Apple has put out HomeView Software 27.2, an early software build for its upcoming smart display, and the code gives a first look at how the device will behave on day one, MacRumors reports.
According to MacRumors, the release arrived on October 30. HomeView is due to go on sale on November 13 alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K, and the report lists a price of $299, with pre-orders already open on Apple's website.
What the software shows
MacRumors says the build includes twenty default wallpapers in a range of colors, and that users will likely be able to choose their own photo as well. There is an interface for picking the face shown on the Lock Screen, a "Hello" greeting at startup, and a setup animation that introduces Control Center on the device.
The software can also switch between Light and Dark Mode automatically depending on the time of day, according to the report. When the Snoopy face is selected, several Snoopy animations play.
Under the hood
The report also points to some internal naming. HomeView does not use SpringBoard, the home screen process familiar from iPhone. Instead it appears to run on a new launcher called BreadBoard, with its Control Center process named CupBoard.
MacRumors notes that the update contains a hidden graphic labeled HomeView Software 26, which it takes as a sign that the device was originally planned to ship with that version last year. The outlet adds that Apple reportedly held the product back to wait for its Siri AI features. It also says Apple appears to have tested the interface on a sixth-generation iPad mini before release.
These details come from MacRumors' reading of the software and its own reporting, not from an Apple announcement about the update, and Apple has not commented on the internal names or the reported delay.
Why it matters
HomeView is Apple's first dedicated smart display, and the new build suggests the company has the core experience largely in place, from personalization to automatic appearance changes, about two weeks before customers can buy it. With the device launching on the same day as the new Apple TV 4K, the software gives early buyers a preview of what to expect: a customizable screen, familiar Apple design touches, and a few playful extras.
Apple's own HomeView page describes the device as a display that can handle FaceTime calls, home controls and music playback from a swiveling stand.
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