Earlier this week, The Verge offered a report with a headline that would perhaps make Jeff Smulyan stop in his tracks. “There’s a secret smart home radio in your new Mac,” it reads. For the Emmis Communications founder and CEO, getting FM chips in an iPhone was a quest that never proved successful; by fall 2018 NextRadio, which was based on smartphone activation of FM radio chips, was done.
Don’t get too excited, though. This “radio” has little to do with MHz, or kHz, reception.
Rather, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max ushered in the arrival of a Thread radio, as did a host of new Macs and iPads released since September.
The Verge was the first publication to share the details, which Apple itself didn’t disclose in any meaningful way. The online tech news organization confirmed the appearance of Thread in the devices after confirming FCC compliance tests were made by Apple.
What is Thread? The Verge describes it as the primary wireless protocol for the new smart home standard Matter. This is the blueprint for Apple Home. Think better Bluetooth, using the “internet of things” to power everything from thermostats and sensors to locks and lights.
To date, no Apple products include a consumer radio with AM or FM radio station accessibility.
