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Apple Says HomePod is Delayed Until Early 2018

Friday November 17, 2017 7:19 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today announced it has delayed the release of the HomePod until early 2018. The speaker was originally set to launch in December.

In a statement provided to MacRumors and other media outlets, Apple said it needs "a little more time" before the HomePod is ready.
We can't wait for people to experience HomePod, Apple's breakthrough wireless speaker for the home, but we need a little more time before it's ready for our customers. We'll start shipping in the US, UK and Australia in early 2018.
Apple's definition of "early" in a year is generally January through April. Apple did not provide a specific reason for the delay.

Apple unveiled the HomePod at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. At the time, Apple said the speaker would launch in December for $349, starting in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

HomePod is the first Apple product delayed since the AirPods in October 2016. At the time, Apple also said it needed "a little more time" before the wireless headphones were ready. AirPods eventually launched in December 2016.

HomePod also serves as a "Hey Siri" assistant and HomeKit hub. The high-fidelity speaker is equipped with spatial awareness and Apple-engineered audio technology, including a seven‑tweeter array and high-excursion woofer, and is powered by Apple's A8 chip. A firmware leak reveals it likely has 1GB of RAM.

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Mjmar
12 months ago
Hahaha why did they announce this at WWDC?
Rating: 67 Votes
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JeffyTheQuik
12 months ago

Hahaha why did they announce this at WWDC?

To lock out competitors.

"Honey, let's buy a Sonos spea... wait, let's wait until Christmas, Apple will have the Homepod."
Rating: 49 Votes
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Gorms
12 months ago
Do you think they finally noticed the problem of defining which device the user was trying to use when you say "Hey Siri" in a house with more than one Apple product?
Rating: 47 Votes
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berrymetal
12 months ago
I bet iMac Pro will be delayed, too.
Rating: 43 Votes
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edk99
12 months ago
There goes Christmas.
Rating: 43 Votes
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BlendedFrog
12 months ago
Who cares about HomePod...I just want iMessage in the Cloud. iOS 11.1.2 is out and 11.2 is just about ready and it is still a no show.
Rating: 33 Votes
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tromboneaholic
12 months ago
Delayed along with Amazon Prime Apple TV app it would seem...
Rating: 31 Votes
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levitynyc
12 months ago
Damn. With Amazon releasing new Echos with much better sound quality than their previous models, I wonder if they need to get that price down to a more reasonable level.
Rating: 30 Votes
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gsmornot
12 months ago
"We can't wait for people to experience HomePod..." ...but you will have to.
Rating: 29 Votes
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tkermit
12 months ago
Probably a good thing. Better take their time to get it right.
Rating: 24 Votes

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