alt Hacker News> Apple HomeView is not available for sale in the European Union, as Siri AI is currently unavailable in iOS in the EU. Apple is working constructively with the EU in an attempt to find a path forward.
It's interesting that they consider that this product would be unusable without Siri AI. I've used a Google Nest Hub for years, and I don't think it needs AI to be useful?
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Yeah, it's weird, the AI is the least interesting and least useful part of this product.
Apple basically made a HomePod mini that is also a Skylight - https://myskylight.com/calendar - and it's even competitively priced.
They could turn off all AI (turn off all of Siri even) and this would be one of the best products in the market.
The rumor is that this has been ready for 1-2 years and was waiting on "good Siri" before they would/could release it. So it follows that if they aren't releasing "good Siri" in the EU that this device wouldn't be available.
> It's interesting that they consider that this product would be unusable without Siri AI.
They might be perfectly useable but not profitable enough
i would love a dashboard for my smart home, but even as a fanboy of Apple i feel like HomeView doesnt do much, i'll just buy an eink screen, attach a esp32 of sorts and have it the way i want it without additional mics and shit
The Google Nest Hub is legal in the EU because you can install whatever AI agent you want on it.
https://support.google.com/googlehome/thread/467705013/intro...
This means it’s plainly unusable.
Maybe Apple just doesn't care to put up with the silly EU rules.
They want the EU to be the bad guy that prevents citizens to get all the nice stuff they release.