Apple unveils first-ever home speaker at 2017 WWDC
At its 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple unveiled the HomePod, its first-ever home speaker. The HomePod, powered by an A8 chip and featuring Siri as a home assistant as well as Apple Music integration, will start shipping later this year for $349 as an alternative to the Amazon Echo and Google Home. Apple CEO Tim Cook called the speaker Apple's attempt at "reinventing the way we enjoy music in our home."
Apple also revealed its first new iMac in almost two years, which boasts faster processors and brighter displays, as well as two software upgrades: iOS 11, which will feature a person-to-person payment system integrated into iMessage in addition to an improved camera; and High Sierra, the new MacOS, which will enable the Safari browser to block autoplay video.
Other announcements included the addition of Amazon Prime Video to Apple TV; an all-new 10.5-inch iPad Pro; and a revamped, more natural-sounding voice for Siri.
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