Apple HomePod first listen: This is what a $349 speaker sounds like

Apple’s brand new HomePod sounds good. I know. I heard it. Or rather should i say I experienced it and, in my limited acoustic opinion, the sound the 7-inch capsule-shaped speaker produces is best described as stirring.

Apple gave what might charitably be called a very brief, canned demo of the brand new speaker/home assistant during its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote on Monday. From my vantage point in the middle of the cavernous McEnery Convention Hall in San Jose, California, it was impossible to draw any conclusions. I thought its sounded okay, but mainly recall being thankful it’s not called the Siri Speaker. Read more...