San Jose: Apple Inc on Monday introduced the HomePod, a voice-controlled speaker that can make music suggestions and adjust home temperatures, taking aim at Amazon.com Inc's Alexa feature and Echo devices.
Although Siri would likely be a centerpiece of a smart speaker from Apple, Moorhead said the device's design, colors and acoustics will also likely be focal points because the company has a long history of making elegantly designed products. In addition to that, Siri can also handle advanced searches within the music library, so users can enquire about various artists or create a shared playlist with everyone in the home.
A survey released last month by research firm eMarketer found Echo speakers held 70.6 percent of the U.S. market, compared with 23.8 percent for Google Home.
Considering that the expected price of the speaker is going to be $349, it would only be natural to expect that Apple should deliver on these fronts.
As stated earlier, Siri is omnipresent in the speaker just a command "Hey Siri" away from playing a song for you. The Apple HomePod is in direct competition with these two as each connects into a smart home and other IoT enabled devices to manage settings, look up information, set reminders through voice instructions. (Many reviewers have suggested that the current incarnation of Apple's assistant already trails competitors in key respects.) "This is the start of the AI wars", he said. New iMacs released Monday are getting better displays and graphics capabilities.
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A one-handed keyboard, improved Apple Maps and customisable Control Centre are also included in this blockbuster update . The dock is completely customizable and it can be pulled from the bottom of iPad's display by swiping upwards.
Mac models were also boosted to work with virtual reality gear, a move by Apple into technology that Facebook has embraced with its Oculus unit. It starts shipping in the US, the United Kingdom, and Australia. It will not block the ads themselves, though.
FILE - In this Wednesday, Dec. 7, 2011 file photo, a person stands near the Apple logo at the company's store in Grand Central Terminal, in NY. If the speculation pans out, the speaker would be Apple's first new product since its smartwatch in 2015.
Apple's strict adherence to profit goals can potentially hinder experiments and runs counter to efforts to pitch itself as more than a hardware company, even though Apple generates 88% of its annual sales from iPhones, computers, iPads, headphones and other hardware.
Apple also unveiled a 10.5-inch iPad Pro and announced Apple Pay compatibility for Messages, meaning that it will be possible to send money to friends and family. So far, the service has limited payments to purchases of products and services from companies and other organizations.
Ortutay reported from NY.
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