Apple's Big Bet on Smart Homes: Why the Wait?

Apple is cooking up a new smart home gadget, but it's taking longer than expected. The main reason? Siri's personal features aren't ready yet, and this device needs them to work properly. This gadget, sometimes called a HomePod with a screen, is meant to be the brain of your smart home. It's supposed to have a 6-inch to 7-inch square display and an A18 chip to support Apple Intelligence. You might be able to stick it on a speaker base or hang it on a wall. It could also control smart home gadgets, let you make FaceTime calls, and even act as a home security system with an optional camera. But there's a problem: the gadget also needs a new version of App Intents. This feature would let Siri control apps more precisely with voice commands. However, this is also facing delays, which is why the home hub is stuck in limbo. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo had earlier predicted that the device would enter mass production in the third quarter of 2025. But with the personalized Siri features still not launched, it's unclear if this timeline is still on track. So, why the delay? It seems Apple is waiting for all the pieces of the puzzle to fall into place before they launch this new device. It's a smart move, but it means fans will have to wait a bit longer to get their hands on it.