Apple speakers
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Apple Inc.has produced and sold numerous music and multimediaspeakers,available for standalone purchase and bundled withMacintoshproducts.
Plug-and-play speakers[edit]
Bose RoomMate speakers[edit]
In September 1986, Apple sold a special edition of the Bose RoomMate speakers for theApple IIGScomputer—which sports a built-inEnsoniqsynthesizer chip with optional stereo sound. The front grille of each speaker had the Bose logo inside a black rectangle, and the official rainbow Apple logo in a square next to it. The speakers matched the platinum gray color scheme introduced with the IIGS that year. Later editions of the speakers, likely for legal issues pertaining to Apple Records, replaced the Apple-shaped logo with a rainbow-colored square, and eventually removed any Apple reference entirely. The powered speakers lacked a variable volume knob or magnetic shielding (a warning label stated to keep it distanced from the CRT and magnetic storage) and retailed forUS$229.99(equivalent to $640 in 2023). Although primarily intended for the Apple IIGS which it cosmetically matched and better suited for its advanced audio capabilities, the speakers were also made available for early Macintosh models.[1]
AppleDesign Powered Speakers[edit]
Along with thePowerCDintroduced in 1993, Apple released two versions of their desktop speakers: the AppleDesign Powered Speakers (M6082) and the redesigned AppleDesign Powered Speakers II (M2497) a year later. The original speakers came in platinum gray to match Apple's desktop line, while the second generation were smaller, curvier and came in both platinum gray and a darker granite gray color designed to match the PowerBook line and PowerCD. Both were powered with an AC adapter and could be attached to any audio output source, with two separate inputs for the computer and an external CD player. Both had a headphone jack in the front of one speaker along with the volume control and an optionalsubwooferconnection port on some models.[citation needed]
G4 Cube speakers[edit]
Apple bundled a pair of model M7963 clear spherical/globe Sound Stick 2.1 based speakers with thePower Mac G4 Cube,which was released on July 19, 2000. They used a custom USB interface and originally worked with the G4 Cube, Power PCs andADC/ADPmonitor screens. They work right up to OSX 10.6.4 Snow Leopard. They were designed by Jonathan Ive & created in partnership withHarman Kardon,and were enlarged versions of the Odyssey speakers built in to theiMac G3.[2][3][4]
Apple Pro Speakers[edit]
The Apple Pro Speakers were introduced in January 2001 alongside thePower Mac G4 Digital Audio,based on the G4 Cube's spherical speakers with a new digital audio system, plasticgrilles,white rubber/silicone surrounds rather than the black foam used on the G4 cube speakers and changed the connector to a proprietary minijack that provided both power and audio. They were available as a standalone purchase for $59 and bundled with some versions of theiMac G4.[3][4]
Harman Kardon SoundSticks and iSub[edit]
Apple announced the iSub in 1999, a 6-inchsubwooferproduced in partnership withHarman Kardon,designed byJony Ive.[5]It uses clear plastic to match the aesthetic of theiMac G3.It connected overUSB.[6]
Next, Harman Kardon and Apple designed the SoundSticks, which were introduced at the 2000Macworldexpo.[7]Appleled the industrial design and mechanical engineering to have them fit into its product family. They include a new revision of the iSub. They won anIndustrial Design Excellence Awardsgold award[8]and were featured on the cover ofI.D.magazine.SoundSticks II were a minor upgrade, adding capacitive volume control buttons and a 3.5mm mini-jack input, replacing the previous USB input. SoundSticks III changed the styling slightly using black highlights and white lighting, instead of green and blue of the original SoundSticks and the SoundSticks II.[9]SoundSticks Wireless introducedBluetooth.[10]
iPod Hi-Fi[edit]
iPod Hi-Fi is aspeaker systemthat was released on February 28, 2006, for use with anyiPoddigital music player.[11]The iPod Hi-Fi retailed at theApple StoreforUS$349 until its discontinuation on September 5, 2007.[12][13]The iPod Hi-Fi received criticism due to its high price,[14]lack of anAM/FM radio,[15]and the limited functionality of its remote control.[16]
Smart speakers[edit]
HomePod[edit]
The first-generation HomePodsmart speakerwas announced on June 5, 2017. It was sold in two colors: white and space gray.[17]It had a small touchscreen on its top, seventweetersin its base, and a four-inchwoofertowards the top, as well as sixmicrophonesused forvoice controland acoustic optimization; it also supportsbeamforming.[17][18]It runs theaudioOSoperating system, which is based on iOS.[19]The HomePod can act as a speaker and as aSirivoice assistant that listens for the "Hey Siri" command. The first-generation HomePod was discontinued on March 13, 2021.[20]The second-generation was introduced on January 18, 2023.[21]
HomePod Mini[edit]
HomePod Mini smart speaker was released on November 16, 2020. It is smaller than the HomePod, roughly spherical, and has three speakers and four microphones.[22][23]Intercom, a new feature on HomePod and HomePod Mini introduced iniOS 14.1andiPadOS 14.1,allows iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users with multiple HomePods and HomePod Minis to communicate between rooms using their voice. Siri recognizes up to six voices, and personalizes responses for each one.
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^"The forgotten collaboration, Sony D-50 and Bose Speakers!".
- ^"Harman/Kardon Mac Compatibility Guide".Low End Mac.2001-05-31.Retrieved2019-10-08.
- ^abSteeber, Michael (2018-03-19)."Revisiting the forgotten history of obscure Apple accessories".9to5Mac.Retrieved2019-10-07.
- ^abPhin, Christopher; Contributor; hardware, Macworld | About | A. celebration of classic Jonathan Ive Apple; software (2015-12-08)."The best speakers 'Apple' ever made".Macworld.Retrieved2019-10-07.
{{cite web}}:|last2=has generic name (help) - ^La, Lynn."Jony Ive's 15 most iconic Apple products and designs".CNET.Retrieved2019-10-07.
- ^"Jobs Splits iMac Line over Digital Video".TidBITS.1999-10-11.Retrieved2019-10-07.
- ^"Harman Kardon History".Archived fromthe originalon 2015-02-27.Retrieved2015-02-25.
- ^"iSub: Gold, Consumer Products".Industrial Designers Society of America. Archived fromthe originalon 2003-12-07.Retrieved6 December2014.
- ^SoundSticks pageRetrieved on 2011-08-11ArchivedAugust 5, 2011, at theWayback Machine
- ^SoundSticks pageReview: Harman Kardon SoundSticks Wirelessat theWayback Machine(archived April 4, 2016)
- ^"Apple Announces iPod Hi-Fi".Apple.Retrieved2014-11-20.
- ^Schramm, Mike (2007-09-05)."Bye bye, HiFi".Engadget.Archivedfrom the original on 2014-11-23.Retrieved2020-01-24.
- ^Block, Ryan (2007-09-06)."Apple Hi-Fi, RIP: 2006 - 2007".Engadget.Retrieved2014-11-20.
- ^Borland, John (2006-02-28)."iPod Hi-Fi has big-sounding ambitions".CNET.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-12.Retrieved2006-03-01.
- ^Guevin, Jennifer (2006-02-28)."Bloggers underwhelmed by Apple announcements".CNET.Archived fromthe originalon 2012-07-16.Retrieved2006-03-01.
- ^iPod Hi-Fi User guide."Chapter 3, Using the Apple Remote, pages 20-21"(PDF).Apple.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on November 28, 2007.RetrievedMay 25,2007.
{{cite web}}:|author=has generic name (help) - ^ab"Everything about HomePod".iMore.Archivedfrom the original on 20 June 2017.Retrieved2017-06-19.
- ^"This iFixit teardown shows the HomePod is built like a tank".The Verge.Archivedfrom the original on 12 February 2018.Retrieved2018-02-14.
- ^"Leaked audio files reveal HomePod's cool UI sounds - Cult of Mac".1 August 2017.Archivedfrom the original on 22 March 2018.
- ^Ortolani, Parker (2021-03-13)."Apple discontinues original HomePod".9to5Mac.Retrieved2021-03-13.
- ^"Apple Announces New HomePod for $299 With Full-Size Design, S7 Chip, and More".MacRumors.18 January 2023.Retrieved2023-01-18.
- ^"Apple Event — October 13".YouTube.
- ^"HomePod mini".Apple.Retrieved2020-10-15.