HomeView recognizes people without Face ID by pairing a face match from its Center Stage camera with their iPhone or iPad. Personal content such as Messages and Calendar only appears when that paired device is on the same Wi-Fi network and has been recently unlocked.
John Gruber at Daring Fireball asked Apple how this works with only the Center Stage camera and no Face ID. Apple’s reps told him users must have a registered personal device before HomeView can recognize them by face or voice. Gruber describes the paired iPhone or iPad as effectively a second factor that confirms who is standing in front of the display.
HomeView needs a recently unlocked iPhone or iPad before it shows your messages
HomeView recognizes up to six people, and each one gets a personal Home Screen with their own apps and widgets. Content in Messages, FaceTime, Calendar, Reminders, and Find My is tied to the enrolled person, so it stays hidden from everyone else in the house. Shared photo albums and music stay open to the whole household, including guests.
Personal content appears when all of the following are true:
- HomeView recognizes the enrolled user by face
- Their paired iPhone or iPad is on the same Wi-Fi network as HomeView
- That iPhone or iPad has been recently unlocked
Siri AI personal context requests add one more condition. The paired iPhone or iPad must be Apple Intelligence-enabled and running the latest software, with Siri AI turned on and set to a supported language. HomeView setup and multiuser support also require a compatible iPhone or iPad on the latest software.
An Apple Watch does not count as a personal device
Gruber was told an Apple Watch cannot serve as the registered personal device, so each person needs an iPhone or iPad. Apple’s reps also said a home is reasonably presumed to be safe.
A dropped Wi-Fi connection does not lock everything out right away. If the paired device leaves the network, personal information can stay accessible as long as HomeView still recognizes the user’s face and the device was recently on the same Wi-Fi network, has an active cellular connection, is in the same location, and has been recently unlocked.
Face and voice recognition are handled by the A18 chip inside HomeView. Secure Exclaves on the chip process the camera and microphone feeds in a separate compartment, and data processed there cannot be accessed by the HomeView software, apps, the user, or Apple.
Guests still get music, timers, and smart home controls
Anyone HomeView does not recognize can still use it. Guests and unrecognized users can control smart home accessories, check the weather, set timers, and play music without seeing anyone’s personal information.
Siri AI also works for people without an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. They get its broad world knowledge, natural conversation, and improved music discovery, while answers drawn from a calendar or messages need the paired device.
Siri AI on HomeView runs in beta on HomeView software version 27.2 and is available in English in the U.S., Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, and the UK. The $299 smart display ships Friday, November 13, in the U.S.
