Apple testing smart home device powered by Siri: report

It has been learnt that Apple has been busy testing a smart home device that will be powered by Siri.

According to a report on Bloomberg, the smart device currently under test phase will be similar to Amazon’s own smart home device, Echo. The new report strengthens an earlier report by The Information, which pointed out the same.

Mark Gurman of Bloomberg has built a reputation of accurately leaking new Apple products before any official announcement. He said Apple has been working on a ‘Echo competitor’ for over two years. The project is currently in the prototype phase but nothing can be said concretely.

The report further explained that Apple might be utilising more sensors such as facial recognition and powerful speakers. Siri could also be empowered with the ability to read mails, send messages and tweets, stream music from Apple Music and provide mapping info.

Another Apple plan in the report mentions antoher master feature, dubbed ‘Invisible hand’, which would let users fully control devices through a Siri command system within the next three years.

Amazon’s Echo smart home system is currently reached a much advanced level, and its voice assistant Alexa supports more than 1,000 skills and connects to several third-party smart devices. If Apple is working on matching Amazon’s Echo, it has some serious catching up to do.