Previously unknown sensor discovered inside Apple’s HomePod mini
- This new sensor sits dormant in the bottom segment of the HomePod mini.
- It seems to be a temperature and humidity measurement sensor, according to new reports.
- This may point to a feature which may be made available to users through a potential software update later in the year.
- Reports of a revamped HomePod featuring a display and camera have also surfaced.
As confirmed by iFixit in one of Bloomberg's inquiries, Apple’s HomePod mini has been discovered to house a previously unknown temperature and humidity measurement sensor.
The company has internally discussed using the sensor to determine a room's temperature and humidity so internet-connected thermostats can adjust different parts of a home based on current conditions, according to people familiar with the situation. The hardware could also let the HomePod mini automatically trigger other actions, say turning a fan on or off, depending on the temperature.
Manufactured by Texas Instruments, the sensor is called ‘HDC2010 Humidity and Temperature Digital Sensor,’ according to TechInsights. It measures 1.5mm x 1.5mm in dimension and is situated in the bottom segment of the HomePod, near the power cable. The location of the sensor suggests that it may be eventually used for reading room temperature rather than internal temperature. This is allegedly due to the fact that the component sits relatively far away from the HomePod’s main internals.
For the time being, the sensor sits dormant. However, it may potentially be activated with a future OS update — which are usually released by Apple in the fall. It could then perhaps be used in a number of ways, to control appliances such as thermostats, lights, locks, fans, air conditioners and so on.
Nevertheless, the company has a history of implementing dormant components in a product and later enabling them via software updates. This trend dates back to 2008, when Apple released the first-generation iPod Touch. It housed a Bluetooth chip which was inactive until a later software update. A second occasion can be recalled from 2020, with the introduction of iOS 14. A feature named “Back Tap” was enabled on iPhones with glass back — which meant iPhone 8 and later. This required an advanced sensor which was housed only with the glass back iPhones, and was later activated with iOS 14. It allowed the user to tap on the back of the iPhone to quickly activate a particular customisable feature. Further, AirPods have the ability to connect with multiple devices due to the dual antennas that reside inside them. This wasn’t enabled until iOS 13, where they released a feature called “Audio Share”.
Earlier this month, Apple announced that it is discontinuing the original HomePod and shifting its focus to the HomePod mini. If Apple decides to enable the sensor in the HomePod mini, it will allegedly provide new options and features to users, helping the company stand firm against rivals such as Google, Amazon and so on.
Apart from all this, the company has also been rumored to be working on a new revamped HomePod that would include new hardware such as display and camera, very similar to Amazon’s Echo Show or Google’s Nest Hub Max. In a report today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (reliability: 84.38%) briefly mentioned that Apple has "been developing new speakers with screens and cameras."
This camera-equipped device would allow users to make FaceTime calls and is likely to include deep integration with the Apple Home app. It will allow users to quickly configure scenes and devices using the built-in display, and it would even allow for using apps such as YouTube or Netflix.
However, Gurman stated that “the launch of such a product isn’t imminent,” so there’s no assurance whether Apple will release such a product. Gurman went on to state that Apple still lacks a "unifying strategy" for the smart home product market, with some people within the company apparently blaming Siri’s shortcomings as the main reason for the lack of progress with HomePod.
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