Rumor: Fifth-gen Apple TV could feature version of Siri being developed to compete with Amazon Echo

With rumors that Apple is working on a device to compete with Amazon’s Echo, it’s been suggested that a fifth-generation version of the Apple TV will eventually get its own microphone and speaker, and that Apple will be improving its computing infrastructure to handle more Siri queries.

Supporting these developments will be the previously-rumored Siri SDK for developers, allowing them to hook third-party apps into the platform, the source noted.

The report didn’t indicate when a next-gen Apple TV might launch and the Apple TV itself has generally been released on a more sporadic schedule than Apple’s other products. Also, while an announcement could be made at next month’s Worldwide Developers Conference, Apple is unlikely to update hardware so quickly after the fourth-gen model’s October debut.

The proposed upgrades could pose problems for Apple, among them the fact that many Apple TVs are situated directly next to noisy home theater equipment. Finally, Amazon’s Echo product isn’t directly associated with TVs, as Apple’s is, and can work in any room where Internet access is available.

As always, stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

Via AppleInsider and VentureBeat