Patently Apple posted a report back in May 2017 titled "Apple's SVP Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller thinks that Echo-Like Devices should have a Display." Oddly Apple didn't take Schiller's own advice for HomePod. Instead, Amazon was first to deliver Echo Show last June and and yesterday Google launched "Smart Displays" with Google Assistant.

Yesterday Google' Product Management Director Chris Turkstra stated in a blog post that "Over the last couple of years, you've been able to talk to the Google Assistant to get things done. Today we're launching Smart Displays, a new category of devices for the smart home that brings the Google Assistant to an interactive screen for a richer visual experience. And the first Smart Display from Lenovo will go on sale in major U.S. retail and online stores this weekend.

With the Google Assistant built in, the Lenovo Smart Display brings you the best of Google services, including Maps, YouTube, Calendar, Duo and Photos, in a visual and helpful way. It's easy to set up, so you can immediately enjoy your favorite entertainment, control your smart home, stay in touch with friends and family, and manage your day with simple voice commands and touch gestures.

Enjoy music, news and podcasts

Smart Displays offer a rich experience for enjoying music, news, podcasts or audiobooks from popular services. With the combination of voice and a screen, it's easy to browse and find that perfect song, album, or playlist. Here are a few things you can do:

• Stream your favorite music with YouTube Music, Google Play Music, Spotify, and Pandora, with free tier available for all services
• Stay informed with Google News, including the latest video news briefs featuring national and local publishers like CNBC, CBS, and Cheddar
• Jam to your favorite radio stations with iHeartRadio and TuneIn
• Catch up on your favorite podcasts with Google Podcasts
• Or listen to audiobooks from Google Play Books. With audiobooks or podcasts, your Assistant will pick up right where you left off, even if you were listening on your phone earlier.

Play videos and watch TV

Ask YouTube to play anything: how-to videos, cooking videos, product reviews, you name it! And, with every Smart Display, you get three free months of YouTube Premium (for new subscribers).

If you have a YouTubeTV membership, you can enjoy live or recorded TV in your library, no remote control necessary.The next time you want to turn on the game, you can say "Hey Google, watch ESPN" to start streaming. Many other popular video services are supported too, including HBO Now, Google Play Movies & TV and Crackle.

To learn more about Smart Displays, check out some of the links below:

• (for Google Developers) Designing for the Google Assistant on Smart Displays
• Smart Displays with Google Assistant
• Things to dow with Google Assistant
• Lenovo's Smart Display

At the end of the day, the bigger question for Apple fans is: will Apple's Phil Schiller be introducing a next-gen HomePod with a smart display anytime soon?

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