ZEE Business
ZEE BUSINESS
हिंदी में पढ़ें  हिंदी में पढ़ें
Live TV
Live TV
  • Home
  • Budget 2023
  • Adani Saga
  • Markets
    • Stocks
    • Global Markets
    • IPO
    • Companies
    • Currency
    • Commodities
  • My Money
  • Calculators
    • Income Tax Calculator
    • Home Loan/EMI Calculator
    • Mutual Fund Returns Calculator
    • Personal Loan Calculator
    • Car Loan Calculator
    • SIP calculator
    • Lumpsum Calculator
    • SWP Calculator
  • Videos
    • M Se Market
    • Jeb Zindagi Zaroorat
    • Light Camera Stocks
    • Tech Takes
    • Big Bulls Ka Nishana
    • Paisa Wasool
    • Commodity Ke MrityunjayMantra
    • The Right Property Show
  • Economy & Infra
    • Policy & Initiatives
    • Agriculture
    • Telecom
    • Aviation
    • Railways
    • Retail
    • Roadways
    • World Economy
  • Exclusive
    • Wealth Guide
    • Interviews
  • Auto
    • Cars
    • Bikes
    • Electric Vehicle
    • Commercial Vehicles
  • Tech
    • Mobiles
    • Gadgets
    • Reviews
    • Tips and Tricks
    • Apps
  • Real Estate
    • Home Buyers
    • Builders
  • Axis MF
  • Trending
    • Entertainment
    • Politics
    • Lifestyle
    • Travel
    • Sports
    • Viral
    • Education
    • Jobs
Read in App
Business News » Technology News

Apple pushes launch of HomePod smart speaker to early 2018

Apple introduced the voice-controlled HomePod in June. The speaker, which can make music suggestions and adjust home temperatures, takes aim at Amazon.com Inc`sAlexa feature and Echo devices.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin
  • whatapp
  • View in App
Apple pushes launch of HomePod smart speaker to early 2018
Representational Image: Photo: Pixabay

Apple Inc has pushed the launch of its HomePod smart speaker to early next year from December, the company said on Friday, missing the holiday shopping season as the market for such devices becomes increasingly competitive.

"We can`t wait for people to experience HomePod ... but we need a little more time before it`s ready for our customers. We`ll start shipping in the U.S., UK and Australia in early 2018," an Apple spokeswoman said via email.

Apple introduced the voice-controlled HomePod in June. The speaker, which can make music suggestions and adjust home temperatures, takes aim at Amazon.com Inc`sAlexa feature and Echo devices.

Apple has forecast between $84 billion and $87 billion in revenue for the holiday - mostly driven by sales of its $999 iPhone X - so it`s unlikely that missing a few weeks of sales of its $349 speaker will affect its financial results, Bob O`Donnell, founder of Technalysis Research, said.

The indirect effects will have a stronger negative impact, he said. Apple is working to keep its Siri voice assistant relevant in the face of competition from Amazon`s Alexa and Alphabet Inc`s Google Assistant, both of which are featured on smart speakers from those companies.

People use voice assistants more often on smart speakers than on phones, so even if owners of Amazon or Google speakers also have an iPhone, there`s a good chance that they`re talking to Alexa or Google Assistant as much or more than Siri. 

"Last holiday season, smart speakers were huge, and this season they`re going to be huge," O`Donnell said. With Apple`s delay, "there will now be some people who make a different choice. The market`s getting more and more competitive."

Apple is also counting on HomePod to boost subscriptions to Apple Music and block the rise of rival Spotify. Smart speakers from Google and Amazon let users give voice commands to play Spotify, but Apple Music does not work on the rival devices. 

Apple`s main pitch for its HomePod smart speakers was superior audio quality, but that advantage appears to be slipping: Sonos, which also pitches its speakers` audio quality for music lovers, now features support for the Alexa voice assistant. 

Earlier this year, Amazon announced the Echo Plus, a smart speaker with better audio quality, and Google confirmed to Reuters that its Home Max speaker with improved speakers will ship in December, though it has not given a specific date.

But Apple could still have a surprise or two in store. The company gave scant details about its speaker in June, leaving it room to announce exclusive music content or other unexpected features, said Brian Blau, an analyst with Gartner.

"When HomePod comes out, you`ll probably hear some great content from artists that are familiar and popular, and there`s probably going to be some other special aspects as well," he said.

Get Latest Business News, Stock Market Updates and Videos; Check your tax outgo through Income Tax Calculator and save money through our Personal Finance coverage. Check Business Breaking News Live on Zee Business Twitter and Facebook. Subscribe on YouTube.

TAGS:
Apple IncApple launch of HomePod smart speakerApple HomePod smart speakerHomePod smart speakerAmazonGoogleGoogle speakersapple musicTechnology
Written By: Reuters
Updated: Sat, Nov 18, 2017
12:05 pm
San Francisco, Reuters
RELATED NEWS
Tough times ahead for Redington Limited? Analysts decode why Apple products retailer may run into choppy waters Tough times ahead for Redington Limited? Analysts decode why Apple products retailer may run into choppy waters
Zee Business Top Picks 6th Sep'22: Top Stories This Evening - All you need to know Zee Business Top Picks 6th Sep'22: Top Stories This Evening - All you need to know
Zee Business Top Picks 22nd Aug'22: Top Stories This Evening - All you need to know Zee Business Top Picks 22nd Aug'22: Top Stories This Evening - All you need to know
Apple likely to launch new HomePod by early 2023 Apple likely to launch new HomePod by early 2023
Apple WWDC 2022 to be held with limited in-person attendance Apple WWDC 2022 to be held with limited in-person attendance

LATEST NEWS

Sensex ends 330 points down, Monday blues for Nifty too as metals, IT take hit

Vodafone Idea joins hands with Motorola to drive 5G connectivity across 5G smartphone portfolio

Indian IT services industry's growth pace may slow down in near to mid term: ICRA

Elon Musk calls past three months "extremely tough", says "had to save Twitter from bankruptcy"

Rupee vs Dollar today: INR falls 42 paise to 82.50 against $

Delhi MCD Mayor Election 2023: House adjourned without electing mayor for third time in a month, AAP to move Supreme Court

PLI scheme attracted Rs 45,000 crore investment, created 3 lakh jobs: NITI Aayog CEO

Q3 results review: Mixed earnings quarter for Nifty50 pack - financials were outliers; metals and energy among duds

Patanjali Foods shares looking at 17 per cent upside after spate of corrections: Analyst — Check target price

PepsiCo bottler reports 4.6 times jump in quarterly net profit, announces dividend

  • India News
  • World News
  • Companies News
  • Market News
  • Personal Finance News
  • Technology News
  • Automobile News
  • Small Business News
  • Income Tax Calculator
  • Live TV
  • Videos
  • Photos
  • Author
  • Rss Feed
  • Advertise with us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclaimer

Latest Trending Updates

  • EPFO
  • Budget 2020
  • Income Tax Return
  • Auto Expo 2020
  • Home Loan
  • Business News

Trending Topics

  • Income Tax
  • income Tax Calculator
  • 7th Pay Commission
  • Reserve Bank of India
  • GST
  • Latest Business News

Follow us on

zeebiz
zeebiz

Partner Sites

  • Zee News
  • Hindi News
  • Marathi News
  • Bengali News
  • Tamil News
  • Malayalam News
  • Gujarati News
  • Telugu News
  • Kannada News
  • DNA
  • WION
© 2023. India Dot Com Private Limited. All Rights Reserved.
LIVE TV