HomePod, the upcoming Siri-driven smart speaker for the connected home, has received regulatory approval from the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
HomePod gets clearance from FCC ahead of launch
Wireless Speaker
HomePod may support multiple users, HomeKit scenes that mute “Hey Siri” temporarily
HomePod, Apple's upcoming $349 wireless speaker powered by Siri, may support multiple user accounts and allow users to create custom HomeKit scenes that temporarily disable the hands-free “Hey Siri” feature in certain situations.
HomePods are reportedly rolling off the production lines
Apple's manufacturing partner Inventec has begun shipping the long-awaited HomePod wireless speaker after the accessory missed its original December 2017 launch date.
Survey finds that smart speaker owners use their phones less often for certain activities
Having conducted an online survey of 21,000 people across 19 countries in October and November 2017, tech consultancy Accenture and Harris Interactive discovered that people with smart home speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home use their phones less often.
Samsung’s smart speaker could undercut HomePod with a price point around $200
Samsung's smart home speaker is in the works and should release during the first half of 2018.
Google’s $399 Home Max speaker goes on sale
Unveiled in October, Google announced Monday that its Home Max wireless speaker with built-in Assistant is now available in the US from electronics retailer Best Buy, carrier Verizon., retailer Walmart and Google's own webstore.
Early HomePod prototypes were 3 feet high, had a mesh screen on the front
A side-project by Mac audio engineers, Apple's delayed HomePod speaker was originally 3 feet high and had a mesh screen on the front, as per Bloomberg's Mark Gurman on Tuesday.
Foxconn will join Inventec as a HomePod manufacturer
HomePod's unexpected delay is expected to help contract manufacturer Foxconn, which is now said to be joining the supply chain in order to help assemble Apple’s Siri-powered smart speaker for 2018.
Smart speakers with pico projectors and 3D sensing features due in 2018
Smart speakers coming in 2018 will have more functions, including 3D lenses for increased distances sensing accuracy and features like integrated pico projectors.
Apple delays HomePod until 2018
HomePod, Apple's Siri-powered wireless speaker, won't be arriving next month after all.
Apple estimated to build 4 million HomePods next year
Inventec Appliances, a subsidiary of Taiwanese electronic contract manufacturer Inventec and currently the sole HomePod manufacturer, will only ship about 50,000 units of Apple's $349 Siri-driven wireless speaker by the end of this year.
Future HomePod may offer 3D sensing features, including facial and image recognition
Japanese outlet Nikkei Asian Review speculated on Monday that a future HomePod might incorporate 3D-sensing features, including facial and image recognition that may or may not be based on iPhone X's Face ID technology.