Apple announced it’s delaying the launch of its HomePod until “early 2018,” CNBC reported Friday.
The Cupertino, Calif.-based tech company said in a statement it simply needs “a little more time before it’s ready for our customers,” but failed to get into any specifics about the production delay, CNBC said.
The HomePod, which works with Apple’s Siri program, will serve as Apple’s answer to the wildly popular Amazon Echo, a wireless speaker that operates with the Alexa digital assistant to allow users to do everything from stream music to check the weather to control household appliances connected to a home Wi-Fi network.
Apple is expected to sell the HomePod for $349, a considerable premium above Amazon’s Echo, currently on its second generation, which sells for $99.99 on Amazon, and the Amazon Show, which includes a display screen, which sets customers back $229.
• Ken Shepherd can be reached at kshepherd@washingtontimes.com.
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