Apple’s new HomeView smart home hub will include 15 built-in Apple apps, according to the company’s technical specifications. Although the device does not have its own App Store, it can also display select CarPlay-enabled audio and video apps from a paired iPhone.

The combination gives HomeView access to more entertainment and information services than its built-in software list suggests. Apple has made the device available for pre-order, with a launch scheduled for Friday, November 13.

Which apps come built into Apple HomeView?

Apple’s specifications page lists the following 15 apps as part of HomeView’s built-in software:

  • Alarms
  • Calendar
  • FaceTime
  • Find My
  • Home
  • Intercom
  • Messages
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Reminders
  • Safari
  • Settings
  • Timers
  • Weather
  • World Clock

The selection covers core smart-home controls, communications, scheduling and everyday utilities. HomeView also includes Apple’s media apps, including Music and Podcasts, without requiring users to install them separately.

CarPlay apps can extend HomeView’s features

HomeView can show certain CarPlay-enabled apps from a connected iPhone. The supported Apple apps listed in the available information are Apple Music Classical, Apple News, Apple TV and Audiobooks.

Third-party audio and video apps are supported as well, although Apple does not provide a complete list in the specifications. Spotify is cited as one example of a compatible third-party app, according to WIRED.

This approach means HomeView is not an independently expandable App Store device. Instead, its access to additional entertainment and information apps depends on CarPlay compatibility and an associated iPhone.

Widgets are also supported

Apple’s latest Apple Developer Program agreement confirms that certain CarPlay apps and widgets can be available on HomeView. The agreement establishes the software framework for bringing those experiences to the device, though the available information does not identify every supported widget.

For users considering HomeView, the distinction between built-in apps and iPhone-connected features is important. Apple’s own app lineup is fixed at launch, while the broader set of CarPlay experiences depends on supported apps and the paired phone.

Apple HomeView launch date

HomeView is currently available for pre-order and is set to launch on November 13. Apple’s technical specifications provide the built-in app list, while its developer agreement confirms support for selected CarPlay apps and widgets.