Apple’s smart home push: Here’s what you need to know

>> WELCOME BACK. APPLE TEAMING UP WITH LG TO DEVELOP ACCESSORIES FOR ITS SMART HOME DEVICES. ACCORDING TO A NEW REPORT, MACKENZIE SIGALOS HAS THE SCOOP. MACKENZIE. >> SO SARA, THIS. >> IS. >> APPLE TRYING. >> TO MAKE THE HOME A MUCH MORE SIGNIFICANT PART OF ITS HARDWARE ECOSYSTEM AND ULTIMATELY ITS SERVICES BUSINESS. BLOOMBERG IS REPORTING THAT THE APPLE LG COLLABORATION INCLUDES A BROADER LINEUP OF SMART HOME DEVICES NOW IN DEVELOPMENT, INCLUDING A VIDEO DOORBELL, SMART LOCK, THERMOSTAT, AND THEN SEVERAL SECURITY CAMERAS. THEY'RE ALL DESIGNED TO WORK WITH APPLE'S HIGHLY ANTICIPATED NEW DISPLAY DRIVEN SMART HOME HUB, ALONGSIDE AN UPGRADED HOMEPOD MINI AND APPLE TV BOX THAT ARE EXPECTED NEXT WEEK. THE PRODUCTS THEMSELVES WILL CARRY THE LG NAME, WITH LG HANDLING, MANUFACTURING WARRANTIES AND CUSTOMER SUPPORT. WHILE APPLE HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN THE DESIGN, FEATURES AND ENGINEERING, AND THE REGULATORY FILINGS HERE GIVE US AN ACTUAL LOOK AT SOME OF THIS HARDWARE. THE FCC RECORDS INCLUDE SCHEMATICS FOR THE SMART LOCK, ALONG WITH TECHNICAL DETAILS SHOWING SUPRT FOR FEATURES LIKE ULTRA WIDEBAND, WHICH COULD LET THE LOCK RECOGNIZE WHEN YOU'RE APPROACHING AND THEN UNLOCK AUTOMATICALLY. NOW, APPLE HAS USED THIS PRODUCTION MODEL BEFORE, HELPING SHAPE PRODUCTS THAT ARE ULTIMATELY MANUFACTURED BY ANOTHER COMPANY, INCLUDING BELKIN AND LOGITECH. IT ESSENTIALLY GIVES APPLE A WAY TO EXPAND ITS ECOSYSTEM WITHOUT HAVING TO MAKE, MARKET, AND THEN SERVICE EVERY ACCESSORY ITSELF. THE LARGER CHALLENGE, OF COURSE, IS THAT APPLE IS COMING INTO A CATEGORY WHERE AMAZON'S RING AND GOOGLE'S NEST ALREADY HAVE A BIG HEAD START. SO THE BET HERE IS THAT APPLE CAN MAKE UP GROUND BY TYING MORE OF THE HOME INTO THE DEVICES THAT PEOPLE ALREADY CARRY AND USE EVERY DAY. WITH SIRI AI