Apple readying Siri Speaker to take on Echo, Google Home

Smart speakers have become the latest tech phenomenon lately, starting with the Amazon Echo and continuing with the Google Home.

The speakers are marketed as helpful, voice-controlled assistants for the entire household, allowing you to ask queries, create shopping lists, play music and even get traffic alerts.

Now, Bloomberg, citing “people familiar with the matter”, reports that Apple is creating a Siri Speaker to jump on the bandwagon.

As the name implies, the speaker would be controlled by Apple’s Siri assistant, ostensibly granting a similar level of functionality as you’d have on an iPhone.

A Siri Speaker would see Apple joining Google and Amazon in offering a smart speaker

Bloomberg’s sources say that the speaker could be ready for a reveal at Apple’s WWDC event, but won’t be ready for launch “until later in the year”.

So… why should you get this over Amazon and Google’s efforts, then? The sources add that it would offer “virtual surround sound” and the usual “deep integration” with Apple products. Taking iPhone calls over the speaker, perhaps?

Of course, Apple’s effort could also work well with their swathe of services, such as Apple Music and HomeKit.