Apple HomePod to Compete With Amazon Echo and Google Home

Apple has announced its new HomePod device. The Siri enabled speaker will compete with devices already popular in the marketplace, such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home. Rumors have been swirling and Apple was expected to announce the gadget today at WWDC 2017. The name is a little odd but Apple decided not to call it a Siri Speaker which was one of the rumored names.

The speaker will go on sale later this year. It will be powered by Apple's A8 processor. It has 6 microphones and a 7 beam-forming tweeter array. The speaker will begin responding to commands after hearing the "Hey Siri" command.

The HomePod will cost $349 making it much more expensive than the devices from Amazon and Google. It also lacks a screen like the new touchscreen Amazon Show. The speaker is expected to ship in December 2017. The speaker is under 7 inches tall. It will be available in white and space gray.

Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, says in the announcement, "HomePod packs powerful speaker technology, Siri intelligence and wireless access to the entire Apple Music library into a beautiful speaker that is less than 7 inches tall, can rock most any room with distortion free music and be a helpful assistant around your home."

The HomePod can help you with music as well as act as a home assistant like Amazon's Alexa. Apple says, "As a home assistant, HomePod is a great way to send messages, get updates on news, sports and weather, or control smart home devices by simply asking Siri to turn on the lights, close the shades or activate a scene. When away from home, HomePod is the perfect home hub, providing remote access and home automations through the Home app on iPhone or iPad."

Apple also says the HomePod has automatic room-sensing technology enabling it to learn its position in a room. Apple says information sent to Apple servers will be encrypted and sent "using an anonymous Siri identifier."