The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday edition that Apple on Tuesday launched a raft of smart products, including an iPad-like device dubbed the HomeView, in a bet that its AI-upgraded Siri virtual assistant can help it carve out a bigger share of the connected-home market. A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says the HomeView device, which starts at $299 (U.S.) is Apple's latest entry into that market. It will feature a seven-inch screen and face recognition and will help users control doorbells, thermostats and smart locks in a market where Apple has tinkered for a decade without major success. Apple is launching these products as it tries to fend off competition from rivals, including traditional competitors like Amazon, which has invested heavily in its Echo speakers and Ring doorbells and last week launched premium tablets, as well as newer AI upstarts like OpenAI that have hardware ambitions of their own. "Apple needs to demonstrate that its AI capabilities can deliver meaningful benefits beyond basic voice commands, simplifying everyday tasks and bringing greater intelligence to the home," said PP Foresight analyst Paolo Pescatore. Investors are looking more closely at Apple's hardware sales for growth.