Apple’s long-awaited smart home hub, which we’ve been referring to as the HomePad, is set to launch on October 13, according to Bloomberg.

The device is said to feature a 6-inch display and a design inspired by the iMac G4, and will launch alongside a HomePod mini update with new colors and a new Apple TV 4K with Siri AI support …

A previous report from the same source had said only that it was expected to launch “as soon as October,” but the latest report specifies October 13th.

Apple Inc. plans to make its long-delayed push into the smart-home market on Oct. 13, marking a critical product expansion for the company under new Chief Executive Officer John Ternus.

The iMac G4 was one of the company’s most iconic designs, with a hemispherical base and a free-floating screen that could be rotated, raised, lowered, and tilted to position it anywhere you wanted. I said a year ago that I very much hoped Apple would bring back this beautiful design for the upcoming product.

It’s previously been reported that the device will come in two versions: the tabletop one referenced here, and a second version intended to be mounted on a wall.

The upcoming device is expected to include a speaker to enable it to act as a HomePod as well as a smart home control panel. It’s expected to have a new operating system combining elements of iOS, tvOS, and watchOS – and to center around Siri AI.

Daring Fireball separately suggested that iPhone Duo review models would be handed over to tech writers on October 13 or 14, and that as Apple likes to do this in-person for high-profile products it would make sense to combine this with an event for the new products.

Today’s report says that the device is codenamed J490. Do you expect to buy one? Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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