Siri on HomePod improved its standing in an annual smart speaker comparison carried out by analyst Gene Munster's Loup Ventures, with Apple's virtual assistant weathering a barrage of accuracy tests to place second behind Google Assistant.
Siri has grown by leaps and bounds after being acquired by Apple and launching in beta on the iPhone 4S. With WWDC in a week, let's talk about what we'd love to see included in iOS 12, watchOS 5, tvOS 12, and macOS 10.14.
Calling it a "breakthrough home speaker," Apple on Monday revealed the new Siri home speaker dubbed HomePod, a device the company hopes will reinvent music at home just like the iPod reinvented music in your pocket. It will cost $349 and ship this December.
An extensive thread from "Foxconninsider" on Reddit has answered user questions about forthcoming Apple products, including limited information on a 2018 MacBook Pro refresh, the death of the MacBook Air, an "Apple Smart Glasses" project, the "Siri Speaker" and the "iPhone 8" — but a previous rumor that was refuted has been reiterated and casts significant doubt on the user and the data provided.
A high-profile Apple stock analyst has suggested virtually all of Apple's upcoming hardware pipeline could at least be previewed at WWDC, including the "iPhone 8" and an Apple TV with 4K. Needless to say, that's highly unlikely.
Apple's rumored Amazon Echo competitor, based on Siri, has already entered manufacturing — but may not ship until "later in the year," sometime after the company's WWDC 2017 keynote on June 5, according to a report.
Apple is believed to be working on a home audio device that will allow users to make Siri queries without directly interacting with other devices. AppleInsider offers a quick rundown of all the latest rumors on Apple's so-called Siri home speaker, which could debut as soon as next month.
Lending credence to rumors of a cylindrical "Siri speaker," Apple on Tuesday was granted a patent covering the operating design of a component-rich tubular device, and methods for manufacturing the same.
Whether it has a dynamic screen or simple buttons, Apple's anticipated Siri home speaker will likely offer physical controls with some kind of dedicated touch panel, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities revealed on Saturday.
Apple on Tuesday began inviting members of the media to its keynote presentation on June 5 in San Jose, where the company will kick off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference and unveil the next-generation versions of iOS and macOS.
Amazon's voice-driven personal assistant Alexa is going visual, via the online retailer's new high-end Echo Show, a $230 tabletop personal assistant featuring a 7-inch touchscreen, 5-megapixel camera, and dual 2-inch stereo speakers.
Looking to stay ahead of competitors in the smart home appliance game, online retail giant Amazon is expected to announce a new touch-screen version of its popular voice-first Echo device as early as Tuesday, a report said.
Microsoft and Harman Kardon on Monday officially revealed the Invoke, a device that will take on the Amazon Echo, Google Home, and Apple's rumored Siri-based device in the smartspeaker market.
Amidst rumors of a Siri home speaker, Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller in an interview published this week offered his thoughts on dedicated voice assistants like Amazon's Echo, saying the lack of an onboard screen is a hindrance in many situations.
As rumors continue to heat up regarding a Siri-driven personal home assistant with high-end audio, Amazon is preparing to expand its own Alexa lineup, with a new leak revealing a touchscreen flagship Echo with camera.
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Andrew O'Hara
Neil Hughes
Mike Wuerthele
Roger Fingas
AppleInsider Staff
Mikey Campbell
