Sonos One: New smart speaker might have spoiled the release of Apple's HomePod

When Apple took to the stage to launch its new smart speaker, the HomePod, it began with an explanation that was more like an insult. It was introducing a smart speaker that was the first to include both voice control and good sound, it said, and it flashed up a picture of a Sonos, which it mocked for having great sound but for forcing you to use an app. Now that image may haunt the release of Apple's new speaker. Because Sonos just released the new One: a speaker that can be controlled with the voice and includes the same audio quality that Sonos has become famous for. And what's more, the Sonos speaker will be available weeks before Apple's HomePod, which arrives in December, ships.