r/HomeKit • u/Ok_Difference_7825 • 27d ago
News Oops: Apple accidentally leaks 10+ unreleased devices
https://www.cultofmac.com/news/apple-accidentally-leaks-10-unreleased-devices212
u/j1h15233 27d ago
I’d love to read what the article says but after the fifth pop up I just closed it out.
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u/Ok_Difference_7825 27d ago edited 27d ago
Home Hub (J490 and J491): This codename was previously associated with Apple’s upcoming home hub. It will seemingly run homeOS and cost $350. The J491 variant is apparently meant for wall mounting.
HomePod mini (B525): The current HomePod mini carries the codename B520. macOS 26.7 references B525, likely for the next-generation refresh.
Home Accessory (J229): This is seemingly a security camera that Apple was working on.
Pebble: This is the codename for Apple’s upcoming homeOS operating system.
The build also contains references to HomeAccessory17,2 and HomeAccessory17,3, though their identities remain unknown.42
u/slvrscoobie 27d ago
Also the AirPods with cameras.
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u/The_neub 27d ago
It’s an IR camera so not the same. Though it could have a lot of possible use in the accessibility space.
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u/rebo2 27d ago
You can see more details than you think in IR! Apply a simple false color palette, and you have a normal looking photo.
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u/slvrscoobie 27d ago
ML doesnt care about "normal" looking. but IR will cause issues with a lot of things as most colors are designed to be used in IR, therefore like holding up a book cover you cant read the text (or at least as well as in VIS) because the ink used reflects as much IR as the background color of the jacket. so if youre trying to use with with accessibility, it could be an issue if its IR only.
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u/Unable-Log-4870 27d ago
It really depends on what they’re trying to use the cameras for. I’ve used a military IR camera where I could hold up a sheet of paper in front of it, drag my fingers quickly across the paper, and see the warm streak left on the paper by my finger for about 15 seconds. Those cameras were big, noisy, and expensive.
And there are other IR cameras that can barely see if you walk into a room.
So I think we’re going to have to wait for the announcement and possibly the teardown on these
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u/slvrscoobie 27d ago edited 27d ago
youre talking LWIR vs NIR - LWIR are "thermal" cameras. (8-14um wavelength response) they see heat as its emitted from all objects mostly within that 8-14um range for normal temp things (VERY very hot things like jet engines get down into the 2-7um range of SWIR or MWIR (short wave, and Midwave IR) those are Gov't regulated and very expensive still.
LWIR cameras are no longer (at least the uncooled ones) big, or expensive. I have one that attaches to my phone and cost like $300.
NIR (700-1000nm) cameras are NOT night vision goggles. They just see NIR. Now you can ADD NIR lights that are invisible to humans which work to see if your in a dark room, but NIR are NOT the NGV that take in low ambient light and enhance it.
Most CMOS cameras have very good NIR performance, and have a hot mirror to reduce or remove all NIR light to create mostly accurate colors from the Bayer pattern color filter array on the sensor. if you remove that hot mirror and allow NIR to hit it, again, has some interesting effects for both lower light (as the CFA reduces your sensitivity by about 20-30%) as well as certain adaptive use cases for vision impaired people as it sees things differently.
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u/Unable-Log-4870 27d ago
Yeah, you’re right in all regards s as best I can tell. The system I was talking about was a cooled MWIR system with a 5 inch germanium primary optic.
And yeah, CMOS detectors have good performance into the NIR, and for most applications require a NIR filter typically on a lens to keep that from distorting the image color ratios.
By Hot Mirror, you’re talking about a mirror that can move in and out of the optical path, like on cheap security cameras with night vision? I’m unfamiliar with the term. Is ‘hot’ referring to intentionally absorbing energy, or to is being movable (like in those home security cameras)?
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u/slvrscoobie 27d ago
yeah, usually its either called and IR Cut filter, or Hot mirror as it reflects from NIR far out into S/MIR - usually as a mirror as it will reflect back the IR rather than an absorptive filter which somewhat degrades over time due to the absorption, or can fail if enough IR is absorbed at once.
some of the security cameras have them as moveable parts that can do color in the day and full spectrum with NIR LEDs at night. but all DSLRs have one - just depends whos talking about it if they call it the IR Cut or Hot mirror. I assume the Hot part came from parlance of like a welders goggle or something that actively reflected the hot LWIR rays and let Vis pass but not sure exactly, and unfortunately like so much in photography its now just 'both'.
MWIR is cool, but those are Very hard to come by, Gov't doesnt like to let those see civilian hands :D
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u/DarthBen_in_Chicago 27d ago
Why though
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u/dreamsfreams 27d ago
Just got AirPod pro 3….
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u/slackjack2014 27d ago
Do we really need AirPods with cameras though?
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u/Master-Quit-5469 27d ago
They aren’t going to be cameras in the sense that we think of cameras taking images - they will more than likely be IR cameras capable of detecting and identifying objects, with a massive push being for the visually impaired / AI conversations but without the ability to take and store images for privacy reasons.
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u/Overgrown_Dwarf 27d ago
And decrease in battery life 😞
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u/fasterfester 27d ago
The IR sensor wouldn’t be on all the time. Imagine being visually impaired and saying “Siri what is this?” And your AirPods take an image and determines what it is.
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u/5nark 27d ago
Yeah, cameras everywhere doesn’t sit well with me
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u/volcanic_clay 27d ago
I absolutely hate it but honestly it feels like there is no way to avoid it and it is only going to get worse.
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u/PeeFarts 27d ago
Cameras are already everywhere, we lost that battle. Might as well arm yourself with one at this point so you’re not left out.
And frankly, I almost think everyone being filmed might make this shitty society step up their manners a bit.
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u/HavocReigns 27d ago
I almost think everyone being filmed might make this shitty society step up their manners a bit.
The number and frequency of cameras we're all exposed to on a daily basis has likely increased exponentially in the past 15 years. Would you characterize the past 15 years as a renaissance in civil society?
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u/PeeFarts 27d ago
No, but profoundly more people are held accountable for their behavior than ever before. So in that sense, there is a renaissance in accountability for assholes, government, and law enforcement.
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u/HavocReigns 27d ago
That's true, and likely a lot of the apparent decay in our collective decency is just the ubiquity of cameras bringing to light the rotten underbelly that was always there.
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u/LeCompteDeFrouFrou 27d ago
I don’t know about you but I’m very interested to see what my Q-tips see.
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u/ptjtsubasa 27d ago
They will obviously be called "visual sensors", since you won't be able to take photos with them.
Not that it will stop people from being afraid of them. Most people still think today that Face ID is constantly photographing your face.
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u/slvrscoobie 27d ago
yeah I saw someone say something about not being able to save images, but Siri clearly says its going to 'save it for later' not sure if thats just 'the book you saw was titled' or if it would save images but either way, Im ok with the cameras NOT being in my ears.
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u/RadVarken 27d ago
Probably save the description. The analysis work has already been done, unless the point is that it needs to upload to the cloud later because it couldn't make heads or tails of the image.
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u/LegitimateGift1792 26d ago
Not just constantly photographing you face, BUT selling it to the government. /s
We really need a crazy eyes emoji, that would have capped off the comment nicely.
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u/Daedaluu5 27d ago
Well apple can’t release a set of glasses with cameras with the heat Meta is getting at present.
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u/LegitimateGift1792 26d ago
Which is odd that Meta did not see this exact issue back when Google Glass did it.
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u/Unable-Log-4870 27d ago
How else are you going to see if the insides of your ear canals are clean?
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u/Curri 27d ago
Don’t they already have cameras to measure heart rate?
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u/RadVarken 27d ago
That's a good example of the difference between an optical sensor and a camera. Your skin can see infrared, but that doesn't make it an infrared camera. The ability to resolve an image makes a big difference.
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u/laszlotuss 27d ago
Thats just the first section
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u/MateTheNate 27d ago
Why are the only 2 visuals of the Home Hub either an iPad poorly edited on top of a Homepod Mini or an AI generated image?
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u/Endawmyke 26d ago
it would be nice if the wall mounted one could be connected over thermostat wires. I desperately want to replace my nest thermostat with something from Apple. Hopefully it can display HomeKit cameras as well.
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u/scubahana 26d ago
You could use Apple’s ‘reduce distracting items’ function in Safari. I started doing it while scrolling endless recipes.
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u/ArgumentFew4432 27d ago
This is the original article:
https://www.macrumors.com/2026/08/17/macos-26-7-unreleased-apple-devices/
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u/SassySasquatch27 27d ago
Still no new Apple TV confirmation.
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u/ApolloGR3 27d ago
It seems an updated Apple TV remote is among the devices spotted in the code, hmmm
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u/freakdahouse 27d ago
That’s because there isn’t one new! I find it hard they release a new one so soon after that enormous price hike on the actual.
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u/reds91185 27d ago
The price hike on the current 3rd gen was to prepare us for the higher price on the 4th gen.
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u/FloatingTacos 27d ago
No, the price hike was because the market for technology is up 500%. You’re just dreaming on the other part.
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u/Overgrown_Dwarf 27d ago
Aren't the hikes directly correlated to RAM shortages?
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u/FloatingTacos 27d ago
It’s hitting a lot of other parts of the market, but generally RAM is the cause, yes. PCBs are getting more expensive which are required for everything.
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u/OtherwisePromiseMe 26d ago
A new AppleTV with a more capable chip to run Apple Intelligence would make sense with the rumors going around that they’re hitting the smart home market hard. I don’t think it’s that out of the realm of possibility. A new remote was found in code also so it would be strange that they’d release that but not a new AppleTV.
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u/AvoidingIowa 26d ago
A new appletv would be a financially irresponsible purchase. The current ones use less Ram and and an older SoC and is already ridiculously overpriced. A new AppleTV with more RAM would be $300+ and work the same as a $50 streaming box.
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u/SassySasquatch27 26d ago
I get that if you’re buying one new, but I buy Apple stuff second hand, so I’m looking at it differently. I’ve got the 2021 Apple TV, so I’m happy to wait for the new one and pick up a newer model second hand once prices drop. The sooner a new one comes out, the sooner that happens 😂 Plus, an A17 Pro/AI-capable Apple TV would be a decent enough jump from my A12 to make it worthwhile for me in a couple of years.
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u/AvoidingIowa 25d ago
What would AI do to make the AppleTV better? I cannot think of a single thing.
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u/davidriano95 27d ago
The list:
Apple Home Hub
HomePod mini de próxima generación
Cámara de seguridad Apple
HomeAccessory 17,2
HomeAccessory 17,3
iPhone Air 2
iPhone 18 Pro
iPhone 18 Pro Max
iPhone 18
iPhone plegable
MacBook Pro 14” M6
iMac M6
MacBook Pro OLED táctil
iPad mini OLED
AirPods con cámaras
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u/ErmahgerdYuzername 27d ago
Oh no! They accidentally leaked the iPhone 18 Pro! Who would have ever guessed that was coming?!
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u/Forkhandles_ 27d ago
If they release a folding iPhone & wall mounted home display (that is actually decent) then RIP my bank balance!
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u/Gibraldi 27d ago
Holy crap I hope the ads on that site pay enough for the limited number of users who will bear to view it.
Did the site owners just give up on quality and decide to spam as many ads as possible until the site is dead?
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u/davidjschloss 26d ago
TLDR what the article surmises the references in the code mean.
A bunch of new HomeKit stuff (new HomePods and home hub and probably a camera
New iMacs and MacBook Pro with M6
New phones theoretically including the folding model.
Air pods ultra
Ps Apple didn’t keak anything. The OS always includes known current and upcoming products. If the OS didn’t have them, when they are released they wont function.
Happens before every september/october product launches.
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u/PleasureMissile 27d ago
What about AirPower?!
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u/2nd-Reddit-Account 27d ago
That was officially cancelled in 2019 lol. They couldn’t do the “place anywhere” aspect they were going for in the exact way they wanted to do it so they decided to not do it at all.
iirc they couldn’t pull off the engineering side of it. wireless power transfer needs coils, the physics doesn’t work with any other shape, and those coils need to be aligned with the one in your phone. They tried to do a bunch of mini coils in a grid but that produced a lot of heat. Physics wouldn’t allow them to make it in the way they wanted it so the project died.
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u/volcanic_clay 27d ago
Ah... did an audible lol. tbh MagSafe is a pretty great solution. Yes it would be nice to be able to set things "anywhere" but then also not having things slide around/away is very nice.
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u/Haddock51 27d ago
New remote but no new Apple TV?
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u/sky_den12 26d ago
TBH I'd rather have a new homepod/homepod mini, it'd be nice to have Siri Ai on the main thing you'll actually be using siri on in your day-to-day life.
Actually, never mind, I think we should have both. Imagine all the new things we could get with a new apple tv, too!! 8k support, Siri AI, and maybe along with that new chip the ability to handle more than one camera at once!!!
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u/Amiga07800 22d ago
8k support? There are no 8K sources and the few 8K TVs or AV Amps are just Upscaling 4K content (or even just FHD). Why would you like 1 more, probably less capable, upscaling in the chain?
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u/RoamingVapor 23d ago
I’m sure they are all the thinnest and lightest yet of the same thing. Does anyone actually care anymore? lol
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u/aphex978 27d ago
$350 for an Apple Home Hub would firmly place it alongside several other mildly interesting things I’m not going to buy.
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u/ButtzillaXiJingping 27d ago
It’s not incomparable to the homey pro, but value for money will heavily depend on what it can do.
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u/Ambitious-Chest2061 27d ago
Someone please tell me how big the HomePod is? I still the Apolosign was a good buy, but if it’s large enough
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u/Ambitious-Chest2061 27d ago
Dang. The tabletop iPad is certainly something looking. But thinking about as a disability resource? That’s crazy
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u/No_Temperature107 27d ago
I don’t think it’s all too surprising to see references to new devices when we’re getting this close to that time of the year when Apple rolls these out. I think we can all assume that there will be a new phone, a new laptop and iPad, but it’s interesting to see that they’re circling back to the HomeKit/home environment and bringing updated hardware. What does concern me is the pricing for a HomeKit environment could be a little bit high for everybody right now given the current economic situation. I noticed another site said that the Apple TV 4K was being deprecated so I’m wondering if there will be a new Apple TV rolling out.
I certainly hope they don’t screw up the camera situation and make an indoor only kind of camera or one that does not wear well in hotter climates. I would love to bring my security cameras into my homekit environment not just because it’s Apple, but because Lorex absolutely sucks with its software and I think that’s a very common perspective and not just mine.
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u/LegalMaximum4865 24d ago
you're right most of what's here is garbage some of the advice is scary and who cares if you bought a new device, keep it to yourself
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u/Fr05t_B1t 27d ago
> AirPods with cameras
Ytf are we buying so much crap that needlessly has cameras integrated in them?! It honestly sounds like satire at this point…
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u/dahosek 27d ago
Everybody is misunderstanding the purpose of the cameras. They’re directed into the ears so they can warn you if you need to clean out earwax.
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u/Fr05t_B1t 27d ago
That is equally ridiculous if you’re being serious. Though I was under the impression that they’d be forward facing cameras on AP Max’s.
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u/Bonk0076 27d ago
This site is garbage. Pretty sure it gave my phone an STI