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Apple is preparing to take a fresh run at the smart home that starts with a rumored smart display that it may release next year. That\u2019s according to Bloomberg<\/em>\u2019s Mark Gurman, who writes<\/a> in his Power On<\/em> newsletter today that the display will use a new operating system, called homeOS, that\u2019s based on the Apple TV\u2019s tvOS (much like the software that drives HomePods now.)<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Gurman reports that the display will run Apple apps like Calendar, Notes, and Home, and that Apple has tested prototypes with magnets for wall-mounting. And it will support Apple Intelligence<\/a> \u2014 something Apple\u2019s HomePods don\u2019t currently do. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Another recent rumor<\/a> suggested that a \u201cHomeAccessory\u201d device coming soon would be square-shaped, and that users might be able to use hand gestures from afar to control it, as 9to5Mac<\/em> wrote<\/a> earlier this week. And MacRumors <\/em>has reported on apparent code references to the device<\/a> and homeOS<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n A display like this sounds more down-to-Earth than Apple\u2019s robotic screen idea. It could also be less fiddly and hopefully less expensive than trying to use an iPad as a dedicated smart home controller (I\u2019ve tried; it\u2019s not a great experience!) We\u2019ll find out if and when it launches \u2014 which doesn\u2019t sound terribly far off.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n