Apple to expand smart-home line-up

The push into smart displays will start with a tablet product – essentially a low-end iPad – that can control things like thermostats and lights, show video and handle FaceTime chats, people with knowledge of the plans said.

LOS ANGELES: Apple Inc is working on a slate of devices aimed at challenging Amazon.com Inc and Google in the smart-home market, including new displays and a faster TV set-top box, after relaunching its larger HomePod speaker.

The push into smart displays will start with a tablet product – essentially a low-end iPad – that can control things like thermostats and lights, show video and handle FaceTime chats, people with knowledge of the plans said.