Oliver Haslam·

Prosser: Apple’s Next Apple TV, HomePod Mini Will Act As Ultra Wideband Hubs For Other Devices

Apple is set to launch a new Apple TV and a HomePod mini if rumors are to be believed and, according to leaker Jon Prosser, both will have a secret weapon – Ultra Wideband.

According to a couple of tweets sent last night, Prosser believes that both the new Apple TV and upcoming HomePod mini will feature Ultra Wideband (UWB) functionality that will see them act as hubs that other devices can connect to. This, as well as the addition of the chip to more and more Apple accessories, will allow for advanced location traction of people and the devices that they carry.

With HomePod minis and Apple TVs tracking users’ location, Prosser says that advanced media controls will also be available. It’s possible that a TV could pause content when someone leaves the room, for example.

Apple already used HomePods and Apple TV boxes as HomeKit hubs and it makes sense that they could also be repurposed for location data collection, too.

Prosser also suggests that the new UWB support could allow for an additional layer of security. He posits that an alert could be triggered if a device leaves a location, possibly during a robbery. It’s an interesting idea and one that could be useful for all kinds of implementations, too.

It isn’t thought that a new Apple TV will launch during tomorrow’s iPhone event, but it isn’t yet clear whether the same can be said for the HomePod mini. We won’t have to wait too long to find out, though, We’re now less than a day out.

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