Beyond the Home Hub, Apple's rumored home camera peripheral is rumored to just describe household activity without giving users or hackers video footage to watch.
The device, code-named J450, is designed to complement Apple's upcoming HomeHub. It would provide text updates about people and pets instead of letting users access a video feed.
On Thursday's episode of the Power On podcast, Mark Gurman described the device as a cylinder that "looks like a metal giant…chapstick." He said its camera would operate at a low frame rate, using AI to analyze its surroundings without recording video.
Facial recognition would let the device identify who entered a room or left the house. The device would also be able to identify pets.
It seems as though Apple could position the device as a privacy-focused alternative to conventional home security cameras. However, Gurman's comments did not establish where images would be processed.
Apple's HomeHub is expected to be revealed on October 13. Current rumors suggest that it will be a tablet-like device that is carried from room to room, but that's not at all clear yet.
