Apple reveals new ‘breakthrough’ HomePod product that aims to make you more safe and secure
APPLE has just revealed a brand new product that aims to make your home a safer place.
The HomePod (2nd generation) is a smart speaker said to come with “breakthrough sound and intelligence.”
On its blog, Apple called the second-generation HomePod “a powerful smart speaker that delivers next-level acoustics in a gorgeous, iconic design.”
“Packed with Apple innovations and Siri intelligence, HomePod offers advanced computational audio for a groundbreaking listening experience, including support for immersive Spatial Audio tracks,” Apple wrote.
The blog post emphasized the role the HomePod 2 can play in keeping users secure in their households.
For example, users can “get notified when a smoke or carbon monoxide alarm is detected in their home, and check temperature and humidity in a room.”
The HomePod 2 is a rival to Amazon’s Alexa smart speakers and its own home-assessing capabilities.
Apple is pitching its new speaker as a “smart home essential.”
It can send notifications to your iPhone when it senses problems in the home and can connect to other smart devices in your home.
Apple wrote: “By activating Siri, customers can control a single device or create scenes like ‘Good Morning’ that put multiple smart home accessories to work at the same time.”
Smart speakers are often plagued with security fears but Apple has stressed the data privacy aspects of HomePod.
It said all communications with the device will always be end-to-end encrypted.
This means Apple cannot read them and it does not store any Siri requests.
The HomePod 2nd generation is available in two colors, white and black (which the company calls midnight).
While it releases February 3, you can order it now online on the Apple Store website.