Apple unveils $299 HomeView smart-home hub, TV and HomePod mini in push to challenge Amazon, Google

Apple unveiled a $299 smart-home display Tuesday that uses facial recognition and artificial intelligence to identify family members — escalating its battle with Amazon and Google for control of the connected home.The device, called HomeView, headlines a new lineup that includes an upgraded Apple TV 4K streaming box, a revamped HomePod mini speaker and a collection of security cameras, door locks and thermostats.HomeView, available starting Nov.13, features a 7-inch touchscreen and a built-in camera that can recognize up to six household members, automatically displaying their calendars, messages and other personalized information.Avi Greengart, president and lead analyst at Techsponential, praised the new device’s appearance and integration with Apple’s other products.“It’s gorgeous,” Greengart, who attended Tuesday’s unveiling, told The Post.“It’s smaller than it looks in photos, and it ties very deeply into Apple’s ecosystem.”The gadget relies on the consumer tech giant’s upgraded Siri AI assistant to answer questions, manage daily tasks and operate connected appliances.Apple is offering tabletop and wall-mounted versions of the device.The company says it has built-in privacy safeguards designed to keep household members from accessing one another’s personal information.Users must have a compatible iPhone or iPad nearby that has recently been unlocked before sensitive data can appear.But the device’s dependence on Apple’s ecosystem could limit its appeal, Greengart told The Post.“If you’ve invested in Ring cameras, this probably isn’t for you.

If you’ve invested in Android phones, this probably isn’t for you,” he said.The display also allows homeowners to monitor security cameras, adjust thermostats, control lighting and communicate through FaceTime.HomeView has a kitchen-friendly feature that breaks down cooking instructions and lets users set timers directly from recipes, Bloomberg reported.The display will support Spo...