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muaddib said:

I would like the next AppleTV to have Apple Intelligence in a way that allows my original HomePods to access it for a better version of Siri. 

Honestly this is the only way HomePods are going to get Apple Intelligence in the near term. 8GB of RAM isn't feasible on devices that are already under cost of goods pressure to meet a low retail price point. Apple TV itself is seeing demand for a more accessible price point but adding Apple Intelligence to it could help justify its cost, enabling Apple TV to then lend this feature to connected HomePods. It's also possible that the upcoming HomePad could support Apple Intelligence throughout the home onto Apple TV and HomePods while these client devices don't run AI themselves and can lower their price points.

nhughes said:

jwdawso said:

Any thoughts on the alleged longer power button? Wouldn't surprise me if it doubled as a home button. 

There was some speculation that perhaps Apple would embed Touch ID into the power/lock button, but no rumors or leaks have suggested that will be the case. Doubling as a home button would be problematic — how would you lock the device, or differentiate between locking and returning to the home screen?

A single side button can be designed to perform many different tasks, including equally important tasks like a home and lock/sleep. Think of a camera’s shutter button. 2 levels of pressure. Press to focus, press all the way to shoot. Translated to an iPhone: press to go Home (click!), press further in to sleep/awake (deeper click). 

The fact that the side button has been consistently rumoured to be more prominent, reflects the new importance of this button. This larger side button could also include Touch ID if Apple decides that its removal impacts too many people i.e. those who wear masks/helmets/face protection for work or leisure and can’t use Face ID. My bet is on Touch ID being gone entirely and replaced by Face ID despite the limitations I mentioned. Touch ID doesn’t work with gloves and people have lived with that limitation just fine. 

On a side note, it always strikes me how some people here can’t think outside of the box. I don’t mean this as an insult. It’s just mind blowing to me. Just because something can’t be done with today’s paradigm, doesn’t mean that that paradigm can’t be changed to solve a new problem. Just because a button is known to have 2 states — pressed or not pressed — it doesn’t mean that a different type of button with multiple states can’t be designed.