Smart speaker news stories

Apple
Apple is finally bringing the HomePod mini to New Zealand
At WWDC21 this week Apple quietly dropped the news that the Apple HomePod Mini is coming to New Zealand.

Speakers
Bang & Olufsen's latest connected speaker screams 'premium' design
We found one Australian audio retailer selling a pair for AU$18,300. We hope they’re worth the price.

Apple
Demand for stay-at-home entertainment sees smart speaker market soar
Global platform vendors have released new smart speakers and displays, ensuring value and availability.

Audio
Global shipments of smart audio devices reach 96.2 million - Canalys
Strong growth was driven by smartphone vendors Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi and others, as well as audio brands that pivoted to the true wireless stereo category more aggressively in the quarter.

Google
Smart speaker market continues to grow - report
“Markets [in which] smart speakers are booming saw the most significant year-on-year growth.”

Home Entertainment
Hands-on review: JBL Link Bar, the three-in-one smart speaker
JBL Link Bar is one of the devices out there that propose a solution to the 'too many devices' problem by having three devices in one: A sound bar, an Android TV and Google Home.

Canalys
Smart speaker vendors breaking records despite coronavirus disruption
The impact of coronavirus on the world’s smart speaker supply chain is expected to be short-term.

Smartphone
Canalys: Smart devices to reach three billion by 2023
"A lot of progress has been made in the past 12 months, and it will be the most important trend in consumer technology in 2020."

Google
Global smart speaker market experiences 45% growth
“Low-priced devices are vital growth drivers for smart displays and heated competition ahead of the Q4 shopping season is expected."

ASUS
Hands-on review: The ASUS Lyra Voice is a smart router with the power of invisibility
It looks no different from a set of standard Bluetooth speakers, and it easily blends itself into any corner of the house.

Smart Home
Bose's new smart speaker puts the bass back in the beat
If you’ve got a few spare hundred dollars burning a hole in your pocket and love portable speakers, you might have another contender to add to the selection list.

Digital Assistants
Are they listening? Kiwis wary of smart devices
While talking aloud, a voice-activated, home-based smart speaker asked for more info - even though it was not turned it on.

Google
Google slips further down the ranks in smart speaker market
"For Baidu to replace Google to become the world's second largest smart speaker vendor, is no small feat."

Bluetooth
Hands-on review: The Harman Kardon Allure Portable Speaker
The Allure Portable is a powerful portable sound system which connects to your Bluetooth devices with a minimum of fuss. The sound quality is great, and the Alexa voice interface has provided me with endless entertainment.

Smart Home
The world loves smart speakers - and China leads the way
People across the world love their smart speakers – and we have AI assistants like Amazon Alexa to thank for the revolution.

Smart Home
IDC: Smart home market only getting stronger
Smart speakers have moved into people’s homes and are ready to pay off as smart networks begin to spread throughout the household.

Google
Amazon, Google, and Alibaba fuel booming smart speaker market
While these vendors have had great success in the market, other vendors like Samsung, Huawei, and Apple have failed to capitalise.

Internet of Things
Are we security-ready for Alexa in the office?
As home-IoT devices such as smart assistants head into the office, there will be a raft of new security challenges that will need to be addressed.

Smart Home
Over 100 million smart home devices shipped in 2018
The smart home market is booming as consumers are looking for more ways to interact with their surroundings.

Apple
The 2018 Canalys APAC Channels Forum keynote
There was a lot to unpack at the Canalys APAC Channels Forum keynote. This long-form piece tries to cover all the most relevant points for A/NZ.

Alexa
Review: The Sonos Beam - more than a soundbar
Sonos’ is one of the serious contenders in the smart speaker market. Is the Beam soundbar worth taking seriously? I think it actually might be.

Headphones
Consumer audio market poised for rapid growth - Futuresource
Smart speakers are a big part of the growth although headphones are doing some heavy lifting with prices on the up due to richer features.

Siri
Search to purchase will cause voice AI tech to bloom
This year it is estimated that over 100 million smart speakers will be installed - but it isn’t going to stop there.

Google
Canalys: 187% smart speaker growth driven by Chinese offerings
While Google and Amazon still lead the way, it seems the smart speaker market is no exception to the steady rise of Chinese tech.