HomePod firmware points to 'iPhone 8' split status bar, tap to wake, embedded Touch ID in question

Digging deeper into HomePod firmware that was released over the weekend, developer Steven Troughton-Smith is coming up with additional details surrounding Apple's next-generation iPhone, including what could be confirmation of a split status bar user interface and a new "tap to wake" feature.

Mikey Campbell 8 years ago 32

Further Apple HomePod firmware spelunking shows 1GB of RAM, 272x340 screen

A deeper dive into the HomePod firmware that was briefly available over the weekend shows the A8-powered device will boast 1GB of RAM available and a 272-by-340 pixel screen, suggesting that rudimentary app support will be possible for the hardware in the future.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 17

Evolving tactics, rule changes make it harder to uncover future Apple product names

While Apple is finding it increasingly hard to stop feature leaks, this year, the company has had some success preventing people from learning exact product names — owing to the countries it's now choosing for trademarks.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 5

Unlike Roomba, Apple confirms it won't upload, share or sell your home data from HomePod

With vacuum maker iRobot looking to sell user's house maps to smart home vendors, an AppleInsider reader asked Apple what it planned to do with data collected by the HomePod's room mapping technology. Unsurprisingly, Apple confirmed it has no intention of saving or sharing information about a user's home layout.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 21

Size matters? Facebook plans to combat Apple's HomePod with smart speaker featuring 15" display

Reports suggest Facebook is working on its own smart speaker to battle the HomePod and similar products, with features similar to that of the Amazon Show — but packing a 15-inch screen.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 13

Amazon working on new Echo with better speakers in response to Apple HomePod

Apparently in response to Apple's HomePod announcement, Amazon is reportedly working on a new flagship Echo speaker that will improve on the original in virtually every respect.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 31

iPhone owners more excited about HomePod or Beats than Amazon Echo, survey finds

Interest among iPhone users in the upcoming HomePod speaker is greater than that of the Apple Watch prior to its launch, and more users are planning on buying Apple-produced speakers than Amazon Echo devices.

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 46

Apple invention appears to detail HomePod's adaptive acoustics

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on Thursday published an Apple patent application seemingly related to the company's upcoming HomePod speaker. In particular, the invention covers a method of equalizing and optimizing loudspeaker output through the use of microphones, digital signal processing and advanced computational algorithms.

Mikey Campbell 8 years ago 18

With Bixby still MIA, Samsung scrambling to build Apple HomePod competing smart speaker

On the heels of Apple's HomePod announcement, Samsung is said to be working on its own foray into the smart speaker space, although the South Korean company's voice-driven personal assistant, Bixby, hasn't even launched in the U.S.

Neil Hughes 8 years ago 31

Apple marketing chief discusses 'unbelievable' response to ARKit, HomePod, more in interview

Apple vice president of worldwide iPod, iPhone, and iOS product marketing Greg Joswiak says developer response to the company's new ARKit tools is "unbelievable," suggesting consumers will have plenty of augmented reality app to browse through when iOS 11 launches this fall.

Mikey Campbell 8 years ago 16

Apple's Tim Cook talks HomePod, AR, personal legacy & more in new interview excerpt

In an interview excerpt published on Thursday, Apple CEO Tim Cook commented on a variety of topics, including how much time he spends thinking about what people will say about his legacy at Apple.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 7

Survey finds 1/3 of people interested in Apple's HomePod, still more likely to buy Amazon Echo

Roughly a third of people in the U.S. are interested in Apple's Siri-based HomePod, though they're more likely to buy an Amazon Echo in practice, survey results suggested on Wednesday.

Roger Fingas 8 years ago 81

Tim Cook talks HomePod's philosophy, ARKit's potential market impact

Apple Chief Executive Tim Cook this week answered questions surrounding the the reasoning behind ARKit and the new HomePod announced during the WWDC keynote, calling the new speaker a "breakthrough" and Apple's ARKit's impact "profound."

Mike Wuerthele 8 years ago 23

First Listen: HomePod is Apple's AirPods, enhanced for your house

Apple's HomePod aims to further expand Siri assistance outside of iOS devices, Apple Watch, Macs, the Apple TV Remote and AirPods into the same sort of "always ready" home experience delivered by Amazon's Echo, even as it upgrades audio reproduction quality in the emerging "smart speaker" segment into the realm of affordable luxury.

Daniel Eran Dilger 8 years ago 67

First look: Apple's HomePod speaker

Apple took the wraps off HomePod, a competitor to so-called "smart speakers" like Amazon Echo, on Monday, later offering WWDC attendees a closer look at the device prior to an expected debut in December.

AppleInsider Staff 8 years ago 61

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