Smart speaker stories

The new JBL Boombox 3 Wi-Fi is no different – it's rugged, looks great, and, most importantly, performs excellently, offering rich sound with an envious amount of bass.

Apple quietly announces the arrival of the HomePod mini in New Zealand, a compact smart speaker with 360-degree audio and Siri integration.

Danish audio brand Bang & Olufsen introduces its most advanced connected speaker to date, the Beolab 28, with a hefty price tag of AU$18,300.

Global smart speaker market set to reach 163 million units in 2021, with Mainland China leading the way, according to Canalys.

Global shipments of smart audio devices hit 96.2 million in Q1 2020. Canalys reports a 19.4% rise in smart personal audio, while smart speakers saw a 1.9% drop.

Smart speakers have seen a 53% growth, but the impact of COVID-19 on the industry remains uncertain, according to Futuresource Consulting.

JBL's Link Bar merges a sound bar, Android TV, and Google Home into one sleek device offering high sound quality with smart home integration.

Despite COVID-19 fears, smart speaker shipments surged in Q4 2019. Amazon, Google, and Chinese vendors hit record highs, says Canalys.

Smart device shipments are set to reach three billion globally by 2023, with smartphone sales remaining dominant, says Canalys.

Amazon leads the global smart speaker market with 10.4 million units shipped in Q3 2019, according to Canalys. Google slips to fourth.

It looks no different from a set of standard Bluetooth speakers, and it easily blends itself into any corner of the house.

Bose launches its latest smart speaker, the Portable Home Speaker, promising 360-degree sound and deep bass. Priced at NZD $579.95, it hits shelves Sept 26.

While talking aloud, a voice-activated, home-based smart speaker asked for more info - even though it was not turned it on.

Google has dropped to third place in the smart speaker market, with Baidu claiming second place behind Amazon, according to new data from Canalys.

Harman Kardon's Allure Portable marries quality sound with Amazon Alexa's voice control, offering both WiFi and Bluetooth connectivity.

People across the world love their smart speakers – and we have AI assistants like Amazon Alexa to thank for the revolution.

Smart speakers have moved into people’s homes and are ready to pay off as smart networks begin to spread throughout the household.

While these vendors have had great success in the market, other vendors like Samsung, Huawei, and Apple have failed to capitalise.

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 device shipments reached 110 million units in 2018, with a retail value of nearly $17bn, according to a report by Futuresource Consulting.