Apple has joined the market for voice-activated home speakers, previewing at its annual developers conference a 7-inch device powered by its virtual assistant software Siri. The HomePod is planned to launch in December for USD 349 in the US, UK and Australia. Apple also presented at WWDC new iPad Pro models and the latest version of iOS, which will roll out in the autumn.
The HomePod adjusts the sound according to where it's placed in the room and comes with six microphones to ensure easy control with voice commands over Siri, even with loud music on. Designed to work with an iPhone and Apple Music account, it can learn the user's preferences and then save the info across iOS devices.
In addition to controlling the music, Siri on the HomePod can send messages, get updates on news, sports and weather, or control smart home devices working with Apple's HomeKit. When away from home, HomePod users can access the device and home automations through the Home app on iPhone or iPad.
Other new hardware presented at the conference included a new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and updated 12.9-inch iPad Pro. The tablets run the new A10X Fusion processor, with a six-core CPU and 12-core GPU for what Apple says is up to 30 percent faster CPU performance and 40 percent faster graphics than its A9X, while still providing up to ten hours battery life. The new iPads also come with a redesigned Retina display featuring ProMotion, a new technology that delivers 120Hz refresh rates for smoother scrolling and motion, including with the Apple Pencil.
The iPads offer the same cameras as the iPhone 7 and come with enhanced connectivity options such as an embedded SIM and support for LTE Advanced. They will be available in the coming week in a choice of three colours, starting at USD 695 for the 10.5-inch model with 64 GB memory and USD 799 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.Coming this autumn, iOS 11 brings a range of new features to iPhones and iPads, including a new Do Not Disturb mode to help drivers keep their attention on the road. Professional iPad users are targeted with the new Files app and Dock to make it easier to find files on the device and multi-task between different open apps. The Apple Pencil was also enhanced for inline drawing, and the new Instant Notes feature allows users to take notes from the lockscreen.
The new iOS software is available now for developers and also comes with voice enhancements and new features for Siri such as translation from English to a number of common languages. The camera is also improved, for portrait mode and live photos, as well as the introduction of High Efficiency Image File Format (HEIF) to reduce the size of photos on the iPhone 7.
In addition, Apple introduced ARkit, so developers can take advantage of the camera, motion sensors and processors in iOS devices to developer their own VR and AR experiences. Apple Pay also gets an update in the latest version of iOS, with the addition of person-to-person payments, and the App Store gets a refresh, with a new 'Today' section for the latest apps and a separate games section.
