Apple HomePod Release Date, News and Features

Unveiled at WWDC 2017, the Apple HomePod is Apple's answer to Amazon Echo and Google Home. It's a voice assistant-equipped speaker that will help with everyday tasks, control your smart home and play music on command. After first appearing on phones, voice assistants entered the home in a big way with the Amazon Echo, and now Apple's looking to get into the action.

While Apple has had a voice assistant, Siri, on its phones for some time now, it has so far been left behind when it comes to smart speakers. Competitor Google brought its own voice assistant to dedicated hardware with the Google Home speaker last year. That all changes with the introduction of the HomePod.

Apple finally announced the speaker at WWDC 2017, but since then we haven't heard too much more about it. A planned release date of December 2017 came and went without much fanfare, and Apple is yet to confirm when exactly the speaker will arrive beyond saying 'early 2018'.

Cut to the chase

• What is it? A smart speaker equipped with Apple’s Siri voice assistant
• When is it out? Recent rumors report to February 2018
• What will it cost? $349

Apple Siri Speaker release date

The Apple HomePod was originally slated for release in December 2017 at a price of $349. At least that was the plan when the speaker was first announced.

Recently, Apple told TechRadar that while the company is excited to bring the speaker to the market, it'd need some more time to do so. To that end, the HomePod won't make its original release window and should be available to purchase in the US sometime in 2018 in both white and space grey.

Apple later confirmed that it expected to start shipping the speaker in 'early 2018'.

Recent rumors suggest that this could come as early as February 2018, but without official confirmation from Apple this news should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Apple Siri Speaker features

The HomePod is equipped with 7 tweeters on its base, along with a 4-inch upward-facing woofer. You can also pair two of the speakers together for a stereo configuration – but no specific mention yet of the ability to use the speakers in a 5.1 home cinema configuration, as is possible with rival Sonos gear.

The speaker itself is around 7-inches tall, and Apple has promised that setup will be as easy as it was with the W1 chip-equipped Apple AirPods. You'll need an iPhone 5s or later running iOS 11 if you want it to be compatible with the speaker.

Apple has confirmed that the new speaker will be spatially aware, so it should know how to optimise its sound to suit your home. It can detect the space that it's in, directing channels as appropriate depending on its location.

Hopefully this should mean its sound won't boom too much if its left in a corner, but we'll have to see how it performs in the real world before we can say for sure.

The speaker is equipped with 6 microphones that it will use to listen for voice commands. You can not only use it to control music, but you can also ask it questions about the music that's currently playing, such as for the name's of participating band members. "Who is the drummer in this?" was one specific (and cool) query Apple highlighted at the speaker's reveal.

You can tell the speaker when you like songs in order for Apple Music to recommend more that's similar to the tunes that's currently being played.

Apple boasts that the microphone array is intelligent enough to cancel out background noise so that the speaker can hear you over the sound of its own music. This is helped by its included A8 chip, which Apple claims is the most powerful processor to ever be found in a speaker.

The A8 chip first appeared in the iPhone 6 back in 2014, so it's not the newest chip Apple has to offer - but that's still incredibly powerful for a speaker.

The  HomePod is also compatible with a number of non-music features, such as reminders, giving weather information, and controlling HomeKit supported smart home devices.

Interestingly Apple has also said that the HomePod is "a great way to send messages", suggesting that it will include iMessage integration.

Although the hardware is powerful, we still have some reservations about Siri as a voice assistant. Siri has some significant problems compared to competing voice services, and we'll have to see whether the HomePod is able to address these issues.

For example, at the moment Siri heavily prioritises Apple’s own apps rather than allowing you to use alternatives. Ask Siri to play some music, and it will only be able to play songs that are located in your Apple Music app. Apple has explicitly said that HomePod is designed to work with an Apple Music subscription.

This is in contrast to both Alexa and Google Assistant, which both allow you to use a music app of your choice, rather than restricting you to Amazon Prime Music and Google Play music respectively.

Based on some developer digging, it doesn't look like third-party apps are going to be allowed on the HomePod - at least, not to begin with.

At least the interface looks seamless. Someone recently got a sneak peak at the interface for connecting to a HomePod and posted a screenshot on Twitter. It seems that the speaker will integrate seamlessly into the control center.

 Amazon has been especially open with allowing developers to integrate their services into its smart speakers. It allows the creation of ‘Skills’ which essentially act as apps for the smart speaker, and so far there have been over 10,000 of them created for the speaker.

Another issue with Siri is that it can sometimes be a little...stupid. Ask it when the Mona Lisa was painted (that's 1503, art buffs), and the voice assistant will happily tell you that ‘the answer is one thousand, five hundred and three,’ rather than being intelligent enough to realise that the year should be read aloud as ‘fifteen oh-three’.

Of course there’s always the chance that Apple will put significant effort into improving Siri before the HomePod is released in December. Google did a similar thing when it overhauled Google Now, creating Google Assistant, in the months before the Google Home was released.

Finally, comments by Apple VP Phil Schiller which suggested that Apple was thinking along the lines of a Siri speaker with an integrated screen - turned out to be false.

A new challenger has entered the arena

Smart speakers are one of the most unexpected and cool technologies to have come out over the past couple of years, and interesting to see each of the technology giants repurposing their existing voice assistants to work in a home context.

Apple isn't the only one with such a device on the horizon. Harmon Kardon is readying a home speaker equipped with Microsoft's Cortana voice assistant, and between that and Google's existing smart speaker efforts, the market is set to get crowded very quickly.

Apple has a real chance of standing out when it comes to its home automation efforts thanks to HomeKit, but it's not as strong when it comes to integrating with non-Apple services such as Spotify.

Hopefully the HomePod's audio technology will allow it to stand out against the competition.

Has Your Facebook Been Hacked? Here’s How to Tell (and Fix It)

It’s no fun logging onto Facebook and realizing that your account has been hacked. But it happens, and sometimes the damage done can mean a big deal for you or your friends and family members. Thankfully, there are a few things that you can do to prevent an attack, and a few things you can do to fix your Facebook account if it does get hacked.

Protect Your Facebook Account

Before we even get into fixing your account, it’s best to know how to prevent would-be hackers from accessing your account. Setting a better password, avoiding spam, and increasing your privacy are just a few methods that could help safeguard your account. Luckily, Facebook has a Privacy Basics page that really helps explain a few things.

Your number one defense: Setting a memorable password (personal identification number, or PIN) that isn’t easily accessible for would-be hackers. While the debate continues on whether a PIN or a fingerprint is more secure, taking time to set up a unique password is always good advice. Enabling fingerprint access is also good advice, and is rather convenient.

After you do the basics, there are a more advanced options to consider. You could enable email or login notifications, which you can do under Security Settings > Login Alerts. Unfortunately, Facebook discontinued text notifications some time ago.

Still under security settings, you can check the box for Login Approvals. Doing so requires a security code to be typed when logging in from an unknown device or browser, and is another powerful attack deterrent to consider.

Take Precautions When Browsing Facebook

Still, there are more preventative measures you can take to protect your Facebook account, like avoiding click-bait links. This might seem simple enough, but there are plenty of cases of people clicking spam on Facebook and ruining their computer. Avoid spam links, which may even appear in your Message Request folder.

Also, you should avoid fake websites that are made to look like Facebook and could steal your sensitive information, which is known as phishing and is not to be taken lightly.

Adjust Your Facebook Privacy Settings

Another step you can take, is to increase privacy settings on your photos, posts, and tags. I decided some time ago that I didn’t want every post and photo tag to be displayed on my wall, and have opted to review each tag before it’s posted. This gives me more control over what is made available to my friends, and has saved me from a few embarrassing posts and photo bombs.

Hiding these items might keep your privacy more intact, especially if you set up specific friend lists. Doing so is a good way to ensure that your items are shown to specific people, and not just your “public” or “friend” list, who could be anyone.

In terms of your Facebook account’s security, this limits the number of comments you receive, and restricts them to the people you trust most. This makes you less likely to click on a link from someone masquerading as your friend.

Now that you’ve done just about everything to prevent an attack, we’ll take a look at the next steps: Identifying whether or not you’ve been hacked.

Identify if Your Facebook Account Has Been Hacked

Usually, this is obvious, as your hacked profile will post ads on your friend’s wall encouraging them to buy a pair of knock-off Raybans (or similar). Your hacked account might also send unwanted emails, change your profile information, or change your email and password. All bad scenarios and something you’d probably want to avoid.

Thankfully, there’s an easy way to discover whether or not someone else has logged into your account, which you can check under your security settings section.

Go to Settings > Security > Where You’re Logged In and click edit. The information contained in the section will show where you’ve logged in and with what devices you signed in with. For example, my last log in was in Boston on my iPhone, which sounds about right.

The Fix: If you do find a discrepancy with where you’ve logged in, you can easily end the activity of that session, which should help safeguard from any hack attempt on that device.

Check Your Purchase History

There’s also another way to check whether or not you’ve been hacked, and that’s by checking your purchase history. If you have a credit card stored on your account, it’s possible that hackers could make fraudulent app or ad purchases and drive up your credit bill. Obviously, this is another bad scenario that we’d all like to avoid.

To ensure your protection, go to Settings > Payments and check under your payment activity, which should be readily displayed. You can even check your Ads Manager payment history in the same section.

The Fix: If you notice any fraudulent charges, you can inform Facebook with this link. They’re pretty good with replying to concerns, whether that’s through their account or through their official Twitter account.

Inform Facebook of Any Hack Attempts

In fact, if you have any problems whatsoever, you should inform Facebook. Facebook is keen to know about hack attempts and wants to do its part to keep the site as safe and secure as possible.

The Fix: You can contact Facebook through its official Twitter account, as I mentioned previously, or you can send a message using your Support Inbox. You can find yours under the Facebook Help Center page, and then by clicking Support Inbox. You can also check out the Bullying Center, Safety Check, and Safety Center pages if you have additional problems.

Safeguard Your Privacy

While nothing is 100 percent protected, there are ways to safeguard your account so that would-be hackers are hard pressed to obtain your data or personal information. By taking these steps and others like it, you’re ensuring that you’re as protected as possible. Even if you’re not overly concerned about your privacy or data, it’s a good idea to get serious about protection and do something about it.

After Outcry Apple Lets Users Manage Their Own iPhone Batteries

Apple plans to let users decide for themselves how to manage their iPhone’s battery usage. While details are currently thin on the ground, this will be accomplished by an iOS update dropping soon. Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed this in an interview mostly covering Apple’s tax affairs.

Apple Gets Caught Slowing Down Old iPhones

In December 2017 it was revealed that Apple has been slowing down old iPhones on purpose. Contrary to popular belief this wasn’t designed to force people to upgrade. Instead, Apple was trying to prevent older iPhones from shutting down when their aging batteries start struggling.

https://youtu.be/SV9N-GY1-_4

The mostly negative reaction to this revelation must have taken Apple by surprise. After all, it hadn’t tried to hide the update which introduced this feature. Several angry editorials and numerous threatened lawsuits later, and Apple has decided to give iPhone users a choice.

Tim Cook Promises to Right This Wrong

In an interview with ABC News, Cook said, “When we did put it out, we did say what it was, but I don’t think a lot of people were paying attention and maybe we should have been clearer as well. And so we deeply apologize for anybody that thinks we had some other kind of motivation.”

https://youtu.be/NCSag0YnxgU

 Cook then revealed an update was on the way to put the user back in control once more, stating, “We will tell somebody we’re slightly reducing, or we’re reducing your performance by some amount in order to not have an unexpected restart. If you don’t want it? You can turn it off.”

Apple Always Thinks It Knows Best

It’s clear Apple had its users in mind when it started slowing down old iPhones. However, it messed up by not signposting the change clearly enough, and not letting each individual user decide for themselves. This update should make everything right again. Until next time.

DNA Testing Companies Criticized Over Privacy Concerns

From US-based companies like 23andMe and Ancestry, to home grown start-ups such as Living DNA, these companies take a little slice of your DNA, analyse it and serve up the results to you. However, these companies are regularly faced with controversy.

For instance, 23andMe faced criticisms from the US government’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over testing for genetically-linked diseases. In 2013, the FDA said potential customer misinterpretation of what could be inaccurate test results, amounted to a public health threat.

The latest issue facing genetic testing companies is to do with privacy. A recent piece by Gizmodo revealed that companies such as Ancestry retain ownership rights to your DNA if you use their services. Naturally, this is disconcerting.

We turned to the Somerset-based Living DNA to ask about how it approaches customer DNA.

“Our starting point is that the customer is in charge of their DNA, and that our role is to carry out their DNA testing, to provide them with their Living DNA ancestry test results, and to store the genetic information for them. If and when they want us to destroy their DNA sample and/or delete their genetic information, then we will carry this out.”

One of the criticisms about genetic testing companies is that their privacy policies are too complicated to understand. Living DNA has made an effort to ensure this is not the case, explaining that DNA samples are only kept for 10 years unless agreed otherwise, but the company has access to the results forever, unless you want them destroyed.

As well, it says nobody outside of the company can see a customer’s results, unless the customer has consented.

LivingDNA added, "We do not sell on customer results / raw information to third parties, nor will we give anyone access to view a customer’s results without the customer’s prior written consent. The only exception would be if we were under warrant by the authorities in a legal matter.”

Still intrigued by the idea of testing your DNA? You’re not alone; predictions say the consumer genetic testing market will be worth $340 million in the next four years.

But, it’s important to ensure that you check the privacy policy before agreeing to sign away sensitive genetic information about yourself.

15 Best Amazon Alexa-Compatible Gadgets to Buy in 2018

You’ve probably already noticed, but Amazon Alexa continues to expand its reach. The personal assistant is just a little more than three years old and has come a long way from its humble beginnings with the original Amazon Echo smart speaker. Oh, how times have changed.

Alexa now powers a whole host of devices and a simple voice command can accomplish some pretty surprising tasks with the right hardware.

We’re highlighting 15 of the best gadgets compatible with Amazon Alexa that you should take a look at in 2018 — from a robot vacuum cleaner to a home coffee maker and everything in between.

1. Garmin Speak

Just say, “Alexa, ask Garmin for directions home.”

Alexa is hitting the road with the Garmin Speak. This compact device, smaller than a deck of cards, attaches to your windshield and connects to your car’s entertainment system using Bluetooth or an AUX cable. Its best feature is definitely the ability to ask Alexa for turn-by-turn navigation guidance. The small screen on the Speak will also show arrows with lane guidance during a trip.

Along with that great perk, the Speak can play music from a number of sources including SiriusXM, Pandora, Amazon Music, and more. You can also control smart home devices, play games, and access the huge and ever-growing catalog of different Alexa skills.

2. Amazon Echo Spot

Just say, “Alexa, wake me up tomorrow morning at 6am to Spotify.”

One of the newest members of Amazon’s Echo line, the diminutive Spot features a 2.5-inch, round touchscreen. A great feature, not found on the larger Echo Show, is a number of different analog and digital clock faces that make the device perfect to use as a voice-controllable alarm clock.

You can take advantage of all the different Alexa-enabled skills using the Spot, such as voice calling and messaging. With a built-in camera, you can also place video calls to other Alexa devices or anyone with the compatible smartphone app.

3. GE Profile P2S930SELSS Cooktop and Oven

Just say, “Alexa, tell Geneva to preheat the oven to 375 degrees.”

It’s time to get cooking with the GE Profile Cooktop and Oven. The P2S930SELSS features an edge-to-edge cooktop surface with extra room for the large pots and pans. There’s even a built-in reversible cast iron grill and griddle. The oven offers accurate heat circulation for evenly baked meals.

And with the Alexa skill, you can control the oven without raising a finger. You can preheat the oven, change the temperature, cancel baking, and more.

Now if Alexa could only clean up the mess afterward.

4. Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller

Just say, “Alexa, tell Rachio to water the side yard for 2 minutes.”

Smart sprinkler controllers can save homeowners both water and money. Taking the place of a standard irrigation system controller, the smart version can provide better insight on when a lawn needs water and exactly how much.

One of the best choice in the emerging market is the Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller. Once installed, the Rachio can automatically adjust watering using weather conditions and even more advanced metrics like what’s growing in the location and soil type.

While you can set an automatic schedule, Alexa can also help out. With a voice command, users can start and stop watering, turn on a rain delay, and more.

5. Neato Botvac Connected

Just say, “Alexa, tell Neato to start cleaning.”

The robot apocalypse isn’t here just yet, but you can definitely take advantage of the technology to tackle a mundane home task: cleaning your floors. The Neato Botvac Connected can take care of dirty floors by using special navigation technology that scans the room beforehand to plan the most efficient route while avoiding obstacles.

Using the Alexa skill with the vacuum can make the entire operation handsfree. You can tell Neato when to start and stop cleaning and even instruct the vacuum to return to the charging base.

6. Hunter Signal Ceiling Fan

Just say, “Alexa, turn on my kitchen fan.”

Even ceiling fans are joining forces with Alexa. Along with offering HomeKit support for Apple devices, the Hunter Signal Ceiling Fan also works with Alexa.

Users can control the speed of the fan and dim the lights with their voice. A special WhisperWind motor brings strong air movement without significant noise. Thanks to a reversible motor, you can use the fan all year by changing the direction of the motor in the winter to help keep your home warm.

7. Sonos One

Just say, “Alexa, play Beastie Boys from Spotify.”

If sound quality is your top priority when looking for a smart speaker with Alexa built-in, take a look at the Sonos One. Sonos has always been well-known for top-quality audio, and the SonosOne brings Alexa to the mix.

You can accomplish most everything possible with an Echo device including playing music, controlling smart home devices, and interacting with skills. Buyers can select from a black or white version to better match their home decor. You can use your Sonos One as part of a whole-home audio system with other Sonos speakers, or pair two Sonos One devices together for stereo sound.

8. Sengled Element Classic A19 Starter Kit

Just say, “Alexa, turn the bedroom light to 50 percent brightness.”

Smart lighting is one of the simplest ways to add technology to a home. While the Sengled Element Classic A19 requires a wireless hub, the lights are substantially more affordable than the popular Philips Hue line of products.

The starter kit comes with two dimmable A19 LED soft white bulbs. Using Alexa, you can turn the bulbs on and off along with changing the brightness level.

9. Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker

Just say, “Alexa, ask Anova to cook a steak.”

Another kitchen gadget to test your culinary prowess, the Anova Culinary Sous Vide Precision Cooker provides a great way for home cooks to try out the popular cooking method. If you’re unaware, sous vide means food sealed in a bag cooked in a water bath at a consistent temperature. You can cook a surprising amount of items using the method, everything from steaks to soups and even desserts.

With built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, the cooker can be controlled with a smartphone app and also with Alexa. Using Alexa, cooks can heat water to a specific temperature, cook a certain item, or even see how long something has been cooking.

10. EZVIZ Mini O Wi-Fi Camera

Just say, “Alexa, show me the living room.”

A great feature of the Amazon Echo Show and Echo Spot is the ability to view live camera feeds of certain models on screen by just asking Alexa.

Along with night vision, the EZVIZ Mini O Wi-Fi Camera has a 111-degree viewing angle to show exactly what’s going on a room. With a built-in microphone and speaker, you can listen and talk to whoever is near the camera. The camera can also provide alerts on a smartphone when motion is detected.

While a cloud storage option is available to store video, users can also locally store clips using a built-in micro SD card slot.

11. C by GE Sol

Just say, “Alexa, tell Sol to change the light to cool white.”

A very modern take on the usual home lighting fixture, the C by GE Sol is a circular lamp that features on and off scheduling and much more. Users can take advantage of specific light settings that support circadian rhythms and see different visuals for different clocks and timers. You can have the lamp change its shade of white light automatically or manually through a smartphone app.

And while the lamp can be controlled through any Alexa supported device, it’s also Alexa-enabled, so you can play music, interact with skills, and more.

12. Bosch BCM8450UC Automatic Coffee Maker

Just say, “Alexa, tell Home Connect Coffee Machine to prepare a large, extra strong Latte Macchiato.”

Why go to Starbucks when Alexa can act as your personal barista at home? The Bosch BCM8450UC Automatic Coffee Maker needs to be built into your kitchen to operate. If you have the room (and the cash) you’re in for an unbeatable home coffee experience. All you need to add is coffee beans, milk, and water. Then, sit back and enjoy. The machine can create a surprising amount of different coffee styles including ristretto, espresso, cappuccino, and many more.

And while the machine is accessible with a smartphone app, the Alexa voice controls are even easier. Just say what type of coffee you’re in the mood for and the Bosch machine will take care of the rest.

13. Amazon Fire TV

Just say, “Alexa, find a comedy for me to watch.”

Alexa can also act as a remote control when using the new Amazon Fire TV. Along with supporting 4K and HDR content, the streaming video box can tap into a number of different sources including Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, and others. Using the included Alexa Voice Remote, you can interact with Alexa and navigate through and find whatever content you’re looking for. You can also use it with Alexa skills as well.

If you have any Amazon Echo device near your television, don’t worry about using the remote.

14. Automatic Pro

Just say, “Alexa, ask Automatic where my car is.”

You don’t need to spend big bucks for a car with smart features. The Automatic Pro is a small device that plugs into a modern car’s OBD-II port for constant power. There’s no need for a smartphone, as built-in 3G service is free for five years.

It can provide real-time vehicle location no matter who is driving a car and also will decode check engine lights and deploy emergency services if a crash is detected.

With Alexa integration, you can ask where the car is parked, if you need gas, and to find out more about your driving habits.

15. Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat

Just say, “Alexa, turn the thermostat to 70 degrees.”

The Ecobee4 Smart Thermostat is currently one of the best choices on the market, and a great way to start building a smart home.

And the device is a double threat. You can control a home’s heating and air conditioning with a simple Alexa command on any compatible device. The thermostat also has Alexa control built-in meaning it can act as a standalone option like the Amazon Echo Dot.

Anyone with Apple HomeKit, Google Assistant, or Samsung SmartThings can also control the temperature of their home using the Ecobee4.