Apple TV could be an extremely important smart home "remote"
Rumours abound about the launch of Apple's next-generation television product, scheduled for September 9th. This round-up details what is currently known and rumoured to make it on to the device. In short, the TV will likely be taller and thicker than the current incarnation, albeit with a "similar" design. The remote will be completely redesigned, likely with a touch-pad and two physical buttons, and may fulfil a wider role as a smart home remote control, according to a Business Insider report. Apple's interactive assistant, Siri, will probably make an appearance. The TV will feature a software development kit (SDK) for the first time, and will be released with the latest operating system, iOS 9.
Apple may soon be releasing a new version of its Apple TV set top box, according to Buzzfeed sources. The new Apple TV is rumored to have a revamped processor, a remote with a touch-pad, its own App Store, and Siri voice control.

BI Intelligence

While many are focused on the potential Apple TV could have paired with Apple's rumored streaming service, the BI Intelligence Internet of Things team is interested in the impact the revamped Apple TV could have on Apple's Homekit. The new features could make the Apple TV a particularly attractive smart home "remote."

BI Intelligence refers to devices that enable the consumer to control their Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including their smart home systems, as "IoT Remotes." They include smartphones, PCs, tablets, connected TVs, smartwatches, and nontraditional remotes, like Amazon's Echo. Without them, an IoT system would be useless because the consumer would have difficulty controlling the device.

In new research from BI Intelligence, we examine the growth trajectory for the different types of IoT remotes. The note analyzes the different use case for each type of remote, and what the growth of these device categories means for the Internet of Things market.

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Here are some of the key points from the research:

In full, the note:

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