Apple plans to bring Siri into our homes with always-listening smart dock

Apple's planning a smart dock that's always listening
'What is your bidding, my master?'

Siri could be moving into our homes full time, as Apple has plans for an always-listening smart dock.

The dock, patented by Apple, is referred to as a device that is always listening to its surroundings so it can activate "a voice recognition mode of a portable electronic device."

One of the headline features of the Moto X is that the phone is always listening, meaning you don't have to wake it up.

It sounds like Apple's idea will work in a similar way, albeit through the smart dock and not the iPhone or iPad itself.

Siri: activate

According to the patent, the user will be able to assign a specific phrase or noise (such as a clap) to get the dock's attention when it's in listening mode.

It'll then notify the device and activate Siri so you can have it do your bidding. The dock can also handily filter out ambient noise while still picking up your voice.

This could be another patent filing that never sees the light of day, but it's yet more evidence that Apple has its sights sets on our living rooms. Hurry up with that iTV though, yeah?

Via AppleInsider

Hugh Langley

Hugh Langley is the ex-News Editor of TechRadar. He had written for many magazines and websites including Business Insider, The Telegraph, IGN, Gizmodo, Entrepreneur Magazine, WIRED (UK), TrustedReviews, Business Insider Australia, Business Insider India, Business Insider Singapore, Wareable, The Ambient and more.


Hugh is now a correspondent at Business Insider covering Google and Alphabet, and has the unfortunate distinction of accidentally linking the TechRadar homepage to a rival publication.