Apple's upcoming HomeView smart home hub could also work as a HomeKit Secure Video camera, according to settings strings discovered in the device's software by code sleuth pdfu.
The strings were found in HomeView Software 27.2 and feature four camera modes, including Off, Detect Activity, Stream, and "Stream & Allow Recording," along with scheduling options for when users are home, away, or asleep.
Notably, pdfu says there's also a HomeView-specific configuration for 1080p/30fps video and microphone input, which the software selects for HomeKit Secure Video sessions.
Other strings suggest that only home members will be able to view streams and recordings. They also indicate that a green light appears and a sound plays when a stream is viewed or recording starts, and users will receive a notification when camera settings change.
The scheduling options include an away mode, but the strings suggest streaming and recording can only be enabled from the HomeView itself while people are home. Expect face recognition and activity zones to be configured in the Home app on iPhone.
Elsewhere, pdfu highlighted a related Home app string suggesting that when the Home app is open on a member's device, the the HomeView may take photos to refresh its camera preview, and these too will be accompanied by a green light.
Apple has not announced a camera feature for HomeView, and the presence of code strings in the device's software doesn't confirm that it will be available to users at launch. HomeView launches on Friday, November 13, starting at $299. Apple's early release of the device's software has already given us a preview of features like wallpapers, revealing other details we didn't previously know.
