Apple to Attend CES 2020 in Rare Official Appearance

Apple will make a rare official appearance at next week's annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas where its HomeKit smart home system will take the limelight, reports Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

homekit devices
With Amazon and Google expected to roll out new software capabilities for their internet-connected products and voice-activated smart platforms, Apple's own smart home system will also be on show.

Apple's HomeKit, a system for controlling devices in the home, will also be on display. Some companies will show off new gadgets for the home that work with Siri, Apple's digital assistant.

According to the report, the company isn't expected to release any new hardware at the trade show, but Apple executive Jane Horvath is scheduled to speak on a consumer privacy panel on January 7.

Ahead of last year's CES, Apple put up a giant sign in Las Vegas touting the security of its devices, and in 2018 some Apple employees reportedly met with potential augmented-reality glasses suppliers there, but otherwise it has traditionally chosen to stay away. Apple's presence at CES 2020 is the first time in decades that the company has attended in an official capacity.

Popular Stories

App Store vs EU Feature 2

Apple Says It Doesn't Approve of EU Porn App

Monday February 3, 2025 1:15 pm PST by
Apple does not approve of the "Hot Tub" pornography app that was released for the iPhone in the EU using alternative app distribution, Apple said in a statement to MacRumors. Further, Apple is concerned about the potential user safety risks with a pornography app, and says that it undermines consumer trust in the Apple ecosystem. We are deeply concerned about the safety risks that hardcore...
General Apple Invites Feature

Apple Launches New 'Invites' App

Tuesday February 4, 2025 8:00 am PST by
Apple today announced the launch of a new app called "Invites," which is designed to allow users to plan events like birthday parties, graduations, vacations, baby showers, and more. "With Apple Invites, an event comes to life from the moment the invitation is created, and users can share lasting memories even after they get together," said Brent Chiu-Watson, Apple's senior director of...
apple power beats pro 2

Apple Expected to Announce Powerbeats Pro 2 on February 11 With These New Features

Sunday February 2, 2025 6:15 am PST by
Apple previously teased that Powerbeats Pro 2 would be released in 2025, and now an announcement date has leaked. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today said Apple plans to unveil the wireless earbuds on Tuesday, February 11. Powerbeats Pro 2 will be priced at $250 in the U.S., he said. Powerbeats Pro are a sportier, fitness-focused alternative to AirPods Pro with built-in, adjustable ear hooks...
applecare apple care banner

AppleCare+ Policy Change Coming to Apple Stores

Sunday February 2, 2025 8:34 am PST by
Starting next week, Apple's retail stores will no longer offer AppleCare+ plans as a one-time purchase, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Instead, he said the stores will only offer AppleCare+ as a subscription. For example, AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $9.99 per month, or $199 upfront for two years. The latter option would no longer be available at Apple's stores....
iCloud General Feature Redux

Apple May Launch New iCloud Invite Tool Codenamed 'Confetti' This Week

Sunday February 2, 2025 6:42 am PST by
As early as this week, Apple plans to introduce a new iCloud-based service for event invites, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter, Gurman said the new service is codenamed "Confetti" within Apple. He said the service will offer users a "new way to invite people to parties, functions, and meetings." He did not say if this functionality would be available through a ...
applecare apple care banner

Apple Raises Monthly AppleCare+ Subscription Price for All iPhones

Tuesday February 4, 2025 9:35 am PST by
Apple this week increased the prices for its monthly AppleCare+ subscription prices for the iPhone, raising the cost by 50 cents for all models in the United States. Standard AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 models is now priced at $10.49 per month, for example, up from the prior $9.99 per month price. The 50 cent price increase applies to all available AppleCare+ plans for Apple's current...
iPhone 17 Pro Dual Tone Horizontal 1

iPhone 17 Pro Launching This Year With These 8 New Features

Tuesday January 28, 2025 11:48 am PST by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. iPhone 17 Pro concept based on rumors Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of January 2025: More aluminum: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models ...
iCloud General Feature Redux

'Apple Invites' Leaked on iCloud Website

Tuesday February 4, 2025 7:11 am PST by
Update: The new Apple Invites app has officially been announced. The main iCloud.com page has seemingly confirmed Apple's rumored invites tool, which has yet to be officially announced by the company. The page says "Apple Invites" will be an iCloud+ feature:Upgrade to iCloud+ to get more storage, plan events with Apple Invites, and have peace of mind with privacy features like iCloud...

Top Rated Comments

CJM Avatar
67 months ago

Wouldn't it be more appropriate if Apple to Promote Homekit at MacWorld 2020?
No, CES is the bigger show and Apple is trying to push HomeKit more since making a version of it open source for developers. Also interfacing with IoT electronics in the home is exactly what CES is about.
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JohnApples Avatar
67 months ago
I just want them to fix the constant bugs I have with HomeKit.

Devices randomly “not responding” even though I can control them fine in their official apps. Controlling certain devices in the Home app actually affecting completely separate devices in a different room. The “status” of lights being the opposite of what they actually are (shows ON when it’s actually OFF and vice versa).

So many little things that just cause a headache, and yet I don’t have these issues when controlling from Alexa or Google.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ACE83 Avatar
67 months ago
Yea I definitely don’t get the HomeKit hate. We moved into a new house last year and I went all in on HomeKit. At the same time I upgraded to Orbi mesh WiFi which I think makes a big difference.

Lutron switches, Hue bulbs, multiple Homepods, Apple TV, Hunter ceiling fan, LiftMaster MyQ for the garage, Ecobee thermostat and remote sensors...all work pretty flawlessly together through the Home app. Even had the Christmas tree and lights on HomeKit this year.

My 4 year old controls scenes through the HomePod on her own. It’s still pretty cool to hear/see.

Looking forward HomeKit in 2020 but really don’t know what I’d need to add at this point.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bluespark Avatar
67 months ago

Having purchased an Echo Dot (£22.50) and 4 smart plugs (£25) all I can say is Homekit is terrible.
The echo dot can understand my three year old (which is more than I can do most days)
How does this example demonstrate that “Homekit is terrible”? HomeKit is not a digital assistant; it is a unifying protocol. It’s strength is having devices talk to each other — so, for example, activity sensed by a Hue motion sensor can control Lutron lights. It doesn’t in any way affect the functionality you’re talking about, which works just fine alongside HomeKit.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
G5isAlive Avatar
67 months ago
I applaud Apple's continued trend of trying to do things differently than they have in the past. Will this be too little too late? Who knows. But they are trying, hopefully they will get back to leading.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
dumastudetto Avatar
67 months ago
HomeKit is so far ahead of the competition, I don't think any competitor can ever catch up.

I am excited to see what innovations Apple has for the HomeKit ecosystem in 2020.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)