Apple HomePod

A Siri virtual assistant and wireless speaker from Apple. Introduced in 2017, Apple touts the HomePod as a quality sound system as well as the ideal gateway to the Apple Music service because users can ask Siri to find and play songs. HomePod is also a hub for controlling lights and accessories in the automated home (see smart home).

A Woofer and Seven Tweeters
With a high-excursion woofer and seven tweeters, the HomePod fine tunes the music by sensing the room environment. When more HomePods are added in the same room or in other rooms, the devices communicate with each other to balance and control the sound. A subsequent update lets two HomePods be configured as left and right speakers for stereo. See smart speaker, virtual assistant and smart home.

Inside the HomePod

Encased in a seamless mesh shell, the HomePod listens for commands from six microphones and fills the room with sound from a high-excursion woofer and seven tweeters. (Image courtesy of Apple Inc.)