The article says Apple is preparing a smart home launch on October 13.

It would be a major step into home automation beyond the company’s core phones.

The planned lineup includes a central hub as the home’s control panel.

Software would tie the devices to iOS and macOS gear and to some third-party appliances.

The piece says this is the first big standalone launch event aimed at home devices.

At the same time, Apple is dealing with iPhone Duo production problems.

Those hurdles are described as component shortages and assembly delays that could affect holiday shipping.

Enthusiasts are forecasting as many as eight new products during October.

Analysts are watching whether a smart hub adds a services business, including security and cloud features.

Read the full article on Apple’s October 13 smart home plans and the iPhone Duo delays.