Siri Speaker, HomePod, Release Date: Apple Announces December Launch

Apple’s annual developer conference, WWDC, is generally the stage used to preview the new Mac OS and iOS operating systems, but at WWDC 2017 not only was iOS 11 debuted Apple also unveiled a brand new device not already in the Apple ecosystem; a Siri speaker called HomePod.

Apple’s HomePod, is a sleek looking smart speaker powered by Siri that in theory should quickly rival Google Home and Amazon Echo. Apple said the HomePod has a December release date. The exact launch day for the HomePod is not set.

“Apple reinvented portable music with iPod and now HomePod will reinvent how we enjoy music wirelessly throughout our homes,” Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said at WWDC. “HomePod packs powerful speaker technology, Siri intelligence and wireless access to the entire Apple Music library into a beautiful speaker that is less than 7 inches tall, can rock most any room with distortion free music and be a helpful assistant around your home.”

The HomePod has room-sensing technology that allows the Siri speaker to learn where it is in the room. By locating its position in the room it can optimize the sound whether it's in the corner, on table, etc. Like the iPod and iPhone were initially, music is the driver of the HomePod. However, many features on the HomePod having nothing to do with its custom playlists, preference learning or the quality of its sound frequency and bass. With the HomePod you can ask the Siri to send messages, control smart home devices, get updates on weather sports, etc.

Apple's Siri speaker, HomePod, is priced at $349. It has a December release date, no exact day, for the U.S., U.K and Australia. Apple's HomePod works with iPhone 5s and later models. HomePod will only work with devices running iOS 11.