Not being a company that wants to be left behind, Apple is reportedly now preparing their latest personal assistant accessory to compete against the likes of the Amazon Echo and Google Home. It was of course only a matter of time until Apple entered the Smart Speaker arena and given their experience with artificial intelligence (AI) systems, the new product may very well be a game changer in the smart speaker market.
High end and exclusive
According to a recently published note to investors, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kou dropped some new details and speculations regarding the company's upcoming new product.
Unlike Amazon and Google, Apple will most likely be offering an ultra premium product that will be geared towards superior Sound Quality and entertainment.
The product is believed to sport a single subwoofer and at least seven tweeters to provide the richest sound possible on a compact device. Additionally, the company is rumored to be developing the new device with Beats Audio and will likely utilize the company's most advanced audio and speaker technologies.
Siri on board
Apple, of course, has had a long experience with AI-driven virtual assistant technology. The company has been developing Siri for quite a while now, which is evident with its advanced features that even includes the support for 18 languages.
Having Siri outside of the smartphone and available around the house or office would certainly be a welcomed change, especially for those who are already used to or are familiar with Siri.
Advanced technology
Apple's upcoming Siri-equipped smart speaker is expected to sport some advanced hardware that will be required to take full advantage of Siri's functionalities.
Reports have revealed that the device may be coming with a custom ARM processor that may be equivalent to the A8 CPU found on the iPhone 6. Apple may also be utilizing its custom W1 Bluetooth chips that will allow seamless connectivity with compatible Apple devices.
Additionally, the speaker is expected to sport a camera system with facial recognition.
However, one of the biggest advantage that Apple has over its competitor is its thriving operating system ecosystems and its large established user base.
Possible release
As for its possible unveiling, Ming-Chi Kou believes that there is a 50 percent chance that Apple may unveil its new product at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) event in June. If this does happen, then consumers may be able to get their hands on the device by the third or fourth quarter of this year.
