Insider about the new iPad

Apple is developing an unusual accessory for its iPad tablets that will be unveiled "as early as 2023". This is reported by a well-known insider and Bloomberg correspondent.

According to the correspondent, Apple is considering several options to turn the iPad into a smart home hub. One option could be a speaker with a screen like the Amazon Echo Show, which has already been rumoured online. However, according to the journalist, it is more likely that Apple will release another device to solve this problem.

Also, the insider claims that Apple is developing a speaker dock for the iPad. Such an accessory would allow the tablet to be used like the Amazon Echo Show, but without depriving it of its original functionality.

The journalist writes that Apple has already developed several prototypes of the device and could unveil the final version in 2023. According to him, the new docking station will be the company's flagship product in the smart home category and will allow it to launch a new round of competition with Amazon.

One of the key parts of the next iPad Pro, of course, will be Stage Manager, the company's new and controversial multitasking interface.

Apple has tried to appease Stage Manager critics by rolling out the feature on iPads other than the M1 in reverse order and postponing the integration of an external buggy monitor until late 2022.

Beyond the new iPad Pro, the company hopes to eventually push its tablet deeper into the home, with plans to turn the device into a smart hub and speaker. This approach would be similar to what Google is doing with its upcoming Pixel tablet.

It's worth noting that when Google first showed off the product in May, it seemed to be an old-school tablet with mediocre Android features. But earlier this month, the company said it would also be selling a new accessory that allows the Pixel tablet to be attached and used as a smart display and home control device.