homeOS name. There's also HomePod, which runs on HomePod Software, a modified form of tvOS, which could potentially get a rebrand with the release of future devices.

There have also been rumors of Apple introducing a HomePod with a seven-inch display, that could be potentially used as a smart home display. Furthermore, there's even been suggestions of an Apple monitor acting as a smart home display when not actively being used with a Mac.

Short of an introduction at an Apple event or during WWDC, it seems unlikely there will be any closure on what homeOS is in the short term.

13 Comments

emoeller 588 comments · 17 Years

About 10 months ago

Hopefully this is an opportunity for Apple to re-enter the home wi-fi network market - obviously synergistically combining wifi-fi mesh (probably using WiFi 7) , bluetooth and FindMe to both map (spacial computing) and provide high speed communications between IOT (internet of things).

boxcatcher 275 comments · 9 Years

Let’s hope — Home has been stagnant for far too long. Would love to see homeOS paired with whatever new LLM work Apple has been cooking.

AppleZulu 2205 comments · 8 Years

emoeller said:

Hopefully this is an opportunity for Apple to re-enter the home wi-fi network market - obviously synergistically combining wifi-fi mesh (probably using WiFi 7) , bluetooth and FindMe to both map (spacial computing) and provide high speed communications between IOT (internet of things).

This is what I've been hoping since they got out of the wi-fi network market. That move just never made sense. Just as HomeKit was trying to go mainstream and as Apple was doubling down on data security as the thing that sets them apart, they ceded the heart of data security in the home - the home wireless network - to other companies and discontinued their AirPort line of routers.

Since they reversed themselves on the decision to cease production of the OG HomePod and came out with a second iteration of that, perhaps there's hope they'll make a splash this year and introduce Apple wi-fi mesh routers.

stompy 412 comments · 18 Years

Could be that Apple is simply going to update the name of the software that runs on HomePods.

It would be nice if significant improvements were in store, I'll wait until we see what actually happens.

hammeroftruth 1356 comments · 16 Years

It will be nice to see what happens now that Craig Federighi is in charge of Homekit.

There’s a lot of work to do, especially after the damage iOS 17 has done to a lot of people’s homekit setups.

With how backwards HomeKit has devolved since iOS 17, I’m betting a rewritten system is in the works and iOS 17 is a stopgap.

I’m hoping that a new HomeKit with a better interface, will handle devices with more control and without the need of third party apps to setup devices and thus making it more secure for the homeowner. They’re probably also working with the Siri team to make Siri much more useable when using it with a homepod, or AppleTV. There’s nothing more infuriating than having Siri ask you to ask it again what you wanted from your iPhone. Why can’t you just dictate the web query results instead of making me read it on my iPhone?

I just hope it makes its debut soon. I’m tired of a homepod in another room responding to my query when one which is right in front of me stays silent.