HomePod Overview and WWDC17 Updates

Apple HomePod WWDC17

Today Apple kicked off its annual 3 day developer conference with a couple nice announcements: an update to the iMac Pro, a peer to peer payment system similar to venmo, and HomePod a rival to Amazon Echo and Google Home.

Let’s first talk about the new iMac updates. It looks like Apple is all in on VR (virtual reality) and is building current and future hardware updates tailored to supporting VR graphics.

This fall Apple will be releasing a new version of it’s OS called: “High Sierra” some of the features include better facial recognition in the Photos app, some new filters as well and will be synchronized across devices.

Apple is also porting over it’s Apple File System to macOS, which isn’t a huge change but has some improvement to duplicating files and a higher quality video compression.

From a hardware standpoint Tim Cook was quoted saying: “That iMac Pro really is bad ass”

In iOS 11 you will now be able to make peer to peer payments through iMessage. Very similar to how you would with Venmo or Square Cash. There will also be support for multi room audio and a feature to help silence notifications while you are driving.

Now on to the HomePod…

Apple HomePod
Apple HomePod

This new device which will compete with Amazon and Google will come in two colors: white and black, and starts at $349 retail. While the HomePod looks like a microphone itself, it features 6 microphones in order to pick up on every command.

Twitter users have been comparing it to a ball of yarn…

 

My Take: While the HomePod is cool, Amazon and Google already have a leg up in the  race. Apple will need to catch up to gain market share and hopefully have great integration with Siri across all devices.


One response to “HomePod Overview and WWDC17 Updates”

  1. Rob Steele Avatar

    What do you think was the most interesting announcement at WWDC17 ?

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