Code Strings Suggest Apple’s HomeView Could Act as a HomeKit Secure Video Camera

Overview

• On Sunday, Nov. 1, a Reddit code sleuth published localization entries from HomeView Software 27.2 that explicitly reference using the HomeView display as a HomeKit Secure Video camera.
• The discovered strings list four camera modes labeled Off, Detect Activity, Stream, and Stream & Allow Recording with separate home/away/asleep controls for when detection, streaming, or recording occur.
• Privacy-focused controls in the code would limit access to home members, show a green onscreen indicator and play a sound when streaming or recording starts, and notify home members of Secure Video setting changes.
• Apple has not announced this camera mode and the presence of code does not guarantee the feature will be enabled at launch; HomeView remains scheduled to ship on Nov. 13 for $299 and the functionality appears to be in testing and could arrive in a later software update.
• HomeView is a 7-inch HomeOS smart display with a 12MP camera used for FaceTime and relies on a paired iPhone and iCloud for camera management and personal features, which underlines that any Secure Video controls would be handled through the iPhone Home app and Apple’s ecosystem.