Apple WWDC 2017 live blog

The Worldwide Developers Conference is where Apple outlines new features for the iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and Apple TV. And we may even see some new hardware, too.

3rd & 7 37yd

dan.ackerman 6/5/2017 7:12:39 PM
Just like iPod, it's HomePod. I guess with AirPod, the whole "Pod" thing is still going.
Scott Stein 6/5/2017 7:12:43 PM
HomePod! looks like Mac Pro, am I crazy?
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:13:00 PM
"Along the bottom, is a 7 array beam-form tweeter pack. Precision acoustic horns."
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:13:09 PM
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:13:10 PM
"It has a really big woofer. 4-inch woofer. Forward facing."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:13:19 PM
"As we turn the volume up it's free from distortion."
Scott Stein 6/5/2017 7:13:26 PM
This looks packed with speakers and mics. A8 inside
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:13:26 PM
"All of this is controlled by an Apple A8 chip."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:13:34 PM
"It's perhaps the biggest brain ever in a speaker."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:13:41 PM
"It does real-time acoustic modeling, etc"
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:13:47 PM
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:13:50 PM
"Just know that it sounds incredible."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:14:06 PM
"Spatial awareness - plug into AC, compact enough can put it anywhere in the house."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:14:21 PM
"Intelligently and automatically detects the space it's in." It uses that information and adjusts to change sound.
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:14:22 PM
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:14:37 PM
Scott Stein 6/5/2017 7:14:52 PM
HomePod is room-aware for space and sound. Is this like audio augmented reality?
Scott Stein 6/5/2017 7:15:43 PM
It shoots beams in different directions. Will it whisper to me in the corner
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:16:14 PM
One thing we haven't heard about HomePod is if it can control home appliances. And does it work with Spotify, etc?
dan.ackerman 6/5/2017 7:16:28 PM
This sounds like it's using different EQ presets to filter the sound and adjust the music to fit the room.
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:16:30 PM
"If you love one, you should see what it's like when you set up two."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:16:42 PM
"Next a musicologist, an intelligent helper to help us discover the music we love."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:17:00 PM
"Works with Apple Music subscription. .. The speaker can get the tracks directly from the cloud."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:17:15 PM
"Your music library, all stream directly to your HomePod."
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:17:23 PM
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:17:32 PM
"As you see those magic words, 'Hey Siri,' it can help serve up the music you want to hear."
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:17:41 PM
Scott Stein 6/5/2017 7:17:49 PM
Glowing Siri-light on top, kinda hypnotic
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:18:02 PM
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:18:04 PM
"Simple things like - 'Play Beats 1 Radio'. or 'Play I'm Poppy.' or 'What was the top song in 1983?'"
dan.ackerman 6/5/2017 7:18:12 PM
Like how TVs and home theater systems can grab certain frequencies and sound that's centered in the stereo spread to boost spoken language for clarity at low volumes.
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:18:20 PM
"Even better, you don't have to sit next to the HomePod to talk to it. You can be across the room."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:18:41 PM
"HomePod is the power to rock the house and it has spatial awareness. .. and it has the fun interactivity of Siri becoming a musicologist."
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:18:49 PM
Great and helpful home assistant as well
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:19:05 PM
dan.ackerman 6/5/2017 7:19:23 PM
Is it not the full Siri? Just this list of pre-determined skills? Unclear. But it does work with HomeKit devices.
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:19:31 PM
Scott Stein 6/5/2017 7:19:36 PM
So the pitch is: sound great, can recommend music, is an assistant, is spatially aware. Can do similar Siri things as on phone, to set timer/reminders, alarms, news, podcasts, etc
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:19:55 PM
dan.ackerman 6/5/2017 7:20:00 PM
I find that 90-percent of Alexa usage is weather, timers, and measurement conversions. Plus Philips Hue bulbs.
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:20:18 PM
"Can say, 'Are the lights on?' "Turn the temperature to 73'" etc
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:20:28 PM
"You can control your HomeKit devices remotely."
Scott Stein 6/5/2017 7:20:29 PM
Curious how HomePod understands home and home zones. Set up via iOS Home app.
James Martin 6/5/2017 7:20:47 PM
Shara Tibken 6/5/2017 7:20:55 PM
"Our team cares deeply about your privacy. It has that magic phrase, 'Hey Siri,' Until you say it, nothing's being sent to Apple."