That's probably not a surprise considering the way Apple talked about it on-stage - Phil Schiller referred to the machine more as a "breakthrough home speaker" rather than the avatar of a virtual assistant.
The moves announced Monday escalate Apple's technological battle of wits with Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook.
Tim Cook, CEO, speaks during Apple's annual world wide developer conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California, U.S. June 5, 2017. Per consulting firm Strategy Analytics, smart speakers sales were up by almost 600 percent in 2016 compared to 2015, with 4.2 million smart speakers sold in the fourth quarter (about 88 percent of those were Amazon products, and 10 percent were Google).
Amazon's Echo smart speaker was the tech success story of 2016.
Apple "can't afford to yield valuable real-estate in the heart of people's homes to Amazon, Google and others", said Geoff Blaber, research analyst at CCS Insight. This time, however, the voice-command is an improved version of Siri.
More than 35 million people in the USA are expected to use a voice-activated speaker at least once a month this year, more than doubling from last year, according the research firm eMarketer.
EIA Report Renews Fears of Persistent Supply Glut
August Brent crude LCOQ7, -0.49% on London's ICE Futures exchange fell 16 cents, or 0.3%, to $$49.31 a barrel. Global consumption of oil and other liquids was 96.92 million barrels per day in 2016, according to the EIA.
I have to add that it is a bit surprising that Apple is this late when it comes to voice-command speakers.
Siri, meanwhile, is getting a new voice. So Apple is forced to focus on music, because Siri simply can't stand up as a home assistant.
Thrilled about Amazon Prime Video finally heading over to the Apple TV later this year? During Jobs' last decade, Apple introduced the iPod, iPhone and iPad all huge commercial successes that both reshaped daily life and swamped previous digital music players, smartphones and tablets.
Take a closer look at the HomePod in our video.
In addition to the various types of aid current smart speakers provide, HomePod features what Apple calls "spacial awareness", which allows the device to sense room size and occupying furniture to adjust audio as needed, according to CNET. When the product was unveiled, it became pretty obvious which companies Apple wanted to compete with.
On the software front, RBC Capital analyst Amit Daryanani expects the iOS 11 - the next operating system for Apple's iPhones and iPads - to get an overhaul that will accommodate the anticipated removal of the home button from the 10th anniversary model of the iPhone due out later this year. Software updates are also expected for Apple's smartwatch and TV box for streaming online video.
Comments