Apple launches the Siri-powered smart speaker HomePod at WWDC17

Apple in its Worldwide Developer's Conference (WWDC) has introduced the HomePod a smart speaker. We had already predicted Apple will bring this kind of speaker into the market. This new speaker will take on Amazon's Echo devices, Google Home, and Microsoft's Cortana powered Harman Kardon Invoke Speaker.

Apple HomePod unveiled at WWDC 2017

The Apple HomePod is priced at $349 (Approximately Rs. 22,500). This new Siri-powered speaker can make music recommendations, send text messages, make calls, check news, and control smart home gadgets.

The HomePod users will be limited to the stuff they can do due to the limitations of Siri compared to the other competitors like Alexa and Google Assistant. But Apple is expected to announce a larger variety of apps to be compatible with Siri.

The HomePod speaker comes in just under seven inches tall with a fabric mesh covering. This new smart speaker will be available in two colours white and grey. This will utilise a computer processor to tune the sound to the room and beam the music to the listener.

Apple will start shipping out the HomePod to the United States, Britain and Australia in December with the iMac Pro which was also showcased at WWDC17.

This marked Apple's first new product launch since the Apple Watch in September 2014. This new product will challenge Sonos, a WiFi controlled speaker manufacturer. With this Apple also wants to compete with Google's Assistant which now is supported by multiple devices. Including Apple smartphones.

A new Siri interface was also introduced in WWDC built into the watchOS 4. This will help the users in many ways like put airline tickets into the calendar, text someone, etc.