{"id":325770,"date":"2017-06-06T06:00:51","date_gmt":"2017-06-06T06:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=325770"},"modified":"2017-06-06T06:00:51","modified_gmt":"2017-06-06T06:00:51","slug":"apple-reveals-homepod-smart-speaker","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/2017\/06\/apple-reveals-homepod-smart-speaker\/","title":{"rendered":"Apple reveals HomePod smart speaker"},"content":{"rendered":"

Apple has announced a voice-activated loudspeaker powered by its virtual assistant Siri.<\/p>\n

Like devices by Amazon and Google, Apple’s HomePod speaker can respond to questions and control smart home gadgets such as lights.<\/p>\n

Analysts say Apple has been slow to improve its Siri virtual assistant and launch a smart speaker, after Amazon launched its Echo in 2014.<\/p>\n

The company has pitched HomePod first and foremost as a music player.<\/p>\n

“Apple being very clever by launching its Siri speaker as a music speaker that’s smart, because Siri isn’t great,” said Tom Warren from the technology news site The Verge.<\/p>\n

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“Interesting that home assistant was the last feature they talked about. Focusing on music is smart, main use case for smart speakers,” said Ben Bajarin, of the Creative Strategies consultancy.<\/p>\n

The announcement was made at the tech giant’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in San Jose, California.<\/p>\n

“It’s a logical step for Apple, to ensure that they don’t miss the opportunity to get a smart device right in the centre of people’s homes,” said Ben Wood, an industry analyst at CCS Insight.<\/p>\n

“There has been a huge amount of hype around Amazon Echo and Google Home, but we are really at the start of this technology.<\/p>\n

“This does a great job of extending the tentacles of Apple services.”<\/p>\n

\n

Analysis – Dave Lee, BBC North America technology reporter, at WWDC<\/strong><\/p>\n

At more than double the cost of Amazon’s Echo, the HomePod is a typical Apple move.<\/p>\n

The company is once again banking on its reputation as a creator of intuitive, luxury products that justify a hefty price tag.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

So – a cynic might say Apple has just launched the world’s most-hyped bluetooth speaker – not much imagination there.<\/p>\n

But let’s face it, before AI and machine learning really matures, most home assistant devices are essentially voice-controlled speakers, and so Apple dedicating its effort into making it sound great is probably a smart move.<\/p>\n

Then again, you might wonder if its “smart” capabilities are being downplayed due to Siri just not being as advanced as its competitors.<\/p>\n

Mixed reality<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tools that let app designers add virtual objects to a real-world view from the phone’s camera, in real time, were also revealed.<\/p>\n

The mobile game Pokemon Go is a well-known example of mixed-reality technology in action.<\/p>\n

\"Apple\"Image copyright<\/span>APPLE<\/span><\/span>
Image caption<\/span>ARkit will let people place virtual objects over a real-world view<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Apple said the new ARkit would make use of the dual-lens camera on the iPhone 7 Plus, making the integration of virtual objects and the real world more realistic.<\/p>\n

“By truly enabling all modern iPhones to become augmented reality platforms, Apple will have the largest potential reach for AR development day one,” said Mr Bajarin.<\/p>\n

However, he questioned the practicality of augmented reality on a smartphone.<\/p>\n

“The benefit to a headset or glasses in these demos is not having to hold the device up thus arms getting tired,” he said.<\/p>\n

Safety in the car<\/strong><\/p>\n

Apple also announced the next version of its mobile operating system – iOS 11 – which will include a new setting for people who use their iPhone in the car.<\/p>\n

In January, the company was sued by a US couple whose daughter was killed by a driver allegedly using FaceTime on his iPhone.<\/p>\n

The new driving mode silences notifications, turns the phone’s display off, and can automatically reply to messages to warn friends that you are driving.<\/p>\n

\"iOS<\/span><\/figure>\n
iOS 11 will be able to warn people that you’re driving<\/figure>\n

Samsung is testing a similar feature for its Android-powered phones.<\/p>\n

Apple also announced:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • a deal bringing the Amazon Prime Video streaming service to the Apple TV set-top box<\/li>\n
  • an update to its Safari web browser, which will now stop websites from tracking visitors and stop videos playing automatically<\/li>\n
  • speed upgrades to its iMac and Macbook range of computers, plus a new iMac Pro which the company says is the most powerful Mac ever made<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    –<\/p>\n

    Source: BBC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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