Apple has a big software year ahead, with major redesigns coming to iOS 19, macOS 16, and even iPadOS 19. But the company also has a brand new OS launching soon. Heres everything we know about Apples new homeOS.Its not every day that Apple launches a brand new software platform, and it never does so without good reason. OS launches are always tied to new product launches. And the same will be true with homeOS.Later this year, Apple will debut a brand new HomePad smart display. This product will be a sort of cross between an iPad and HomePod. There are plenty of fascinating details about the HomePads hardware you can find elsewhere.For this article though, lets focus on the software that will power the HomePad: homeOS.What to expect from Apples new homeOSBased on Mark Gurmans reporting, homeOS will bear a lot of similarities to Apples existing software platformsbut tailored to the needs of modern homes.Home ScreenFor example, homeOS will offer a customizable Home Screen very much like iOS and iPadOS.On the Home Screen youll be able to:add widgets to track the weather, stocks, reminders, and morelaunch apps from an iOS-style gridhave a dock for your go-to appsaccess smart home controlsAll of this should look and feel very familiar for anyone with an iPhone or iPad.Siri and Apple IntelligenceSiri will also be a critical part of homeOS.Gurman reports that homeOS and the HomePad are designed to bring Siri and Apple Intelligence to life in a way that hasnt happened before. Essentially, imagine everything Siri can do on HomePod now, plus the powerful but currently-delayed iOS upgrades that give Siri more awareness of your personal context, as well as the ability to take action for you within and across your apps. That could add up to a compelling voice-first experience in homeOS.Apps in homeOSWhen it comes to apps, Gurman doesnt believe an App Store will be availableat least at launch. But there will certainly be a variety of built-in Apple apps offered. More beyond this list may be included, but at a minimum were expecting the following:FaceTimeNotesCalendarRemindersHomeSafariSettingsNewsMusicTVPodcastsWeatherPhotosDynamically responsive to users distanceSpeaking of the Photos app, homeOS will also offer a special mode for displaying a slideshow of photosessentially like a screensaver.Its likely homeOS will offer Photos screensavers as one of several options for when youre a fair distance away from the HomePad.Gurman writes that HomePad will include sensors to determine how close a person is. It will then automatically adjust its features depending on the distance.I can imagine a scenario where photos and/or an array of StandBy-like widgets will display when youre far from the device, then homeOS will switch to displaying the Home Screen when youre near.Apples homeOS wrap-up: iOS, but for your homeThis year will be a big one for Apple unifying its various software platforms to feel more cohesive. So its no surprise that the new OS launching, homeOS, sounds like it will achieve that goal too. The simple pitch of iOS, but for your home could give homeOS an easy in with the iPhones billions of active users, and make HomePad an attractive option when it launches later this year.What do you think of Apples plans for homeOS? Let us know in the comments.Best HomeKit smart home accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel