Echo devices are intended as a way for owners to get information and tap into the Amazon store to purchase items, but Apple is positioning HomePod as, first and foremost, a music speaker.
Apple noted the growing popularity of wireless home audio and smart speakers, but made the point that current offerings are lacking.
The company unveiled a speaker called "HomePod" on Monday at its annual developers conference.
What's interesting about Apple's approach here is that the company has positioned HomePod as a music device first and foremost, a big contrast to the approach of Google which touted its Home speaker as a day-to-day assistant for many aspects of your life.
Critics have accused Apple of being behind the curve on smart speakers, which are powered by artificial intelligence systems, leading to fears that it could miss out on the generation of gadgets that could follow the smartphone.
In the video above we'll walk you through a bit of the engineering behind how smart home devices work, from the stages each goes through to turn your voice into executable computer commands and how each understands what you're trying to say.
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.
At just under 7 inches tall Home Pod can be placed almost anywhere in the home and is available in white and space gray
The HomePod will be available in December in the US, United Kingdom and Australia in white and space gray.
Apple also released a software kit so developers could infuse augmented reality into applications for iPhones or iPads. But Apple really emphasized one thing in particular... HomePod is also created to work with the newly-announced AirPlay 2 multi-room audio solution, which allows the two to automatically detect and balance each other for a more "lifelike" sound.
Phil Schiller, senior VP of marketing at Apple had the job of explaining what the new product is meant to do. These devices will only keep the most recent messages in local storage.
A new "high efficiency" photo format will replace the widely used JPEG standard.
Apple is also bringing the ability to pay someone back through its payment service, Apple Pay, much as PayPal and other services already do.
Safari, Apple's web browser, is getting new features aimed at online annoyances. It will not block the ads themselves, though. It's also what Microsoft is targeting with the Surface Pro; a new model comes out on June 15. The new iPad starts at $649 and will start shipping next week.
Amazon and Google assistants had an advantage over Siri because they had more data from their search engines they could use to train their virtual assistants and have less-restrictive privacy policies than Apple, the former employees said.
Trump says Qatar funding terrorism at 'high level'
State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said that UAE notified the U.S. about the plan shortly before it went into effect. Urging all sides to avoid further escalation of the conflict, Tillerson said the elements were available to resolve it.
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