Apple announces HomeView smart display with hands-free recipe features

What happened

Apple has announced the HomeView, a new smart display and speaker designed to act as a central hub for the home [2]. The device functions as an enlarged version of an Apple Watch for the kitchen or living room, pulling personalized information from an iPhone or iPad [2]. It integrates with the Apple Home app to control smart devices, including cameras, lights, and thermostats from brands like LG and Schneider Electric [2].

One of the primary features is a recipe integration mode within the Safari browser [2]. If an online recipe uses Google’s search-friendly formatting, the HomeView can automatically convert the webpage into a simplified view [1, 2]. This mode strips away long personal stories and advertisements to show only the ingredient list and step-by-step cooking instructions [1, 3]. It also includes inline timer shortcuts, allowing users to tap the screen to start countdowns for specific cooking steps [2].

The device utilizes Siri AI, which draws information from a user’s iPhone to answer specific requests, such as playing a song mentioned in a text message [2]. It also supports Apple’s Handoff technology, which allows users to transfer tasks like FaceTime calls, podcasts, or Safari recipes from an iPhone to the HomeView by holding the phone near the display [2, 3].

Who is affected

Food writers and recipe developers may face challenges due to how the device handles content. Bettina Makalintal, a senior reporter for Eater, stated that tools extracting only the recipe break the social contract with recipe developers [1]. Because the simplified view removes the original webpage’s context, it also removes the ads and affiliate links that many writers rely on for income [1]. While users must first open a recipe on an iPhone or via Safari on the HomeView—ensuring they see ads at least once—writers may lose the value of repeated ad views that occur when a user scrolls through a full page [1].

Additionally, Makalintal noted that readers might miss helpful troubleshooting tips or ingredient substitution advice often found in the text surrounding a recipe [1]. Jaya Saxena, a founder-owner of the food website Ravenous, noted that most food blogs include a “jump to recipe” button to help users skip long essays [1].