Apple's New Hidden Touch Interface in tvOS18 Beta3 Hints at Future Use in Screen-Equipped HomePod

TapTechNews July 10th news, the tech media 9to5Mac unearthed the tvOS18 Beta3 update and found a brand-new hidden touch interface in the code, suggesting that Apple will use it in the future in the HomePod device with a screen.

According to the code information unearthed by the media, this new tvOS interface (system shell) is internally called PlasterBoard, which is similar to the SpringBoard in Apple's iOS series, mainly providing some core interface elements.

PlasterBoard is currently in the early stage of development, and there is not much exposed information. One of them is the basic lock screen interface, which is relatively similar to the lock screen interface on iPhone and iPad.

Both the code and the way the interface behaves strongly indicate that PlasterBoard is not designed for ordinary TVs but for touch screens, and it will most likely be used in the HomePod product with a screen.

TapTechNews reported on July 5th that the as-yet-unreleased HomeAccessory17,1 device was found in Apple's back-end code, speculating that it is a HomePod product with a screen.

The current device identifier category does not have any Apple products, and the device model is very similar to the AudioAccessory identifier used by the HomePod, so it is very likely the HomePod product with a screen.