“One of Apple’s greatest strengths is timing. The company that’s hailed for innovation does not often invent things first — it didn’t create the first personal computer, the first digital music player or the first smartphone,” Farhad Manjoo reports for The New York Times. “Instead, Apple reinvents, slipping in and producing something more original than what we used to use.”
“On paper, Apple is aiming to pull the same trick with a device called HomePod,” Manjoo reports. “The $349 gadget — which Apple unveiled on Monday at its annual developer conference and will begin shipping in December — is inspired by the Amazon Echo, the smart speaker that houses Amazon’s virtual assistant, Alexa, and that seemed like a joke until many people (including yours truly) suddenly began to love it.”
“Apple’s version ticks all the Apple-y boxes: It’s very pretty; it’s about twice the price of the Echo; and it has much better sound, including the ability to create a kind of surround sound customized to your room,” Manjoo reports. “Yet the reinvention that matters here isn’t about a single device — it’s larger: The success of HomePod will really depend on whether Apple can reinvent itself.”
“Apple seems to be up for such reinvention. If you read between the lines at its keynote address on Monday, you would have noticed something. Again and again, like shamans calling on some new and powerful magic, Apple executives invoked the buzzwords of modern computing: ‘machine learning,’ ‘deep learning’ and ‘computer vision.’ Subtly but unmistakably, they were suggesting a shift.”
Much more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Yes, if they referred to machine learning once, they did it at least half a dozen times. Hopefully, Siri will soon be able to deliver a much more powerful experience than she can today.
SEE ALSO:
Apple is working on ‘Apple Neural Engine,’ a dedicated chip to power AI directly on devices – May 27, 2017
New hire could be critical step toward attracting high-profile AI research talent to Apple – October 18, 2016
Apple hires a big brain in AI to smarten up Siri – October 17, 2016
Apple transforms Turi into dedicated machine learning division to build future product features – August 31, 2016
An exclusive inside look at how artificial intelligence and machine learning work at Apple – August 24, 2016
Apple rumored to be taking big piece of Seattle-area office market in expansion – August 12, 2016
Why Apple will become a leader in artificial intelligence – August 8, 2016
Apple buys machine-learning startup Turi for $200 million – August 6, 2016
Apple touts Artificial Intelligence in iOS and opens ‘crown jewels’ to developers – June 14, 2016
Smartphones to die out within five years, replaced by artificial intelligence – survey – December 9, 2015
Apple’s extreme secrecy retarding its artificial intelligence work – October 30, 2015
Apple hires NVIDIA’s artificial intelligence director – October 24, 2015
Apple acquires advanced artificial intelligence startup Perceptio – October 5, 2015
Apple buys artificial intelligence natural language start-up VocalIQ – October 2, 2015
I really dislike when writers refer these new products as “gadgets.” It trivializes the engineering.
At $349, the HomePod is a bit pricey for a casual purchase. But I just might give it a shot.
I have no interest in similar products from Google and Amazon and others. Indeed, I refuse to buy any Google product or subscribe to any Google service — I don’t trust the data mining b@stards.
Apple is the one company that still retains my trust in terms of respecting my personal privacy. Even so, I am a bit uncomfortable with the idea of having an always on microphone in my home. It gives me the “1984” creeps.
In the keynote, it was stated that, until you say, ‘Hey Siri,’ the mechanism is inactive.
That doesn’t make sense, unless the device has precognitive abilities. It _has_ to always be listening in order to hear you say “Hey, Siri.” The question is to what degree you believe that the device isn’t storing what it listens to up until that moment.
I think Apple is probably being careful to avoid having the device store anything before you say “Hey, Siri.” But, it certainly must have the microphone on and listening.
They said that it sends data to Apple only after you say “Hey Siri,” and that the data it sends is anonymized.
Wow! Farhad is a clever boy.
Oh year, the home pod is two year later than the others. But hey more money means its better right? I mean look at Monster, I mean beats headphones. They are more expensive meaning better sound, right?
Apple does need to reinvent itself. Their product announcements have been reduced to updates to the phone that other apps already do (cut and past, Apple Pay, text emojis). Hardware that is overpriced, under featured, but hey it comes with marketing hyperbole! The iPad tagline on the homepage is pushing refresh rates.
Apple you need to reinvent yourself back to an innovative company. Not whatever you have become now.
I welcome all of your shouts calling me a troll. But in your heart of hearts you know (or fear) that I am right.
lol nope
Nice reply. Not even confident enough to put your name on the comment. You know I am right, and you hate it. You find yourself defending Apple’s moves more and more, and deep down in places you don’t talk about, you know I am right. That is why you can’t even respond to tell me why I am wrong. Because you know I am right. Sad.
It already has – Apple has become a consumer electronics company thanks to putting all its eggs on the iPhone. Look at the new speaker HomePod. Instead of spending resources into fixing upgrading SIRI, they took the short cut and made a speaker system that produces excellent sound. Not so much as a digital assistance.
The HomePod is essentially a Cloud based iPod for your home.
” – it didn’t create the first personal computer.”
Ummm, yes it did. The first personal computer was the Apple II in 1977 (if you don’t want to include the personal computer “kits” that came out in 1975 [Altair] and the Apple I [1976]). The Apple II had expansion slots (caution: comments may veer into the lack of these in Apple’s upcoming Pro offering) and floppy drive support. It included a screen and keyboard and software – it really looks more like the first personal computer than what came before IMHO.
“Ummm, yes it did. The first personal computer was the Apple II”
Sorry, I was around then and building my own personal computers. The Apple II was not the first, by a long shot. You had lots of options, even pre-built.
FWIW, I purchased my first Apple II when you could still buy just the motherboard (without the case, keyboard, and power supply). Didn’t get in at the Apple I stage, but I did have a very low serial # Apple II (in the thousands).
Religions consist of Christians, Jews and Muslims. http://spostrowy-glos.edu.pl/ms-office-2003-excel-icon1/