Apple Aiming to Launch Tabletop Robotic Home Device as Soon as 2026

[ahmeneeroe-v2]

I love the idea of household devices. Not "smart home" devices, but devices which can be used by the everyone in the home, preferably as a group, but even by just an individual in a public space.

Phones/tablets are so insulating, in a way that a household-device is not. Consider the difference between watching YouTube on your phone vs watching a show with the family. Or playing a video game alone vs a multiplayer Nintendo Switch game with your kids.

My middle-school daughter's 2012 iMac recently needed replacement and I was considering a MacBook Air or iPad with keyboard case, but finally decided to replace it with a new M3 iMac instead. My reasoning was that if she's doing hours of homework every day I can at least have her around in a shared space rather than out of sight. It also makes me feel better about allowing her on the internet (which I heavily restrict), knowing that she is in a high-traffic area of the house while she is scrolling.

All that to say: this device sounds awesome and I would seriously consider buying one

[localghost3000]

Anyone else getting the feeling that big tech is in full panic mode trying to find the Next Big Thing? Gotta keep the money machine going amiright?

[whynotmaybe]

Not really, "big tech" has been innovating non stop for decades and finding solutions for problems we didn't know we had.

Each new thing reaches maturity and market saturation eventually and they have to find something else but it's not related to tech only.

[gigatexal]

they're out of ideas ... better to bring back the classics (it's kinda working for Hollywood). Give me the G4 cube but with the M series chips -- it'll work this time. Give me the lampshade Mac, the colorful g3 iMac, etc etc

[yurishimo]

I would kill for a new dedicated iPod with a scroll wheel. I know you can buy them from specialty stores but it would be nice to have access to streaming through my phone.

[nradov]

How many homes have space for a device like this? Tables and counters tend to be cluttered with decorations, small appliances, piles of paper, etc. A moving robot arm is going to bang into something.

[kotaKat]

Is this the same rumor Mark Gurman has parroted time and time again?

Yes.

[ChrisArchitect]

[dupe]

Some more discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=41248984

[ipnon]

I will drive it home in my iCar!

[awiesenhofer]

Not sure I would call 2026 "soon" ...

[jnwatson]

Bummer that iRobot is already taken.

[kart23]

sounds a lot like meta’s portal