DanielEran

1) Is HomePod Siri controlled? Yes.

2) Does Siri tell jokes? Yes.

3) Are there products that are Alexa controlled and speakers that work with the Echo and other Alexa-capable devices that will sound better than the HomePod? Based on the size and stated specs, that seems like a certainty.

4) You know Amazon lets anyone license Alexa for pretty much any system they wish, right?

Good mention about Alexa being used for other high-end audio products voice actions and not just Amazon's own. Google is doing the same with 3rd party availability tho I hadn't paid much attention to that until your Alexa mention. 

FWIW Apple's beam-forming for the Home Pod is called TruePlay by Sonos and marketed as Smart Sound by Google. There will be a lot of comparisons with Sonos One smart speaker and Google Max by the time Home Pod is eventually available for sale (and guesses here the delay is it's to improve Siri capabilities /home control counter to what DED would presumably think)

rogerramjet said:

You have literally no proof that AirPods and HomePod technology was borne out the Beats purchase. It's pure conjecture; Apple typically is developing technology for many years before it sees the light of day, and suggesting that they didn't have a capable audio team before Beats came on board is rubbish. It's also worth noting that many audiophiles and tech reviewers have/had/and do pan Beats products for average or middling audio quality when compared to other brands. This article is simply conjecture and seems to be another DED Apple love fest.

jcbigears said:

Regarding Touch ID and Face ID, will the third party apps that currently ask for Touch ID (such as my banking app) automatically accept face ID now? I would think that the iOS would make this happen, but has anyone tried it yet?
Thanks,
John

dick applebaum said:

I found the article useful and informative, if verbose.

IMO, DED should avoid the hyperbole and the temptation to disparage the competition at every opportunity:

AppleInsider said:
iPhone X isn't aspiring to look like an angular techie robot on a mission to monetize everyone's content with advertising messages or a square panel of "live tile" TV boxes seeking to impose licensing taxes on the enterprise. 

chunkpylon said:

"further expanding its role in defining affordable luxury in mobile devices." Luxury, OK. Affordable? Really? Even the 64GB comes to $1300 with AppleCare and tax.