https://finance.yahoo.com/news/david-pogues-sneak-preview-apple-homepod-190227102.html

A smart speaker is like Siri for the home (or “OK Google,” or Microsoft Cortana): You can ask it questions and give it commands by speaking from across the room, rather than hauling out your phone. The killer app, of course, is music: you can just say, “Alexa, play some light jazz” or “OK Google, play some Billy Joel,” and it starts.

The HomePod is a squat, rounded cylinder (6.8 inches by 5.6 inches), available in black or white. You tap the top to pause playback or make the + and – volume buttons appear. You can double-tap for “next track,” or triple-tap for “previous track.” (Of course, you can also adjust the volume, play/pause, or skip tracks by voice.) A very cool colorful swirling LED light appears whenever HomePod is speaking or listening, and then disappears as though no screen were present.