With the latest release of the Apple iPhone x, the spotlight has been on Apple.  It’s a huge step forward for Apple, as well as a huge step forward in the home music, and at last, the home assistant category. The Apple HomePod, released in December will be priced at $350USD.

Although the HomePod has not been released to us just yet, it looks pretty great if we go by the keynote speech in June of this year. I, for one, am very excited for this release!

It’s About The MUSIC

Apple have promised a “powerful speaker that sounds amazing and adapts to wherever it’s playing” – And we have been waiting for an all-in-one powerful speaker, assistant and home control device for a little while now. Of course we’ve seen the Amazon Alexa/Echo, as well as Google Home, but this interaction is all through the familiar Siri voice interaction.

But what’s a speaker if it doesn’t have good bass? (Apparently) we have nothing to fear with this 4-inch high-excursion woofer. We haven’t heard the quality in person just yet, but we will be straight on it as soon as we get our chance. Apple CEO Tim Cook has been quoted saying that the Apple HomePod audio quality will “blow people away” – So that’s something to look forward to.

The Apple HomePod – Aesthetically Beautiful

Apple have designed the HomePod very well on first appearance. It’s very compact, and just under 7 inches tall, and 2.5kg. The HomePod boasts a seven-tweeter array towards the bottom of the device for superior mids, highs and sound control (no matter the placement of the HomePod).

To make sure Siri can hear you, even with loud music playing, Apple have designed the HomePod with a six-microphone array, which for your security purposes, is encrypted and only activated after the “Hey Siri” command.

This is all inside a beautiful mesh fabric designed for the best aesthetics and acoustic performance. Available in two colours: White, and Space Grey.

Apple Intelligence

What looks to set this apart from competitors might be its brain – The Apple designed A8 chip, which controls how the woofer works in conjunction with its surroundings, including the ability to “beamform” so the microphone can hear you over the music. Of course we can’t forget all the features this chip allows Siri to control – These will be discussed in future articles.

Apple’s HomePod – Full of Features

There is much to discuss on the features of the new Apple HomePod including:

• Spatial awareness
• Multiple room functions (including AirPlay 2)
• Music Intelligence
• Siri commands (inc. timers, clocks, measurements, news, weather, etc) and,
• Smart Home commands
  See the official info here from Apple

We are excited to follow this article with many detailing the above features of Apple’s HomePod. Consider this article, much like Apple’s keynote in June a bit of a teaser for what’s to come.

Let us know your initial thoughts on Apple’s HomePod.  Will you be ordering this December?