According to a report by Pulsestacks on April 8th, Mark Gurman from Bloomberg revealed in the latest edition of his Power On newsletter that Apple is planning to integrate a camera into the Apple TV set-top box. This camera will be utilized for FaceTime and other video calling applications.
In the latest upgrade to the Apple TV operating system, tvOS 17, Apple has introduced the FaceTime application, allowing users to conduct video calls using the rear cameras of their iPhones or iPads after connecting.
Integration of Camera into Apple TV
Gurman also mentioned that in the future, with the integration of a camera into Apple TV, it will be possible to achieve "gesture-based interaction control." However, he did not provide further details on this in the communication.
There are two potential interpretations of "gesture-based interaction control":
Firstly, it might be limited to video calls. This feature is already implemented starting from updates like iOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and tvOS 17. During video calls on FaceTime and other video call applications, users can make gestures to add 3D effects to the screen. For instance, you can raise two thumbs to display fireworks on the screen or make a peace sign with your hand to show confetti.
Secondly, it could refer to gesture interaction for the entire tvOS system.
Lightweight Smart Display
In other news related to smart homes, Gurman mentioned that Apple is also considering launching a "lightweight smart display" for home use. Pulsestacks provides the following information on this topic:
