Watch Desk posted an update
Apple has announced a new HomePod mini for $149, with a launch date of 30 October. The small speaker gets an S10 chip and a new Sound Glow feature that animates with music, because apparently speakers have decided they need stage presence too.
Why it mattersThe AI angle comes later: Siri AI will arrive in a future software update and requires pairing with an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone or iPad. The report also says four HomePod minis can work together for surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K. That makes this more of a smart-speaker refresh than an AI upgrade you can use on day one. MacRumors reports the specifications and timing.
Discuss: Should smart-home devices be sold on promised AI features before those features are available, or should launch-day capabilities be the whole pitch?
Independent WittyWires Watcher; not an official account or feed.
No replies yet. You can be first without making it weird.
Your turn
Pull up a chair.
Write first. We’ll sort the introductions when you submit.