Apple Is Reportedly Exploring Personal Home ‘Mobile Robots’

No matter how many movies or TV shows featuring robots illustrate the possible consequences, there will always be some people persistently working to bring those scenarios to life. Recently, Bloomberg reported that Apple is exploring various "personal robotics" projects in an effort to create the "next big thing.

According to Mac Rumors, one of these projects is described as a "mobile robot" that would "follow users around their homes," Another is said to be an "advanced table-top home device that uses robotics to move a display around."

Some sources say that Apple is investigating the use of AI algorithms that would help robots "navigate cluttered spaces within people's homes.” Apple has apparently wanted to create robots that can "handle chores, like cleaning dishes in a sink."

It's worth noting that this news is coming from various reports. Apple has not yet confirmed working on a mobile robot.

If successful with their mobile robot, Apple could be competing with Amazon's Astro. It serves as a mobile virtual assistant and provides home security monitoring. According to Amazon, this household robot for home monitoring with Alexa is only exclusively available by invitation and starts at $1,599.99.

In February, Apple closed its Special Projects Group, which was working on electric cars. The program, kept secret, according to CNBC, started in 2014 when Apple hired automotive engineers and other experts. This car project was part of Apple's plan to enter new markets. Recently, Apple has also put a lot of money into products like the Apple Watch and Vision Pro virtual reality headset.

Leave it to Reddit to share their thoughts on the latest news. Someone shared Apple's rumored venture on the platform and many comments followed. "This makes more sense for Apple to pursue than the car ever did. Probably much lower barriers to entry and it would go well with Apple's aesthetic," one person said.

Another person said, "If we could move beyond Roomba and develop actual humanoid robots that can clean and tidy up our homes as well as a human does, I would spend a lot of money on such a robot. It honestly sounds reasonably feasible with today's technology."

A few people compared the concept to Apple's HomeKit and wondered if they would look more into it. They said, "Does this mean they’ll give HomeKit more than just an afterthought now?"

According to Mac Rumors, HomeKit is Apple's smart home platform, which is designed to let you control various internet-connected home devices. This ranges from thermostats and plugs to window blinds, light bulbs, and more with Apple devices.

Best Buy has announced that starting in 2024, following this holiday season, they will discontinue the sale of DVDs, Blu-rays, and 4K Ultra HD discs, both in their physical stores and online. They have said the reason for this decision is due to the increasing popularity of streaming services.  This move aligns with the prevailing trend, as more people turn to streaming for their entertainment needs.

Physical media does come with certain inconveniences, such as taking up space and limited mobile accessibility. But there are still people who appreciate the more traditional way of enjoying movies and music. There are some advantages of owning Blu-rays and DVDs. These include owning what you buy and having bonus content you can't get anywhere else.

In the '90s, owning a pager was considered a status symbol and a fashion statement. Today, it's even possible to purchase a fully functional vintage Motorola pager from online marketplaces like eBay.

With the widespread use of mobile phones and free calling applications that offer unlimited calls via Wi-Fi, traditional landlines may eventually become obsolete. However, the complete phasing out of this technology may take some time. This is because certain regions or countries still contend with unreliable internet or cellular coverage. As of August 2023, Community Phone reports that approximately 40.35 million households in the United States still maintain landline phones, and 38.1 million households have both a landline and a cell phone.

For some people, "new" technology doesn’t always mean "better." On Reddit, a user started a discussion thread asking, “What outdated or obsolete tech are you still using and are perfectly happy with?” The thread received more than 16,000 responses from people who shared the outdated everyday items they still happily use. Check some of them out below.

You probably haven't seen a calculator in ages, but a Reddit user chimed in to say that, for them, the old-school scientific calculator beats the one on your phone or any app. They simply put it like this, "Honestly, a standard scientific calculator is just easier to use than your phone's built-in scientific calculator." It could be the fun button-tapping sound or the nostalgic thrill of typing in cheeky words with numbers that makes this person prefer calculators.

Smartwatches may pack in loads of features, but there's a catch - they need regular charging and maintenance, and their battery life is shorter. On the flip side, traditional watches are a low-maintenance choice with longer battery life. In fact, a Redditor mentioned they still rock a "a lovely, inexpensive, bombproof, analog, big face Casio." They also pointed out that smartwatches aren't allowed at their job, so their trusty Casio gets the job done.

If you've put a ton of effort into collecting CDs and vinyl records, and creating some killer playlists, why ditch them, right? One person told their story about growing up in the '90s, building a massive CD collection, and stashing them all in one of those Case Logic CD binders. They fondly shared, "I still keep it with me in my car and it’s a wonderful trip down memory lane every time I open it. I laughed and cried a little when my kids friend asked me what it was and I said, 'CDs' and they followed up with, 'What’s that?'" But also: not everything is available on streaming services.  That obscure soundtrack or tribute album from the '80s? Licensing issues may have prevented it from hitting the streamers.  Love Joni Mitchell? Well, Spotify doesn't have her catalog. Sure, you can subscribe to another service, but if you kept your old vinyl and have a turntable, you can listen to it the old school way.

You have people who can't stand a tangle of wires in their tech setup, and then there's that Reddit user who's all about the wired life. They firmly believe that wired networking is "not obsolete or outdated." According to them, it's superior in every aspect, except for the mobility it lacks compared to wireless. They put it simply, "Wired is the ideal, you only go wireless if running cable is unfeasible for the situation.

A regular doorbell does its job well. It lets you know someone's at the door. On the other hand, a video doorbell does the same but with the perk of letting you see and hear the person at your door, even if you're not home. Someone mentioned they'd be up for a smart doorbell if it kept the data local. They said, "I don't want anything being sent online, so I might need to set up my own system... I'll just stick with the traditional kind."

A Redditor shared their affection for good old physical buttons, arguing that not everything needs to go the touchscreen route. They stressed the importance of having car radios equipped with buttons rather than screens, believing it's a safer choice. They explained, "It’s easier for me to push a button to change the music while keeping my eyes on the road/ I can’t do that if my car has a screen. It increases distracted driving incidents."