Chance Miller, writing for 9 to 5 Mac on The Information’s latest scoop:

The report explains that Apple will open up its Siri personal assistant to outside app developers by releasing an SDK. This will allow for app developers to make their apps and services accessible through Siri, much like Amazon, Google, and Viv are now doing. […]

As for the actual hardware competitor to Amazon Echo and Google Home, the report says that Apple has been working the device since before Amazon introduced the Echo in mid-2015. The device would feature a speaker and be web-connected, while it would also carry deep integration with HomeKit. It will also act as speaker, likely carrying support for AirPlay technology.

An Siri-powered AirPlay speaker sounds like a fantastic product. I currently use a Jambox for listening to music and podcasts in the kitchen, but this would be a strict upgrade. And leveraging Apple’s developer community to extend Siri’s abilities is simply brilliant. The core functionality would be secure from a privacy standpoint and the onus would be on the user to install applications which might weaken that security.

And count me in with John Gruber, I like the name Hi-Fi.