Apple’s HomeView could add security camera features
News Source
•2026-11-01T12:16:07-05:00
📰 What Happened
A Reddit user named pdfu found hidden text inside the software for Apple's HomeView smart home hub. The text points to a security camera mode. It lists motion detection, live video and recording options.
One setup screen even says: "Your HomeView can be used as a security camera with HomeKit Secure Video." Video feeds would only be visible to people in the home. A light and a sound would warn when someone is watching or recording.
Apple has not said it is launching this feature. The company may be waiting until the privacy controls are ready.
🔍 The Backstory
HomeKit Secure Video is not new. Apple launched it in 2019, and it works with cameras made by other companies. Clips are encrypted and stored in iCloud, and Apple says it cannot watch them.
Apple has sold home hubs for years, but mostly as side features of the HomePod and Apple TV. A screen-based hub would be a bigger bet on the smart home.
Code hints like this often show up months before a product ships. Sometimes they are tests that never launch.
🎯 Why It Matters
A smart speaker that also watches your home could replace a separate camera. It would also put more private video inside Apple's cloud, so the privacy promises matter.
A Reddit user named pdfu found hidden text inside the software for Apple's HomeView smart home hub. The text points to a security camera mode. It lists motion detection, live video and recording options.
One setup screen even says: "Your HomeView can be used as a security camera with HomeKit Secure Video." Video feeds would only be visible to people in the home. A light and a sound would warn when someone is watching or recording.
Apple has not said it is launching this feature. The company may be waiting until the privacy controls are ready.
HomeKit Secure Video is not new. Apple launched it in 2019, and it works with cameras made by other companies. Clips are encrypted and stored in iCloud, and Apple says it cannot watch them.
Apple has sold home hubs for years, but mostly as side features of the HomePod and Apple TV. A screen-based hub would be a bigger bet on the smart home.
Code hints like this often show up months before a product ships. Sometimes they are tests that never launch.
A smart speaker that also watches your home could replace a separate camera. It would also put more private video inside Apple's cloud, so the privacy promises matter.