Apple's big, high-quality smart speaker is back for a surprise second generation. But five years since the first model was launched, a lot has changed in the world of voice-controlled home hi-fi. Can the HomePod still cut it? The new HomePod has the same design as the old version: a marshmallow-like shape with a light-up disc at the top, fabric-covered body and a small silicone foot. The detachable power cable slots in the back but otherwise there are no ports or recesses. As with other HomePods, this speaker is for Apple users only.

Apple has delayed the HomePod, its next big new release. The Siri-enabled speaker is intended to be Apple's response to the increasing popularity of gadgets like the Amazon Echo, Google Home and the Sonos One. But it will have to wait a while before taking them on, since it has been delayed until "early 2018". "We can't wait for people to experience HomePod, Apple's breakthrough wireless speaker for the home, but we need a little more time before it's ready for our customers," a statement from Apple said. "We'll start shipping in the US, UK, and Australia in early 2018."

At the annual developers conference, Apple announced the voice recognition software will have a more "natural" tone. SAN JOSE -- Apple had a chance to pull out its big guns, and really, really beef up personal assistant Siri to take on Amazon Echo and the Google Assistant. It didn't do that Monday at its Worldwide Developers Conference. Based on its presentation, and the announcement of a new HomePod speaker which featured amazing sound first and Siri integration second, we'll have to call Apple's feeble attempt at improving Siri the biggest miss of WWDC. Siri, which has taken a backseat in development to the more aggressive moves by Google and Amazon, will have a new voice in the fall that will have inflections, be able to translate some foreign phrases and offer us several options to queries instead of one.

Apple's new HomePod speaker, coming at the end of the year, has deep rich sound that blows the Amazon Echo and Google Home out of the water. Apple developers debuted their new home device which features Siri and Apple Music at the WWDC Conference in San Francisco, California. After spending time listening to several songs on the HomePod here at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference here, I, was wowed. But that doesn't mean Apple will have an easy time of it. Sales of high-end audio have never been a consumer electronics topper.

Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC, is generally the stage used to preview the new Mac OS and iOS operating systems, but at WWDC 2017 not only was iOS 11 debuted Apple also unveiled a brand new device not already in the Apple ecosystem; a Siri speaker called HomePod. Apple's HomePod, is a sleek looking smart speaker powered by Siri that in theory should quickly rival Google Home and Amazon Echo. Apple said the HomePod has a December release date. The exact launch day for the HomePod is not set. "Apple reinvented portable music with iPod and now HomePod will reinvent how we enjoy music wirelessly throughout our homes," Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said at WWDC. "HomePod packs powerful speaker technology, Siri intelligence and wireless access to the entire Apple Music library into a beautiful speaker that is less than 7 inches tall, can rock most any room with distortion free music and be a helpful assistant around your home." The HomePod has room-sensing technology that allows the Siri speaker to learn where it is in the room.

Apple will start its annual Worldwide Developers Conference in San Jose with a keynote, when it could unveil a new home for Siri, an upgrade to that voice assistant, and a slew of new features for the next iPhone. A Siri-powered smart speaker would be similar to Amazon's Echo and Google Home, capitalizing on intense consumer interest for talking devices. Apple's iPhone could make AR tech more of a reality Apple's Siri speaker to challenge Google, Amazon USA TODAY will share live updates of Apple's keynote, starting at 1 p.m. ET. The speaker will reportedly include virtual surround sound, and deeper integration with Apple services including HomeKit, allowing users to control smart home technology. As with previous years, Apple will also use the keynote to reveal the first details of iOS 11, the latest version of its mobile operating system launching this fall for the next iPhone, as well as current models of the iPhone, iPad and other mobile devices.

The Apple Store is offline ahead of its big event today. The company is holding its Worldwide Developers Conference where it will show off the software that will power the iPads, Macs and iPhones of the future. But it's also going to start selling some of those new futuristic computers, as well. The biggest new product of the day is expected to be the Siri speaker, Apple's answer to the talking assistants encased in cylinders like the Google Home and Amazon Alexa. But that might not actually make it onto the store today – it's expected to be unveiled during the keynote but not actually made available until later on.

Apple is expected to reveal new products and give the public a glimpse of the iOS 11 update during the Worldwide Developers Conference. WWDC will take place from June 5-9 in San Jose, Calif., with the keynote address at 1 P.M. EST Monday. You can watch the event live stream using this link on your MacBook, iPad, iPhone or a PC with Microsoft Edge on Windows 10. You can also watch the keynote address on the Apple TV (second and third generation). Here's what could be announced at WWDC: Apple could give a preview of some features that will be on iOS 11, the upcoming update for iPads and iPhones which is expected to be released this fall alongside the iPhone 8, iPhone 7S and iPhone 7S Plus.

An alleged group of insiders from Chinese hardware manufacturer Foxconn is hinting about an upcoming slate of Apple products that could include glasses, a home speaker and other incremental updates. The news, which comes from an Ask Me Anything on reddit, is worth taking with a slight grain of salt. While moderators were able to validate that the users of the account foxconninsider are Foxconn employees, the account's track record has made some missteps like a rumor over an alleged Apple keyboard prototype. However, a lot of rumors in the thread have lined up in broad strokes with past leaks about Apple's upcoming product releases. With Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference coming up this week, we'll likely know which leaks are facts or false about the company's product calendar.

USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham gives a sneak peek at what to look for at Apple's 2017 Worldwide Developers Conference as the iPhone turns 10 years old, Apple doesn't have a voice-activated speaker like Amazon Echo's--yet. But it does have wireless Bluetooth speakers from its Beats by Dr. Dre unit. Siri may soon have a say in the future of smart speakers. Amazon's sleeper hit Echo and its challenger Google Home have claimed spots on countertops and nightstands across America. And that poses a competitive threat to Apple.