Apple has delayed the launch of HomePod, the smart speaker it unveiled at WWDC 2017 last June. The company had planned a December release in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom. That window now moves into 2018.
Built as a rival to Amazon and Google smart speakers, HomePod works with Siri and supports Apple Music. Apple is pitching sound quality as the main edge over competitors.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1hw9skL-IXc
A short delay
In its statement, Apple said it cannot wait for people to try HomePod, but needs a little more time to get the product ready.
As announced at WWDC 2017, the first markets remain the US, UK, and Australia, with sales expected in the early months of next year. Apple did not give a detailed reason for the slip. The planned price is still $349.
