Samsung’s first Bixby speaker will take on HomePod in early 2018

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HomePod
Apple's smart speaker will arrived early next year.
Photo: Apple

Samsung wants to take on Apple’s HomePod with its own smart speaker, which could arrive as soon as the first half of 2018, a new report claims.

Like Apple, the Samsung smart speaker will reportedly focus on high-end audio quality, as well as functioning as a hub for controlling smart home devices. The smart speaker will reportedly be based around Bixby, the Samsung AI assistant introduced this year for the Samsung Galaxy S8 and S8+ handsets.

The Samsung smart speaker will integrate with Samsung devices, including Galaxy smartphones, Samsung TVs, and other devices. Pricing and release plans for the device still haven’t been determined, and Samsung is still actively working to complete the device. In particular, it is working to improve the speaker’s ability to carry out voice-based web searches.

Size-wise, the Samsung speaker is reportedly somewhere between Amazon’s latest Echo and Apple’s HomePod. It may be released in multiple colors, although the prototype is matte black in color. Like all non-Amazon devices, the Samsung smart speaker will lack a screen, although the company has reportedly considered adding a touchscreen in the past.

Samsung executive DJ Koh previously confirmed that the company is working on a smart speaker, but did not share details. Samsung executive Patrick Chomet, who joined the company last year, is reportedly leading the project.

Apple’s HomePod was originally set for launch in December 2017, although Apple recently delayed the launch until early next year.

Do you use a smart speaker? If so, which model do you own? Let us know in the comments below.

Source: Bloomberg

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