Apple is rumored to be developing a new HomePod with a screen, according to a new report from 9to5Mac. The report is based on images of a prototype HomePod with a large touchscreen sensor at the top that was shared by a leaker known as “Kosutami.“

Kosutami has previously shared accurate pre-release information about Apple products, so the images are likely to be legitimate. 9to5Mac also claims to have verified the legitimacy of the images with its own sources.

The HomePod with a screen is codenamed B720 and is a reportedly new product being actively worked on by Apple. 9to5Mac report suggests that the LcdUTest app shown on the assembled HomePod’s display panel is an internal app used by engineers to test the new display.

The outlet says that Apple may be rewriting some of the tvOS apps so they can run on the new HomePod display. Apple Music and Apple Podcasts are the first apps being rewritten to be compatible with the new display, which will show a blurred animation based on the colors of the album art when a song or podcast is playing.

This is not the first time we have heard rumors about a HomePod with a screen. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman was the first to suggest in 2021 that Apple is working on new HomePods with displays and cameras. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo also claimed earlier this year that Apple plans to release a redesigned HomePod with a 7-inch display in the first half of 2024.

It is unclear what other features the new HomePod with screen will have, or how it will be priced. However, it is clear that Apple is interested in developing new smart home products with displays. This could be a way for Apple to differentiate its HomePod products from other smart speakers on the market, and to make them more useful for users.

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(Via)

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The Apple HomePod is a smart speaker designed and developed by Apple Inc. It was first released in February 2018 and features Siri, Apple’s virtual assistant, which can be used to control the speaker and interact with other devices in the home. The HomePod was designed to produce high-quality audio and can adapt its sound output based on the environment it’s placed in. It also has the ability to connect with other HomePods in the home to create a multi-room audio system. In a lot of ways, the Apple HomePod is similar to the Amazon Alexa and Google Home ecosystem.

The latest news from IT Home states that Apple has obtained a technical patent for its HomePod from the United States Trademark and Patent Office (USPTO). The patent sketch reveals that a camera has been added to the HomePod, which provides users with easier control over their smart home devices. According to the patent description, the purpose of the camera is not for video calls or security monitoring, but for facial recognition to identify the person in the room making a request to the HomePod. Based on the user’s request, the HomePod provides personalized and simplified control over their smart home devices.

Apple recognizes that remembering the names of multiple devices can be a pain point for users, and their patent aims to simplify the process by allowing users to issue commands like “turn on that light,” with the camera identifying the light that needs to be activated based on the user’s gaze. Automating this simple feature will allow the Homepod to distinguish itself from other smart speakers in the segment. Also, it is worth noting that this is still a patent, so it might be a while before Apple actually decides to incorporate this into a future HomePod.

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(Via)

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Apple launched the second-generation HomePod in January this year.  Now reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reveals the Cupertino-based tech giant’s plans on a new smart speaker and its launch timeline. 

As per Kuo, Apple will unveil a HomePod with a new design. It is tipped to feature a 7-inch display panel touted to enable tighter integration with the company’s other hardware products. It will pack more functionality and the device could offer FaceTime capabilities via a built-in camera. This will also mark a significant shift in Apple’s smart home strategy. Apple’s existing HomePods have small circular displays on the top with limited functionality and mostly used as a status indicator. 

Kuo adds that Tianma Microelectronics will be the exclusive supplier of display panels for the next-generation HomePod. If all goes well, the supplier may also receive display orders for the iPads in future. 

In the past, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman had hinted at Apple’s plans to launch a HomePod with a display and camera. It will reportedly run on tvOS offering various functionalities. Reports also surfaced that Apple was working on a iPad-style device to be used as a smart home controller and FaceTime device with magnetic fasteners. If the reports indeed turn out to be true, the next-generation HomePod with display will compete against the Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show. 

Both Kuo and Gurman are reliable when it comes to unreleased Apple devices. Kuo adds that Apple could launch the HomePod with a display in the first half of 2024. The HomePod has been the most unpredictable device in Apple’s product portfolio. 

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Following Apple’s announcement that lossless audio is coming to Apple Music, there was an uproar about how Apple’s audio devices don’t support the new feature. Now Apple has announced that an OTA update will bring support for lossless audio to its smart speakers.

The info which was revealed in a FAQ about Lossless audio in Apple Music says that the HomePod and the HomePod Mini which currently uses the AAC codec will get support for lossless audio in a future software update. There is no info on when the update will be released but it will most likely be after lossless audio is available next month.

The support page also confirmed that lossless audio will work on Macs, iPhones, and iPad via their built-in speakers and connected wired headphones, receivers, and speakers. If you have an Apple Lightning to 3.5 mm Headphone Jack Adapter, then you can connect it to your iPhone or iPad’s lightning connector as it has a built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

However, Bluetooth audio devices such as the AirPods, AirPods Pro, and the AirPods Max don’t support lossless audio as Bluetooth connections don’t support the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC).

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In November 2017, Apple announced its smart speaker, the HomePod although the cylindrical speaker with a $349 powered by Siri didn’t ship until the following year. A few days ago, it was announced that the speaker has been discontinued.

Apple revealed to TechCrunch that it will instead focus on the HomePod Mini which launched last year and has received mostly positive reviews. The mini is not only smaller but is also more affordable with a$99 price tag.

It has been reported that the HomePod will continue to be available for purchase until stock runs out and existing units will still receive software updates and support. Knowing Apple, we do not think it will toe the same line Microsoft and Harman Kardon did for the Cortana-powered Invoke. For those in the dark about that situation, Microsoft decided to end support for the assistant for the speaker, however, a new update is expected to roll out that will transform the smart speaker into a regular Bluetooth speaker.

The smart speaker is the second major product Apple has discontinued this month. Earlier, it revealed that the iMac Pro has been discontinued. The desktop computer targeted at professionals and developers had a starting price of $4,999.

We expect Apple will announce new models under the HomePod series in the future and maybe we will get a bigger model that succeeds where the original failed.

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New Users of Apple Watch and HomePod are facing activation issues according to a report. The issue seems to be on the server-side as iCloud is probably receiving a lot of traffic on the occasion of Christmas.

First reported by Macrumors, users are reporting “Verification Failed” on their new devices be it Apple Watch/HomePod. One of the users says the Apple Watch SE that they purchased isn’t going past the iCloud sign-in process. Despite starting the pairing process using an iPhone, the verification fails multiple times.

To this, Apple reportedly shows a solution of resetting the encrypted data. This would normally delete old passwords and data which isn’t the advisable thing to do. Another user also reports that his HomePod is stuck in the “configuration” stage after multiple attempts. None of the solutions like removing it from iCloud seems to work.

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All this points to an iCloud Account and Sign-in Issue on the server-side of Apple. We personally checked on Apple’s support page to see the status of the issue. And to our surprise, the issue still seems to be live(at the time of writing this) as you can see above. On clicking the status card, we get a message that the issue is “ongoing” since Dec 25, 3:15 PM PST.

We can only imagine the frustration of not being able to use a new product despite having it in hand. Besides, this is not the only issue Apple Watch SE users faced. A previous report said users of South Korea experienced wrist burn due to overheating.

In any case, we hope that Apple fixes the iCloud issue soon so that people can use their gifts/purchases at least for New Year’s eve.

UP NEXT: Apple HomePod mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max undergo DXOMARK Audio trial

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Apple recently announced a new HomePod Mini, along with the iPhone 12 series. Now, a report by Bloomberg says the company is gearing up to launch more Audio products including low-end AirPods in 2021.

Citing people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg’s report says(via TechRadar), Apple is working on the next entry-level Airpods( Tentative: AirPods 3), AirPods Pro 2nd gen, and a one more HomePod. This new HomePod is likely to take a spot between the Original HomePod(2018), and Mini(2020). Now, this is a bit surprising considering the Mini launched only a couple of weeks back.

AirPods 3, and AirPods Pro 2nd gen – Designs

Regarding the AirPods 3, the report says the design will be similar to the current AirPods Pro. If reports are true, Apple will shorten the stem and introduce in-ear design with ear tips for the new AirPods. This is a welcoming change considering the old design doesn’t seal your ears perfectly. Also, Apple will reportedly improve battery life for the AirPods 3.

Currently, Apple promises playback, talk time of 5hrs & 3hrs with each earbud, and 24hrs & 18hrs with charging case respectively. This model, however, isn’t going to feature ANC(Active Noise Cancellation) like the Pro version says the report. This negates an earlier report from last year that said the AirPods 3 will have ANC.

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For the AirPods Pro 2nd gen, Apple is reportedly looking to get inspiration from Google, and Samsung. It is likely to eliminate the stem and sport a rounded design. Apparently, it is already testing a design that has a rounded shape to fill the user’s ear more. Looks like Apple wants to borrow some pages off Google’s Pixel Buds, and Samsung’s latest Galaxy Buds.

Besides, Apple has reportedly found it difficult to incorporate the ANC, antennas, microphones inside the new rounded design. Hence, don’t expect a revolutionary change in the design department whenever it launches commercially. The low-end AirPods(Tentative: AirPods 3) is rumored to launch in H1 of 2021. Luxshare Precision Industry Co. and Goertek Inc. are likely to handle the production.

Another HomePod, AirPods Studio details

As mentioned earlier, the new HomePod is likely to be placed somewhere between $99-$299 at which both the Original HomePod, and Mini sell. However, the report also warns that Apple may launch this, or just cut the price of the higher HomePod as well.

AirPods Studio headphones is a long-rumored product, and as of now it’s launch looks uncertain this year. The report says its production got delayed due to issues on the headband. Apparently, it was “too tight” in a few testing. Also, Apple has now re-designed the touchpads of the headphones and has reduced the “interchangeability of the buds” as well. Let’s wait for more info as we march ahead.

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Apple is expected to unveil the next-generation iPhones in the coming weeks like every year. Ahead of it, new details about the company’s 2020 product lineup launch have emerged. This report comes from Bloomberg and it not only mentions iPhones but an iPad, Apple Watches, headphones, smaller HomePod as well as next year’s products like refreshed Apple TV and AirTags.

The report reveals that the Cupertino-based firm expects to ship a maximum of 80 million units of iPhones by the end of this year just like 2019. Hence, it has begun to mass manufacture at least 75 million new iPhone 12 series smartphones.

Apart from new iPhones, Apple will also launch next-gen iPad Air featuring minimum bezels like similar to iPad Pro. Further, the company will also introduce two Apple Watches, the higher model will replace last year’s Series 5 and the budget model will take place of the older Series 3.

That’s not it, the American tech giant is also reported to launch a pair of self-branded headphones instead of Beats. Additionally, it will be also debuting a smaller HomePod cheaper than the original model’s current price – $299.

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Talking about the iPhone 12, there will be a total of four models varying in sizes – 1 x 5.4-inch,  2 x 6.1-inch, and 6.7-inch. All of them will feature OLED panels and support for 5G connectivity. Also, at least one of the Pro models, the latter two sizes, will come equipped with LiDAR sensor as found on the newer iPad Pro models.

The new report also reiterates previous reports regarding a delay in shipments. The latest one once again states that cheaper iPhone 12 models will ship first, followed by Pro in later weeks. However, iOS 14 will be released in September for existing supported iPhones just like every year.

Last but not least, the report also states Apple to be working on an Apple TV box with a faster processor and upgraded remote control, however, it will be only launching in 2021. Similarly, the company will be also releasing AirTags, a tracker for physical items, which will be available with a leather carrying case.

UP NEXT: Apple might be working on a search engine, but likely to focus on Siri and Spotlight

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Apple just revealed the prices of its HomePod in India earlier today without divulging the official release date. However, according to a post on IANS, Apple is expected to launch the product in India within the next couple of months. IANS’ report mentions ‘Trade sources’ as its informant.

According to IANS, Apple’s trade sources in India suggest that the company should launch the device by the first week of March with a pricing of Rs. 19,990 (~$279) which is much cheaper than its international pricing. The smart speaker is currently available in quite a few global markets at a stiffer price tag compared to India. Since inception, the Apple HomePod has been available in the UK, America, and Australia in the first phase. 

The device was introduced in Canada, Germany, and France later in June 2018. It arrived in Mexico and Spain next in October of the same year. The Apple HomePod was launched in the US at $399, which was revised to $299 in April 2019.

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Apple HomePod Specifications and Features

The home speaker weighs 2.5kg and features a built-in high-excursion woofer, seven horn-loaded tweeters, along with a custom amplifier. Every tweeter comes with its own amplifier, while the device contains six microphone arrays for better voice reception aiding Siri’s voice recognition capabilities.

The basic hardware and functionalities of the smart speaker remain unchanged for India. Apple added support for Indian English in its last iOS and iPadOS update. The HomePod works only within Apple’s ecosystem. Hence, users will need an iPhone 6S at the bare minimum to operate the device.

The Apple HomePod works with the iPhone SE and all newer smartphones from the company. The basic iPad requirements start with the iPad Pro and move all the way to the iPad Mini 4. The list also includes devices like the 5th generation iPad, and iPad Air 2 or newer. All devices need to be paired on a single Wi-Fi network and mandate an active subscription to Apple Music.

Advanced features on the HomePod include automatic bass correction, ambient audio beamforming, along with transparent studio-level dynamic processing. Users can also pair two HomePod’s creating a stereo setup. The device supports every major audio format, while users can also AirPlay their playlist directly from their Apple devices.

The Apple HomePod can be authorized to take voice commands through Siri and control smart home features via Apple HomeKit. While users can control the HomePod using their iPhone or iPad, the device has a touch-sensitive surface on the top for audio playback and volume control.

UP NEXT: Again, Apple Watch comes to the rescue of a owner with an undetected heart condition

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Always been a fan of Bluetooth speakers but you thought that they should come with added features like an alarm clock and bedside lamp? UMIDIGI today announced the UMIDIGI Uwake that is just that! The colorful Uwake is the world’s first Bluetooth 5.0 speaker with smart alarm clock and it follows the recent hot-selling smartphone UMIDIGI X and true wireless earbuds Upods. The Chinese manufacturer manages to amaze us once more as the Uwake comes at a super-affordable price of just $19.99 on Aliexpress from September 11th.

UMIDIGI is known for its affordable smartphones they have evolved to more than a smartphone company, offering many kinds of smart devices. The Uwake is a fresh take on a multifunction Bluetooth speaker and what they’re capable of.

First and foremost, Uwake is a Bluetooth 5.0 speaker. There is no need for an extra app to control it since there are buttons on the side to control it. It comes with a 52mm dynamic driver offering thick bass and clear overall sound. You can play any audio from your smartphone whether it’s music, podcasts, audiobooks or videos.

In addition, the Uwake doubles as a lamp and alarm clock. There are 7 kinds of color atmosphere lights and 2 lighting modes. To cycle through the colors you can use the buttons on the side. As for the alarm clock function, the Uwake supports simulated sunrise wake-up with 3 levels of brightness and can wake you up with a glow of soft light, meant to mimic the rising sun, and slowly get brighter. What’s more, it can help you fall asleep as well as it features 6 built-in sleep-themed tunes with choices of birds, rain, waves, and other relaxing sounds.

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As noted, the UMIDIGI Uwake will start global sale at only $19.99 on Aliexpress on September 11th and it is a limited offer so you’d better add the Uwake to your cart first.

Lastly, the company is running a big giveaway to recruit 10 trial users for the Uwake. You can learn more details and join the giveaway by heading to their official website.

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According to the new report coming from China’s Economic Daily News (EDN), MediaTek has likely bagged the deal to provide Wi-Fi chips for the next generation Apple Homepod which will be launched next year.

The report further adds that Taiwan-based MediaTek is likely to build the application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) chips using a 7mm processor at Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), which is also likely to enhance the sales momentum of the foundry’s 7nm segment.

Notably, MediaTek is also the supplier of comparable ASICs for several smart speaker products, including Amazon Echo, Google Assistant, and Alibaba T-mall Genie.

The news about the Taiwanese chipmaker securing a deal for supplying chips for next-gen Homepod comes at a time when there are reports suggesting that MediaTek is aiming to secure orders for the modem, CDMA and wireless charging chips from Apple.

As Apple’s battle with Qualcomm continues, the US-based company is said to be considering procuring modems from MediaTek for the 2018 iPhones. A report suggests that the company has already transferred half of its iPhone modem chipsets from Qualcomm to Intel. If the deal goes through, MediaTek would join Intel in supplying modems to Apple for the iPhone.

A report from DigiTimes says that Apple has three key principles it expects of suppliers, all of which MediaTek meets — companies must offer leading technological competitiveness, they must have comprehensive product blueprints, and they need reliable logistic support. Further, it says that the company also has the capacity, technology, and pricing advantages to supply Apple with modems for the iPhone.

Read More: Apple iPhone SE 2 May Debut in June at WWDC 2018, Likely to Support Wireless Charging

Given the legal battle between Qualcomm and Apple, it seems that Apple is inclined towards dropping Qualcomm as a supply partner altogether. While there’s a possibility that the two tech giants will ultimately reach a settlement of some sort (although the companies have shown no inclination to even budge), it will be interesting to see how Apple sources components for its products.

(Via)

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Smart speakers seem to be the future. The great success obtained by Amazon Echos and Google Home makes us think about a scenario in which there is a smart speaker in almost every house. Apple launched its first smart speaker HomePod back in September last year, together with the latest iPhones, and it was expected to hit the shelves by the end of 2017. But it didn’t happen and many people were left disappointed.

Now, the Cupertino giant has finally announced the launch date of its smart speaker. Apple HomePod will be made available for pre-orders starting from January 26, and it will be officially available to purchase starting from February 9. Unfortunately, it is not a widespread launch: it is only limited to some countries. On February 9, Apple HomePod will be available to purchase only in the GB, U.S. and Australia. In the spring the device will be made available in France and Germany as well, but there is no info about all the other countries. The smart speaker will be available with a listing price of $349.

In case you do not know, smart speakers like this one can be used to interact with other devices in the house (smart home and IoT) or to get some info about news, weather, and many other things. Obviously, they can also play music as they are speakers. The Apple HomePod has a cylindric shape and it weighs 2 kg and a half. According to Apple, it will have a great sound quality, and it will be able to calibrate the sound depending on the surroundings. It will be able to receive vocal commands through its microphones and it will be based on Siri, the same virtual assistant that you can find on iPhones and iPads.

(Via)

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Apple has launched the new 10.5-inch iPad Pro and a refreshed 12.9-inch iPad Pro at the Worldwide Developers Conference 2017. Also, it has also introduced a new music-based smart speaker called HomePod built to deliver topnotch audio experience.

Apple HomePod Features

The size of the HomePod is less than 7 inches, but it is packed with a seven-tweeter system at its bottom and at the top is a 4-inch woofer with auto bass EQ designed by Apple. it is equipped six microphones to recognize voice even the music is playing at high volume. The entire speaker system is powered by Apple A8, the same chipset that is present under the hood of iPhone 6. It is very easy to setup a HomePod as it only requires the user to hold the iPhone close to the HomePod and it is smart enough to detect it and start playing music.

With spatial awareness onboard, the Apple HomePod can automatically detect the spaces and features of the room where it is placed and accordingly it can adjust the sound and deliver optimized sound output. If two HomePods are kept in the same room, both the devices can detect each other and function together to deliver the best sound experience without any ads.

The Apple A8’s prowess is coupled with Siri AI which transforms HomePod into a smart speaker system. The HomePod is integrated with Apple Music which makes it possible to listen to wide array of 40 million songs from its library. Siri can serve as a musicologist for music lovers as it can quick provide answers to questions like “Who is singing this song?” and “Who is playing the drums in this song?”

With Siri intelligence, the HomePod offers various features such as listening to news, unit conversions, setting reminders, send messages, control other smart devices, weather updates and more. When the HomePod users is not at home, he/she can use the Home app on an iPhone or iPad and access its features remotely.

Read More: Apple iPhone 8 CAD Images Hint Front-Mounted Touch ID Sensor, Vertical Dual Rear Cam

Apple HomePod Price, Availability 

As far as availability of Apple HomePod is concerned, it will be available in December starting with regions like the U.S, the U.K. and Australia. More countries will be added later on. It will be priced at $349 and will be available in color choices like White and Space Gray. The HomePod is compatible with iDevices running on iOS 11 and iPhone 5s and above.

Here is the official introduction video of Apple HomePod:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hw9skL-IXc

(source|via)

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