Apple's AI Smart Home Hub 'J490' Reported Ready to Ship, Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch in October

In the October 2 episode of Bloomberg's "Power On" podcast, Apple reporter Mark Gurman said the company's AI-powered smart home hub, codenamed "J490," is stocked in warehouses worldwide and could be released within weeks. The device is described as featuring a roughly 6-inch square touchscreen and a new operating system that blends Watch OS and StandBy modes, with voice as the primary interface.

Gurman also said Apple could launch its first touchscreen MacBook Pro as soon as October 2026, or possibly November. The laptop is expected to feature an OLED display and the Dynamic Island for the first time, powered by M5 Pro or M5 Max chips. Apple is reportedly testing the device with a touch-optimized redesign in macOS 27.2 beta.

Regarding the iPhone 18 Pro, Gurman called it a typical "S" generation update with little real-world improvement, saying "there's absolutely no reason to upgrade." He also noted that Apple is shifting more marketing resources to influencers rather than traditional media as product innovation slows.