HomePod mini and new Apple TV will be Ultra Wideband hubs, says Prosser

HomePod (Image credit: iMore)

What you need to know

Leaker Jon Prosser has been providing more details about a potential Apple TV refresh and new HomePod mini.
Prosser says that both devices will act as ultra wideband hub.
That will allow devices to be tracked around the home with increased accuracy.

Apple has been rumored to have a new Apple TV refresh and HomePod mini announcement in the works and leaker Jon Prosser has shared details on what he expects those two devices to feature. Specifically, both devices will act as ultra wideband (UWB) hubs, according to a series of tweets.

Ultra Wideband is a technology that allows devices to be located in 3D space in ways that isn't otherwise possible. Apple is rumored to be bringing UWB chips to a number of upcoming devices including AirPods Studio and, of course, the AirTags trackers we're so eager to see. But Prosser says that putting the chips in an Apple TV and HomePod mini will allow specific location tracking around a home, opening up all kinds of possibilities.

HomePod mini & the new Apple TV will both act as UWB base-stations 🧐

- Will precisely track your location as you walk inside house with other U1 devices.

- Use info for media controls, brightness/volume control, & door locks.

Turns regular hardware into HomeKit hardware.HomePod mini & the new Apple TV will both act as UWB base-stations 🧐

- Will precisely track your location as you walk inside house with other U1 devices.

- Use info for media controls, brightness/volume control, & door locks.

Turns regular hardware into HomeKit hardware.— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) October 12, 2020 October 12, 2020

The idea of using HomePods and Apple TV boxes as hubs of some sort isn't a new one, either. Existing devices act as HomeKit hubs right now, as do iPads. With both devices unlikely to move around the home, devices could use them as a point of reference when they themselves are mobile.

Interestingly, Prosser also says that a security feature will allow users to be alerted when devices leave the home –potentially alerting them to issues while out of the house themselves.

Can also be used in the Find My app when you’re away from home to alert you if any of your devices have been moved within or taken from your home.Can also be used in the Find My app when you’re away from home to alert you if any of your devices have been moved within or taken from your home.— Jon Prosser (@jon_prosser) October 12, 2020 October 12, 2020

While the arrival of a HomePod mini during tomorrow's special event is a possibility, Prosser says we shouldn't expect a new Apple TV to arrive. With Apple thought to also have a November event planned it's possible we could see such a device unveiled then.

Oliver Haslam has written about Apple and the wider technology business for more than a decade with bylines on How-To Geek, PC Mag, iDownloadBlog, and many more. He has also been published in print for Macworld, including cover stories. At iMore, Oliver is involved in daily news coverage and, not being short of opinions, has been known to 'explain' those thoughts in more detail, too. Having grown up using PCs and spending far too much money on graphics card and flashy RAM, Oliver switched to the Mac with a G5 iMac and hasn't looked back. Since then he's seen the growth of the smartphone world, backed by iPhone, and new product categories come and go. Current expertise includes iOS, macOS, streaming services, and pretty much anything that has a battery or plugs into a wall. Oliver also covers mobile gaming for iMore, with Apple Arcade a particular focus. He's been gaming since the Atari 2600 days and still struggles to comprehend the fact he can play console quality titles on his pocket computer.