Market research firm Strategy Analytics has another snapshot of the smart speaker market. The company released a ranking of the top smart speaker models in the United States from a poll of more than 1,000 people during July and August. The results for Amazon look positively rosy, full of potential for Google, and not-too-bright for Apple. Continue Reading
Apple introduced new products for its iPhone and Apple Watch yesterday, and while those devices took center stage, there was a small hint of things to come for the HomePod smart speaker. CEO Tim Cook mentioned a few upcoming software updates coming to the HomePod on September 17 to improve functionality. Continue Reading
Canalys, a British research firm, has released its latest projections for smart speakers. The company anticipates that the smart speaker installed base will reach 100 million by the end of 2018. By 2020, it estimates the installed base will reach 225 million units. Continue Reading
Apple announced its financial results for the second quarter ending March 31. The tech giant reported quarterly revenue of nearly $61.14 billion. That’s a 4% increase from the second quarter of 2017. Quarterly earnings rose 30% on-year to $2.73 per diluted share. Continue Reading
Multiple analysts have weighed in recently with projections for Apple products. First, Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI offered insights on the Apple HomePod. Second, Ben Schachter of Macquarie Capital had thoughts about Apple Music. Continue Reading
Apple has been closely tied to music’s journey into the digital realms from the beginning. That journey has gone to many new places, but Apple is still keeping pace with the changes and doing its best to stay ahead of the game. That’s the takeaway from an interview CEO Tim Cook gave to Fast Company about Apple’s position as a tech innovator and where music fits into the picture. Continue Reading
Apple HomePod is still making headlines as the newest contender in the smart speaker space. Loup Ventures conducted some insightful research comparing Siri on the HomePod with rival voice AI systems. Although Siri fell short, there are some quick ways for Apple to improve the score for its voice system. Continue Reading
Brief news items and worthy reads from around the web. Examining the overlap between playlists and music festivals. Sonos CEO talks business and competition on the Recode podcast. Continue Reading
Apple’s HomePod launches today, joining the already-crowded and still-growing field of smart speakers. Given the existing competition, a delayed debut, and some critical reviews, how will the HomePod do in sales? Continue Reading
After a delay, Apple has released its first entry into the smart speaker space. Reviews are now out for the Apple HomePod, and there’s a large amount of consensus about the device’s strengths and weaknesses. Continue Reading
Apple has delayed the launch of its HomePod smart speaker. The device, which enters the same space as Amazon’s Echo line and the Google Home, will not roll out until early 2018. Continue Reading
This year’s WWDC announced Apple’s foray into WiFi speakers, bringing it into direct competition once again with Google and Amazon for control over music and audio in your home. The new device is called HomePod, and it will retail for $349. The initial launch is this December for the U.S., the UK, and Australia, with a broader global rollout next year. Continue Reading