Apple ‘HomePod’ speaker to take on Amazon, Google

“There is so much momentum building around these speakers that it would be hard for Apple not to come out with one”, said industry analyst Patrick Moorhead of Moor Insights & Strategy.

That’s where HomePod comes in, which is launching later this year at the same $350 price point as the iPod Hi-Fi.

Apple’s AI assistant Siri was launched in 2011, and was not an instant hit – nor were original AI assistants on other platforms.

The company introduced three new watch faces today. It will also be possible to exchange data between gym equipment and the watch. It is coming out this fall and will be a free update.

Apple is late on VR. This week, this included “Minecraft: Pocket” and a new version of “Goat Simulator”, an oddball game that’s exactly what its name sounds like.

The OS is getting VR support, says Craig Federighi, including support for Unity, Unreal and Metal for VR. Safari is adding autoplay blocking, so loud videos don’t start playing without your approval.

The browser’s new “intelligent tracking prevention”, meanwhile, will use machine learning to identify and block digital-ad trackers in order to keep advertisers from following and profiling users.

The Siri updates are expected in September with iOS 11, the next version of Apple’s mobile software.

Apple is porting its Apple File System to macOS. So far, interest in VR has been strongest among gamers, developers and hardware makers rather than everyday users.

According to the insiders, development is fairly advanced; the specs consist of a “Kopin NED Acetate frame, Polarisized or prescription lens with Zeiss smart optics, Bone induction modules Microphones (noise cancellation), Light sensor Accelerometer for step tracking and head movement, app navigation Magnetometer for navigation, Capacitive Pavel Ceramic battery, Apple chipset, [and] Charging circuit BL5 Induction module”. It will be available in other countries next year.

The tech giant announced the updated iMacs would have new, faster processors as well as “43% brighter” displays. The iMacs are capable of powering VR thanks to upgraded graphics cards inside, while the MacBooks require a Thunderbolt 3 external GPU.

“That iMac Pro really is bad ass”, said Cook.

Apple has finally unveiled its answer to Amazon’s and Google’s smart speakers slash digital assistants – and it’s called HomePod.

The HomePod looks a lot like its rivals: It’s a chunky, mesh-covered cylinder that sits on a table and responds to voice commands. Part of its success has been due to Amazon’s willingness to let external developers create “skills” for the assistant. Alphabet’s (NASDAQ:GOOG) (NASDAQ:GOOGL) Google Home is quickly trying to catch up with third-party Actions, but is nowhere near 10,000.

Both Amazon.com Inc. and Google parent company Alphabet Inc. most likely sell their home speakers and other hardware at a loss or perhaps a small profit. Federighi reiterated that numerous advanced deep learning and artificial intelligence analysis – such as finding your location, facial recognition in photos, and setting calendar reminders – is done on the device, shutting Apple out of the loop – preventing anyone from asking Apple for data it doesn’t have.