• About Us
    • — About Digitized House
    • — Advertise
    • — Editorial Guidelines
  • Policies
    • — Ad Policy
    • — Privacy Policy
    • — Cookie Policy (US)
Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
  • Home
  • Connect Your Home
    • Deals
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
    • Window Coverings
    • Connected Home and Gadget Resources
  • Ecosystems
    • Amazon Alexa
    • Apple HomeKit
    • Google Assistant
    • SmartThings
    • Open Systems
  • Design Your Home
    • Architecture
    • Healthy Home
    • Home Design
    • How-To
    • Green Building
    • Real Estate
    • Sustainable Home
No Result
View All Result
Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
  • Home
  • Connect Your Home
    • Deals
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
    • Window Coverings
    • Connected Home and Gadget Resources
  • Ecosystems
    • Amazon Alexa
    • Apple HomeKit
    • Google Assistant
    • SmartThings
    • Open Systems
  • Design Your Home
    • Architecture
    • Healthy Home
    • Home Design
    • How-To
    • Green Building
    • Real Estate
    • Sustainable Home
No Result
View All Result
Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home
No Result
View All Result
Home Amazon Alexa

Apple HomePod speaker set for February 2018 debut

Tom Kolnowski by Tom Kolnowski
25 January 2018
in Amazon Alexa, Apple HomeKit, Audio Gear, Connected Home, News, Smart Speakers
Reading Time: 3 mins read
The Apple HomePod voce-activated speaker arrives in February 2018. Image: Apple.

The Apple HomePod voce-activated speaker arrives in February 2018. Image: Apple.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

After creating buzz around the Apple HomePod speaker at their Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June of 2017, the Cupertino company has announced their first play in the voice-activated speaker game will be available for pre-order on January 26 and reach the shelves of Apple stores and resellers on February 9. HomePod will be priced at $349 in its space gray and white color variations, with availability in the US, UK, and Australia.

Since Apple revealed their plans for HomePod, a wide range of voice-activated speakers have reached the market, with Amazon greatly expanding their Echo speaker line and Google adding to its Google Home speaker line. Furthermore, established consumer audio companies such as Sonos, Sony, Harmon Kardon, JBL, and others have brought voice-activated products to market since then.

Apple's first entry into the smart speaker domain, HomeKit will offer affinity with Apple Music and existing iTunes libraries. Image: Apple.
Apple’s first entry into the smart speaker domain, HomePod will offer affinity with Apple Music and existing iTunes libraries and uses the Siri digital assistant. Image: Apple.

But as we suggested in our initial look at HomePod last June, we think Apple is positioning their speaker no so much as an answer to the lower-cost Amazon and Google speakers, but as a legitimate, higher-fidelity multi-room audio alternative to the well-established Sonos system. Sonos continues to be our hands-down recommendation for this genre of technology, not only due to its high audio fidelity and extreme ease of use, but also for its broad range of supported audio services—unmatched by that of any other wireless speaker line. Unfortunately, Apple will not deliver that multi-room audio capability as HomePod begins shipping, and says the feature will come later in 2018 as a software update.

More Original Content FromDigitized House

Kohler H2Wise+ Marks Rise of the Water Network

How Smart Tech Drives Sustainable Home Decisions

Smart Housing’s Promise for Rural Development

Healthier Smart Home Air Filtration: Aura Air Review

Smart Tech Helping Build Sustainable Homes

Apple will struggle mightily with Sonos on the available music services, as Apple Music will be the primary cloud-based music service on HomePod at launch. For consumers with existing iTunes libraries, all of that music content will also work on HomePod.

Competing against the vast library of Amazon Alexa skills and the growing integrations with the Google Assistant, the Apple Siri voice assistant built into HomePod enters the market at a handicap with respect to available commands. An unknown at this point will be the adoption rate of the new SiriKit by iOS app developers. SiriKit uses the Siri assistant to enable control of iOS apps that have integrated the required extension into their code base. That span of control works across SiriKit Messaging, Lists, and Notes content types, and can be manifested in apps by sending messages, sending payments, placing phone calls, and more.

HomePod will also extend voice control to the Apple HomeKit smart-home accessory domain and the Apple Home app, so will help promote the expansion of HomeKit accessories into homes. Additionally, HomePod can function as a HomeKit hub, which enables extended scene functionality and remote access to HomeKit accessories. So, easily-issued voice commands can be used to control applicable thermostats, lighting, smart plugs, and myriad other HomeKit-compatible accessories from inside as well as beyond the walls of the connected home.

Apple says HomePod availability will also be expanded into France and Germany in Spring 2018.

More info about this topic:

Apple HomePod on Apple website
Apple HomePod: Missing card from HomeKit smart-home deck?
iDevices bridges Apple HomeKit and Amazon Alexa worlds
Day 11 of 12 Smart Gifts: Apple AirPods wireless earbuds
Sonos and Amazon Alexa make beautiful music together
Day 8 of 12 Smart Gifts: Amazon Echo Spot smart clock
Day 6 of 12 Smart Gifts: Google Home and Google Home Mini speakers
Digitized House Magazine

Tags: Apple HomePodApple iOSApple SiriKitconnected homeconnected livingconsumer electronicsdomestic technologygear & gadgetshome automationInternet of Thingsnon-affiliate
Previous Post

In Spain, ENTR smart door locks enable people with disabilities to live independently

Next Post

Conversations with your walls: iDevices Instinct smart switches to debut

Tom Kolnowski

Tom Kolnowski

Tom Kolnowski is the Chief Content Officer & Founder of Digitized House Media, LLC, the publisher of Digitized House | Guide to the Connected Home. When he isn’t writing about smart home technology, sustainability, and high-performance architecture, you’ll find him exploring faraway destinations with his family.

Related Posts

Kohler H2Wise+ Smart Home Water Monitor. Image: Digitized House Media.
Review

Kohler H2Wise+ Marks Rise of the Water Network

9 June 2022

Kohler Company recently expanded its smart home portfolio with the Kohler H2Wise+ water monitor, a system designed to surveil a...

The Google Nest Hub displaying home energy data for a Reliant Energy customer. Image: Digitized House.
Sustainable Home

How Smart Tech Drives Sustainable Home Decisions

18 April 2022

Most people try to do their part to cut down on carbon and help save the planet. From recycling to...

A sunset in rural America, specifically in Driftwood, Texas. Image: Digitized House Media.
Connected Home

Smart Housing’s Promise for Rural Development

7 March 2022

Although we are living in the great age of technology, the so-called digital divide is very real, and it continues...

Next Post
iDevices Instinct smart wall switch. Image: iDevices.

Conversations with your walls: iDevices Instinct smart switches to debut

iDevices EV Charger and Ceiling Fan Switch. Image: iDevices.

Smart EV Charger and Ceiling Fan Switch join iDevices connected home portfolio

Brilliant Control, in a four-gang configuration. Image: Brilliant.

Brilliant Control packs broad smart home powers into walls

As an Amazon Associate, Digitized House may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links, ads, or buttons on this page. See our full Affiliate Link, Sponsorship, and Ad Policy.

About Us

Digitized House is the Guide to the Connected Home.

We help global consumers make their 
Connected Homes smarter, healthier, safer, and 
more sustainable through streams of original content. You can see our story here.

Like what you see on this website? You can also read us on our Apple News App Channel.

More Info

  • About Us
    • — About Digitized House
    • — Advertise
    • — Editorial Guidelines
  • Policies
    • — Ad Policy
    • — Privacy Policy
    • — Cookie Policy (US)

Affiliate Disclosure

As an Amazon Associate, Digitized House may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links, ads, or buttons on this page. See our full Affiliate Link, Sponsorship, and Ad Policy.

Recent Content

Kohler H2Wise+ Marks Rise of the Water Network

How Smart Tech Drives Sustainable Home Decisions

6 Steps to Furnishing Your Space Sustainably Without Compromising Aesthetics 

Smart Housing’s Promise for Rural Development

Healthier Smart Home Air Filtration: Aura Air Review

Smart Tech Helping Build Sustainable Homes

© 2015-2022 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Connect Your Home
    • Deals
    • News
    • Reviews
    • Security Cameras
    • Security Systems
    • Smart Displays
    • Smart Door Locks
    • Smart Lighting
    • Smart Plugs
    • Smart Product Round-ups
    • Smart Speakers
    • Smart Thermostats
    • Smart Water
    • Smoke + CO Detectors
    • Solar Photovoltaics
    • Window Coverings
    • Connected Home and Gadget Resources
  • Ecosystems
    • Amazon Alexa
    • Apple HomeKit
    • Google Assistant
    • SmartThings
    • Open Systems
  • Design Your Home
    • Architecture
    • Healthy Home
    • Home Design
    • How-To
    • Green Building
    • Real Estate
    • Sustainable Home
  • About Us + Policies
    • About Us
    • Advertise
    • Editorial Guidelines
    • Ad Policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Cookie Policy (US)

© 2015-2022 Digitized House Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

Manage Cookie Consent
We use cookies to optimize our website and our service.
Functional cookies Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}