Latest HomePod News

Apple's next NeXT: how buying Beats launched a sneak attack on the future of sound

When Apple announced it was acquiring Beats in 2014, lots of critics scoffed and some even suggested the purchase was evidence that Tim Cook was just grasping at straws, with a good measure of racist-tinged denigration of the value of the LA-based music firm on the side. Why was the most valuable, competent and profitable tech company on earth prepared to spend $3 billion—by far the most it had ever paid in an acquisition—to get Beats?

Daniel Eran Dilger 8 years ago 47

After Apple's HomePod delay, Amazon touts budget Echo Dot as best selling Black Friday purchase

Just days after Apple delayed its HomePod speaker and personal assistant into 2018, Amazon's low-priced Echo Dot was the company's top seller over Black Friday and Cyber Monday, giving the online retailer an even greater lead over rivals in the home speaker market.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 31

Video: With Apple's HomePod delayed until 2018, will customers wait?

Apple recently announced that its highly anticipated premium HomePod speaker won't launch in December as was originally planned. AppleInsider brings you up to speed with everything you need to know about the HomePod's delay until 2018.

AppleInsider Staff 8 years ago 26

Apple delays HomePod launch until 'early 2018'

Originally scheduled to debut in December, Apple has pushed the launch of its Siri-equipped HomePod speaker into early 2018, saying the company needs more time to complete the home audio accessory.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 133

Apple supplier hints at next-gen HomePod with Face ID

Before the first-generation HomePod can even make its way into the wild, rumors are already cropping up about a future update to the premium speaker, as the president of supplier Inventec made comments about future smart speakers with facial recognition capabilities.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 20

HomePod will pass Siri queries beyond music playback to linked iPhone or iPad for processing

A delve into the new HomePod firmware, and developer documentation shows that Apple's forthcoming smart speaker will process full Siri queries on a synchronized iPhone or iPad rather than refusing them, or processing them on-device.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 20

iOS 11.2 beta brings SiriKit commands to Apple's unreleased HomePod

The first iOS 11.2 beta — launched earlier on Monday — enables SiriKit for third-party developers working on HomePod support, according to Apple.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 3

Apple exec Craig Federighi says no October event this year

With just 11 days left in the month, Apple will not be holding an October press event this year, the company's head of software engineering reportedly said in an email.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 31

Google Home Mini preview hardware defect causes near-constant listening, uploads to servers

The first batch of Google Home Mini hardware distributed at assorted release events had a serious flaw that caused the device to listen in on every noise generated in a house — and has since been pinned down as a hardware problem with a key feature now temporarily disabled after a firmware update.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 36

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