Apple Unveils ‘HomePod’ Speaker, First New Product In Years

iPad-only features: The introduction of a Files app, a huge change; drag and drop support inside and between apps; new wide dock; new app switcher; improved keyboard; more.

Messages updates: The Messages app is getting iCloud-synced messages between devices and a redesigned app drawer.

If you have an iPhone 7 Plus, the Portrait mode feature is being updated with optical image stabilization, True Tone flash and HDR.

New live photo features will include looped live photos, a bounce feature and a simulated long exposure. Secondly, once you download watchOS 4 Beta, you can not downgrade back to the latest public release, which is watchOS 3.x.

Apple will roll out the free update sometime this fall.

Apple also may introduce its next Mac computer, along with the next operating system powering the machine. And for the very first time, an operating system, the High Sierra, will be compatible with virtual reality (VR). It has been completely redesigned to include more features. The voice assistant will now sound more natural when responding to users. Nothing all that exciting.

After months of speculation, Apple has finally unveiled its answer to the Amazon Echo: the Siri-powered HomePod. Maybe we can finally get Siri to curse like Samuel L. Jackson in a Tarantino movie?

After touting the work of Apple’s developers, Cook announced that Amazon is coming to Apple TV with its Prime Video app. Cook said Apple was pleased about the partnership, and mentioned some original Amazon content like Transparent. There were a number of announcements.

Apple also refreshed its current 21.5in and 27in iMac lineup with internal improvements including Intel Kaby Lake processors with 10-bit HEVC decode, and up to 32GB RAM on the 21.5-inch iMac and up to 64GB RAM on the 27-inch iMac.

The new iPad Pro starts at $979 and $1199 for the smaller and larger models respectively.

Also, the new displays will also work better with the Apple Pencil, which now offers “industry-leading” latency of just 20 ms. The MacBook Air was updated with a new 1.8 GHz processor, too, but I believe it’s still a previous-generation chip. The rear cameras are capable of 4K video recording, while the front-facing cameras will manage 1080p.

The most interesting of all is the ProMotion, yes iPad now supports refresh rates of up to 120hz. You can preorder today, and the device will be available next week. A six-core CPU and 12-core GPU deliver up to 30 percent faster CPU performance and 40 percent faster graphics performance than the industry-leading A9X chip, while delivering all-day battery life. iPad Pro is the flawless device to shoot, edit and share pro-quality photos and videos. Prices start at $799. The app already just lets you send and receive money from anyone on any phone, provided they’ve got the app on their device. Yes, it’s yet another personal digital assistant appliance.

“Together with our incredible developer community, we’ve made the App Store the best app platform in the world, and more than 500 million unique customers visit it every week”, said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. Similar to Sonos speakers, the HomePod can analyze the size of the room in which it’s placed and adjust its output accordingly.