Voice-activated home speakers, commonly called “smart speakers,” arguably represent the most important new audio distribution platform since the smartphone.
Sonos introduced three new products this week, including both updates to existing concepts and the official launch of its first portable speaker. The new product was the previously rumored Sonos Move, and the others are the Sonos One SL and the Sonos Port. Continue Reading
We’ve still seen no signs of Samsung’s Galaxy Home smart speaker more than a year after it was first unveiled, but the company is already moving ahead with its second device. Samsung has started accepting sign-ups to beta test the Galaxy Home Mini. Continue Reading
Westwood One shared some recent insights about smart speaker use and ownership, including some Q2 2019 data from the Edison Research Share of Ear analysis. Rates of ownership show no signs of slowing, with 30% of Americans now owning a smart speaker in the second quarter of this year. Continue Reading
Voice technology has been a hot topic for the audio industry, with more and more parties getting involved. The latest is the BBC, which announced plans to launch its own voice assistant next year. The platform is attempting to offer a better understanding of regional accents in Britain. Continue Reading
Canalys has been tracking shipments of smart speakers for the past several years, and its report on the second quarter of 2019 revealed a shakeup in leading brands. Amazon remained the top brand with 6.6 million units shipped for its Echo line securing 25.4% market share. Baidu, based in China, took over the second spot with 4.5 million units. Continue Reading
Apple’s is expected to make a lot of product announcements this fall, and one may be give a boost to its tentative efforts in smart speakers. Bloomberg reported that the tech company is planning to release a less expensive version of its HomePod smart speaker to hit the market in 2020. Continue Reading
Bose has introduced a new smart speaker with multiple options for connectivity and voice controls. The Portable Home Speaker can link to both wifi and Bluetooth, and it will support Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple’s AirPlay 2, and Spotify Connect. Continue Reading
Google may be making more than just feature changes with its next smart speaker. Sources told 9to5Google that the company is working on a new version of the Google Home Mini from 2017. The second-generation product will be renamed as the Nest Mini. Continue Reading
Sonos had teased that a new product was coming for a fall launch, but many of the details around its upcoming project have leaked. The new device is a portable speaker known as the Sonos Move. It appears to be designed for easy relocating, with a recessed grip handle and a docking station to recharge its battery. Continue Reading
eMarketer found that the audience for voice assistants in the United States is reaching a critical mass. The company projected that 111.8 million people in the country would use a voice assistant at least monthly in 2019, representing 33.8% of the population. Continue Reading
Smart speaker sales continue to soar around the globe. Strategy Analytics found that unit sales nearly doubled from the second quarter of 2018 to reach 30.3 million in the second quarter of 2019. Continue Reading
Spotify and Apple are familiar with being rivals as both companies work to build their bases as top audio streaming services. But the latest development indicates that the businesses might also learn to work together. Continue Reading