Tuesday’s top tech news: hands-on with the HomePod
In addition, GM’s Hummer EV SUV is going into production and Paramount’s streaming service is getting a rebrand.
We’ve got a review of Apple’s new smart speaker as Chris Welch and Jennifer Pattison Tuohy evaluate the “all-new” $299.99 HomePod.
They praised the sound quality, useful set of sensors and deep integration with Apple TV, but noted that it’s slightly more expensive than comparable smart speakers, saying you really need two to get the best experience.
The E3 video game trade show, which has traditionally been one of the most important press events of the year, could be a much smaller affair in 2023. A new report from IGN suggests that the three major console manufacturers, Nintendo, Sony and Microsoft, are all skipping the June convention. There’s a chance they could still hold press events that month that aren’t officially part of E3, but it would be very bad news for the Entertainment Software Association’s flagship event itself.
Elsewhere, GM’s Hummer EV SUV has entered mass production, and the first customers are expected to receive their giant electric cars by the end of the first quarter. The SUV joins the truck version of the Hummer EV, deliveries of which started at the end of 2021.
And finally, Paramount is reconfiguring its streaming offerings to combine Showtime with Paramount Plus. The resulting streaming service will, inventively enough, be called “Paramount Plus with Showtime.” It’s part of a wave of changes coming to streaming players, which also includes the merger of HBO Max and Discovery Plus.
For now, here’s a silly tweet to start your day:
i see you kids buying pre-rolled joints and now i understand the pain my grandpa felt when i told him i paid someone to change the oil on my car
— boogerdiner (@boogerdiner) January 31, 2023
