Apple is scrapping its plan to release its new internet-connected speaker in time for the holiday season.
The delay announced Friday means Apple's HomePod speaker won't be available in the US, UK and Australia until early next year. Apple now says it needs more time to perfect the speaker's technology.
Apple intended to release the $349 HomePod in early December so it could be on holiday shopping lists and compete against Amazon's Echo and the Google Home speaker.
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The company is touting the HomePod as a high-fidelity speaker programmed to learn people's tastes so it can become a digital disc jockey that can automatically play tunes that its listeners will like. The HomePod also will include Apple's voice-activated assistant Siri to respond to requests like the Echo and Google Home.
While Apple has every right to postpone launching this product, but they need to be wary that any delay could help Google and Amazon to push their voice-assisted speakers to the consumers, especially in the West.
While Apple hasn’t really given a clear reason for the delay, but the Cupertino-based giant needs to make sure there aren’t any more delays, or else, all the initial hype and excitement for the HomePod will subside, paving the way for Echo and Google Home to take the centre stage.
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