Apple's Ambitious New Project: A 'Desktop Robot' That Can Rotate 360-Degrees
Apple plans to innovate more on tablet computers. According to insiders, a new desktop device is being advanced within Apple.
It is reported that a team of hundreds at Apple is working on a mechanical arm that can mount an iPad-style display, allowing the screen to meet the needs of tilting up and down and 360-degree rotation.
This device may debut as early as 2026, and users can manage smart home products, monitor home security, and make video calls through it.
The device currently runs on a branch of iPadOS and is seen as a medium for utilizing Apple's artificial intelligence tools in the future, with Siri and Apple Intelligence becoming the main control methods of the device. A simple use scenario is that the device can follow user commands to turn the display to face the user.
Sources say that Apple's ambition is to sell the device at around $1,000 and position it as a desktop robot.
The project is rumored to have been established in 2022, but due to Apple's past efforts to develop an electric car and the investment of tens of billions of dollars in car manufacturing, this so-called desktop robot has been shelved for lack of money and people until recently.
The emergence of this desktop device may also represent the suspension of Apple's efforts in other projects. According to rumors, Apple's Vice President of Technology, Kevin Lynch, is now in charge of the development of this project, and he is also the person in charge of the Apple Car project, smartwatches, and health software.
However, some people worry whether this device can really gain a foothold in the market. Given that Apple already has a stable share of the tablet market, this device does not currently have a great impact, prompting new consumers to enter the market. In addition, the pricing of this desktop device may also affect demand.
Despite this, this device is still one of Apple's important attempts to enrich its product line. In addition to this product, Apple is also developing products such as smart glasses, headphones with built-in cameras, foldable iPhones, and iPads.
This is also related to Apple's desire to reduce its dependence on the smartphone business. iPhone revenue still accounts for about half of Apple's revenue, and the weakness of mobile phone demand in the past few quarters has directly hit Apple's performance, which may force Apple to make more preparations.