In addition to the upcoming iMac Pro, Apple took to its WWDC event today to preview its HomePod speaker, a 7-inch smart speaker that houses an array of seven tweeters, a four-inch upward-facing subwoofer, six microphones and an Apple A8 chip. Apple distinguishes the HomePod from competitors like the Amazon Echo (poor sound quality) and Sonos (no interactive voice assistant), offering compatibility with Apple Music and its full library of songs. As a home assistant, Siri provides news, weather, traffic, sports, reminders, timers and more. “Spatial awareness” enables the HomePod to automatically tune itself in relation to is surrounding space, while compatibility with Apple’s new AirPlay 2 technology allows for a multi-room audio setup. The HomePod launches later this year for $349.
