Apple is developing an all-new operating system, which carries the internal codename, “Charismatic,” according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. This is apparently Apple’s long-expected “homeOS” operating system.
In a report last week, Gurman said the new operating system will run on both Apple’s rumored smart home hub in 2026 and tabletop robot in 2027. The software platform will blend elements of tvOS and watchOS, says Gurman. He expects the device’s displays to use a hexagonal grid of apps, similar to the Apple Watch.
The platform largely revolves around clock faces and widgets, and it will have multi-user support, Gurman said. He claims that while users will primarily interact with it using Siri voice commands, touch will also be an option. Some of the preinstalled apps will include Calendar, Camera, Music, Reminders, and Notes.
Charismatic, which was previously known as Pebble and Rock earlier in development, blends the approach of the Apple TV and Apple Watch operating systems. It offers features like multiuser modes and clock-face themes, such as one based on Snoopy, the beagle from the Peanuts comic strip.
Gurman also mentioned the devices’ multi-user support:
The devices are meant to be easily shared: They include a front-facing camera that can scan users’ faces as they walk toward it and then automatically change the layout, features and content to the preferences of that person.
We will likely hear more about the upcoming operating system over the coming months.
