The moves announced Monday escalate Apple’s technological battle of wits with Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Facebook. NO PLACE LIKE HOMEPODThe “HomePod” speaker unveiled at Apple’s annual developers conference is similar to rival devices that have been released during the past two years. Like the Amazon Echo and Google Home, the HomePod will play music while also helping people to manage their lives and homes. The Echo, released in 2015, and Google Home, released last year, were the first entrants in a promising market. THE DRY SPELLThe HomePod is Apple’s first new gadget in nearly three years, following its announcement of the Apple Watch in September 2014.

Source: Washington Post June 06, 2017 00:45 UTC