Apple HomeView Supports Third-Party Apps and Recognizes Up to 6 Users Without Face ID

Tech media outlet MacRumors reported on October 14 that Apple's first smart home hub, HomeView, will support third-party audio and video applications and can recognize up to six users in a household environment to provide personalized experiences.

Regarding the app ecosystem, HomeView does not include an App Store, so users cannot download apps directly on the device. Apple employs a mechanism similar to CarPlay: when HomeView connects to a compatible iPhone or iPad, third-party apps from those mobile devices appear on the HomeView interface. The hub comes pre-installed with Apple Music, Apple Podcasts, Apple News, Calendar, FaceTime, and Messages.

For user identification, HomeView does not use Face ID. The system primarily relies on the Center Stage camera for facial recognition combined with voice recognition to determine who is present. The logic involves first assessing 'who might be present' via camera and voice, then verifying if that user's iPhone or iPad is connected to the home Wi-Fi and has been recently unlocked. Only after these three factors match does the system associate the member with their personalized experience.

This feature requires users to have a 'registered personal device' (an iPhone or iPad) that supports Apple Intelligence, runs the latest software version, has Siri AI enabled, and is set to a supported language. Apple Watch does not qualify as such a device and therefore cannot be used alone to be recognized by HomeView.