“The HomePod was never preordained to be a blockbuster for Apple. Sure, the smart speaker has received overwhelmingly positive marks for sound quality, but the product is a bit late to the game, after both Amazon and Google have launched major offensives,” Brian Heater reports for TechCrunch. “The company also got dinged for its relatively limited Siri functionality at launch.”
“By one metric, however, Apple’s first assistant-focused device seems to [be doing] just fine, thank you very much — or at the very least, living up to the company’s expectations,” Heater reports. “Apple’s site is currently sold out of the product, a day ahead of launch.”
Heater reports, “Those who got in early, however, have started getting shipping notifications for a February 9 delivery.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Of course, there’s no way to know if this is due to demand or supply issues, the latter of which, as HomePods lateness to the point of missing Christmas by nearly two months attests, is certainly a possibility.
Regardless, the reviews of HomePod’s sound quality are uniformly excellent. The sound quality alone is a tremendous value at a mere $349 as HomePod is said to sound markedly better than speakers costing significantly more.
SEE ALSO:
John Gruber reviews Apple’s HomePod: Seemingly impossible sound quality – February 7, 2018
The Independent reviews Apple’s HomePod: Exceptional audio quality, easy to use, and reliably accurate with spoken commands – February 7, 2018
‘What Hi-Fi?’ reviews Apple’s HomePod: The best-sounding smart speaker we’ve ever tested – by far – February 6, 2018
Ben Bajarin: You can’t unhear Apple’s HomePod – February 6, 2018
Inside Apple’s HomePod audio lab – February 6, 2018
Ten things nobody has told you about the Apple HomePod – February 6, 2018
TechCrunch reviews Apple’s HomePod: Easily the best sounding mainstream smart speaker ever – February 6, 2018
WSJ reviews Apple’s HomePod: Sounds far better than the popular smart speakers from Amazon, Google, and Sonos – February 6, 2018
CNET reviews Apple’s HomePod: Strong wireless speaker with awesome sound – February 6, 2018
At least they got the damn thing out finally. Now it’s time to get more product available while Jony’s army hones a strategy to make HomePod more ubiquitous, including offering better, smaller and cheaper solutions that chip away at Amazon’s market share over the next few years.
Apple has only begun to fight.
It doesn’t need to be cheaper just better.
I am surprised MDN’s take isn’t bashing Apple and Tim Cook for not having enough units for launch day.
They just recently back ordered because they were available at least in the US two days ago
Because it’s obvious. Because it’s predictable. This is the new Apple where things often get delayed. Embrace it, don’t hate it.
How many times have we heard from the ‘anal-ists” that Apple isn’t going to do well with a product because they’re “late to the game”?
And how many times have they been correct in that analysis?
Interesting anal-ylsis you got there.
I’m no hurry to get in though probably will eventually later this year. At least it will be nice option to have around for a Christmas 2018 present.
I simply do not need constant music in my studio. A cheap radio close to me will do so that I can turn off the commercials. I can tell when they come on. It’s when the host talks about what’s coming up or he starts babbling as if to fill in time. Then I an alernate to iTunes for a time, not constantly. Constant sounds get old and they irritate.