How do apps on the HomeView work, and what does CarPlay have to do with it?

Apple's HomeView has no App Store, but you can still use third-party apps on it.

By Filipe Espósito Oct. 26, 2026 12:15 pm EST Apple Add Engadget on Google: Google Discover

Apple has finally announced HomeView (not HomePad), its new multimedia hub for controlling smart homes. While it runs an iOS-based operating system, it isn't exactly the same setup you have on your iPhone — although it looks quite familiar. Though on the app front, there's a major limitation: the HomeView has no App Store. But that doesn't mean third-party apps will be absent.