Samsung Confirms Work on Speaker to Compete With Apple HomePod and Amazon Echo

[jasonklee]

We can all be rest assured that the design kings and queens at Samsung will put forth the same ingenuity and innovation as Apple has with the HomePod with its A-chip, operating system, tweeter and microphone array, and subwoofer, all in an aesthetic form. All because the folks at Samsung just love music.

 

[MrX8503]

You mean the way they're copying Apple copying Amazon?

If that were true the HomePod would be cheap with crap sound quality.

 

[Winni]

We can all be rest assured that the design kings and queens at Samsung will put forth the same ingenuity and innovation as Apple has with the HomePod with its A-chip, operating system, tweeter and microphone array, and subwoofer, all in an aesthetic form. All because the folks at Samsung just love music.

Let's see how talking to your Samsung fridge will work with Homepod, then we'll talk again. Music streaming services are only one piece of the puzzle - but it's the only piece Apple knows something about. In the meantime, everybody else is busy integrating Amazon's Alexa into their devices and services (that have nothing to do with music). And Samsung and Microsoft have their own range of products and services into which their voice assistants could integrate. Streaming services aren't everything.

 

[MadeMyDay]

Samsung: For product distinction and to make it better, it will not resemble a toilet paper roll. Rather it will be taller, more like a paper towel roll. It will not be called Apple HomePod. But to "provide a fruitful user experience at home with Samsung devices" we are thinking of calling it something like Samsung PearPod Home. Totally different. More details of Samsung product will unfold as engineers dissect the HomePod.

 

[Tech198]

Like farther, like son

 

[Jsameds]

If that monkey was named Amazon, I might agree with you.

If that monkey was named Apple, not so much.

It’s no secret the tech giants learn and use each other’s ideas, but you gotta admit Sammy follows Apple as close as is legally possible (or not in some cases).

It’s almost become a parody of itself it happens that often. Apple releases an i-something, a few months later Sammy announces their S-something.

 

[69Mustang]

It’s no secret the tech giants learn and use each other’s ideas, but you gotta admit Sammy follows Apple as close as is legally possible (or not in some cases).

It’s almost become a parody of itself it happens that often. Apple releases an i-something, a few months later Sammy announces their S-something.

Got a recent example?

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

What do they do ? Copy everything ?

They shouldn't need to at this point. The good thing is they aren't trying to buy up everything and carry it back with them.

 

[artificemm]

It's gonna be da BOMB!

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It’s no secret the tech giants learn and use each other’s ideas,

Well they all use the same small "world" of components so products are going to end up similar on the spec sheet. It's the fit and finish and OS that separates devices.

Kind of surprising Samsung is slow on the uptake here, but also surprising that Apple is too. I mean it's likely HomePod will completely miss the holiday season with it's Dec. launch -- though that might be Apple's intent as it doesn't want to risk a black eye if the first release turns out to be too beta. Amazon will have had 3 holiday seasons to itself in this space and has a model in every price point. HomePod might be a better product but price will win out here because Amazon has already set the price bar at $49 or less for entry level.

 

[EdT]

Personally, I think the HomePod is more of a Sonos competitor than an Alexa or Google Home one. More than twice as expensive than either Google or Amazon, but (supposedly)with much better sound. We'll have to see how it does as a voice assistant, but what they hyped in the announcement was it's sound quality, and the price is on-par with a Sonos 3 speaker. Not sure how popular a good sounding assistant that gets a lot of commands wrong is going to be.

Since I am paranoid I doubt I will get something that can listen and record what I am saying without me knowing, and since the latest Accuweather news about their software spying on where you are even if you told it not to monitor your location I don't think you can trust any company that can make money selling your information to tell you the truth. And it's also obvious that Apple either didn't catch it or didn't care to make an issue of it.

 

[Mascots]

Kind of surprising Samsung is slow on the uptake here, but also surprising that Apple is too

It’s simple: this is a market that Apple was actually reluctant to move into, but was forced to.
Samsung, knowing this, waited until Apple took an official position before moving into the field to see the best angle to go at.

 

[kdarling]

If that were true the HomePod would be cheap with crap sound quality.

No, if that were true, the HomePod would have a better voice assistant.

Btw, my Echo sounds just fine for its use in the bedroom.

And if I wanted to hook up a nice stereo system to it, I sure wouldn't use a one speaker box system, no matter how fancy.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

It’s simple: this is a market that Apple was actually reluctant to move into, but was forced to.
Samsung, knowing this, waited until Apple took an official position before moving into the field to see the best angle to go at.

Well, no. Apple isn't "forced" into any market. Siri was around well before Alexa, and "Hey Siri" around before the Amazon speaker. Apple could have easily pushed out a smart speaker line before now. It didn't either because Siri had not advanced enough, HomeKit had not advanced enough, or Apple wasn't sure of the market.

Samsung can follow Apple here but Amazon is the market leader. They'd be best following Amazon not Apple. No one is paying $350 for a Samsung speaker. That is not the Android customer.

 

[Braderunner]

A spicy meme is born.

Edit: Looks like 30 Rock beat us to it

30 Rock was ahead of its time!

 

[Jsameds]

Got a recent example?

Galaxy C5 “Pink Gold”

They even use the AW in their smart watch parents.

But most of the time as of late it’s been things like design cues for minor things like keyboards and such, since the bulk of the cloning has already been done 2008-2014 such as hardware design, software design and product packaging and accessories, all copied straight from Apple. They reference Apple directly in a fair few of their own adverts, it’s not like they’re trying to hide it.

They even made a “Shot on Galaxy” advert for their phone cameras fairly recently, they tried cloning Apple Stores but it just made everyone cringe, and let’s not forget the timing of this speaker announcement coming off the back of their own digital voice assistant, like Apple also has. Also remember last year when they moved their Note release schedule forward to get their product out before Apple? Yeah, they shouldn’t rush things..

Sammy has their finger on Apple’s pulse. It wouldn’t surprise me if tomorrow they announced their new HQ was a circular building.

 

[Foggydog]

Am I alone in saying these types of home devices just don't do it for me?

I certainly agree. If I want to get information from google, I just open my iPad. If I need groceries I hop in the car and go with a list. I'm sure that to some degree using a virtual assistant to turn on lights or play music or open the shades might be kinda nice, but I'm still a bit old school ( or just getting old ) in that I do everything myself.

 

[Cloudkicker]

What do they do ? Copy everything ?

Are you freakin' kidding me. Neither have a product on the shelves yet Samsung is copying. And both aren't copying Amazon & Google (technically, Google copied Amazon)? Must be nice to see the world through your blinders.

 

[shiseiryu1]

Samsung either tries a ton of ideas trying desperately to see what works OR in most cases just sits back and copies Apple

 

[Cloudkicker]

Yes. Henceforth, they shall be called Samesung.

It was easy as Google search "things Apple copy..." & auto-predict finished "...copied from Samsung" First result:

 

[jonnysods]

#classicsamsung

 

[RemE]

Am I alone in saying these types of home devices just don't do it for me?

You could be..

I'm an early adopter to the Echo's and they are very useful with music and home automation. I just installed an Echo Show with the display in my 95 year old Mom's home. She has short term memory loss and really can't remember even simple instructions so FaceTime etc. isn't possible. With the Show and my iPhone I'm now able to "Drop In" on mom and video chat with her and she doesn't have to do anything. It's been wonderful for all the family to be able to see and speak with her.

There are many great things that these appliances can do. I'm on the Amazon train because the platform is mature and very open currently, not to mention affordable and more model choices.

It's good stuff, but you can't please everyone.

 

[Braderunner]

It was easy as Google search "things Apple copy..." & auto-predict finished "...copied from Samsung" First result:

Hahahahahaaa! Easy as a Google search “Samsung phones before...” & auto-predict will finish “iPhone”. First result = fact

 

[bobmepp]

Since I am paranoid I doubt I will get something that can listen and record what I am saying without me knowing, and since the latest Accuweather news about their software spying on where you are even if you told it not to monitor your location I don't think you can trust any company that can make money selling your information to tell you the truth. And it's also obvious that Apple either didn't catch it or didn't care to make an issue of it.

I don't think you are the least bit paranoid to not want a corporation listening in on you in order to "assist" you. I have Siri turned off on all of my Apple devices, and will not buy any other "assistant" being offered. I don't understand what people find so difficult about typing instructions into a device.

 

[jasonklee]

Galaxy C5 “Pink Gold”

They even use the AW in their smart watch parents.

But most of the time as of late it’s been things like design cues for minor things like keyboards and such, since the bulk of the cloning has already been done 2008-2014 such as hardware design, software design and product packaging and accessories, all copied straight from Apple. They reference Apple directly in a fair few of their own adverts, it’s not like they’re trying to hide it.

They even made a “Shot on Galaxy” advert for their phone cameras fairly recently, they tried cloning Apple Stores but it just made everyone cringe, and let’s not forget the timing of this speaker announcement coming off the back of their own digital voice assistant, like Apple also has. Also remember last year when they moved their Note release schedule forward to get their product out before Apple? Yeah, they shouldn’t rush things..

Sammy has their finger on Apple’s pulse. It wouldn’t surprise me if tomorrow they announced their new HQ was a circular building.

Regarding the Apple Watch drawings, it's just for reference purposes. Standard practice in the patent world. Companies do it all the time. Nothing to see there.

As for the Samsung C5, I see nothing remotely resembling any copying of Apple's iPhone. The C5 doesn't have symmetrically aligned design and notice the corners have tangency breaks whereas Apple's iPhone's corners are resolved so one surface perfectly curves to the next. And note the shape of the Home button is different too. Finally, Apple did not invent Rose Gold.