Apple Cuts HomePod Orders After Sales Prove to Be Lackluster

[spazzcat]

1) Make it do more than act as a tie in for Apple Music. I love music but have zero interest in ever having a streaming service since my music library is pretty static at this point in my life. Much as I might love a homepod, they've made it useless for people like me.

2) It's a ***HOME***pod speaker; allow it to do more than act a single-user siri gateway; let me hook a pair them up to my TV instead of a soundbar; I've dropped more than $700 on a soundbar int he past and most likely will again in the not too distant future. Let me use to watch movies and play games on my big-screen TV.

3) Think of it as a ***HOME***pod music player. Most people don't live alone, their owner/guest model is broken by design. Why should a ***HOME***pod have limited functionality for the rest of the family when the primary user takes their iPhone out. A ***HOME***pod should not be tied in to a mobile device that one user is meant to keep with them.

4) Don't cripple siri to promote your DOA homekit. I have a lot of heavily customized IoT hardware in my home. Controlling it though google assistant or alexa is very easy using IFTTT. But Apple won't allow their assistant to control anything outside a very tiny pool of crappy devices.

Tl;dr -- great piece of engineering and could have been an amazing product. 100% broken by Apple's asinine desire to limit what you can do with it to having a single user use paid Apple services with it.

I have full house of IoT and I can control everything with HK, and doing even more with it now I have a HomePod. I use Hue, August, Nanoleaf, Schlage, Ecobee, Arlo, Canary, Wemo, Lyric, and Lutron. HomePod is so much faster then the Echo at running command, it freaky how fast it is sometime.
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I said much the same thing a while back. I have some satellite speakers with a subwoofer. That paired with Alexa, while not ALWAYS doing what she is told, works 99% of the time and sounds amazing when I don't want to stream with airplay via our Denon AV receiver (which is paired with home cinema speakers that 'actually' fill the room with sound.)

Why do you care then, you are not in Apple's market for this product.

 

[citysnaps]

People who value audio quality for listening to music will consider HomePod. And open their wallet to purchase one.

For those who don't put music audio quality first, or have limited funds, will reflexively whine about Siri.

Siri is HomePod's user interface. And as an always-on UI for playing music through HomePod, it works extremely well.

HomePod appears to have sa ales trajectory similar to the first iPhone and Apple Watch. Nothing wrong with that.

 

[bchreng]

For all you guys complaining about Siri, what exactly is so bad about it? I don’t use it much, but when I do, it works well enough for me. (Reading weather forecasts, setting timers, setting alarms, identifying songs, and playing songs)

 

[ThisIsNotMe]

You can get an Echo Show for ~$250 and Apple wants $350 for a HomePod?!?!?!?

 

[Lab4Us]

I chuckle at all the people who think $350 for a HomePod is too expensive compared to Alexa and Google, but have no problem paying $800-$1000 for a cell phone, when a cell phone can be had for a couple hundred...with quality difference between the two comparisons being equal.

 

[Ad770]

Coming in and grabbing 10% of the smart speaker market in just the first couple weeks, with a premium priced product is a big accomplishment. Not enough credit is being given here. Can you imagine if Ferrari came out with a car that captured 10% of the total market?

Far better to have to cut orders than have too few to meet demand. It's a smart move by a company that understands supply chain better than most.

If they have 10% of the market and just 3 weeks in only account for 4% of sales, that means they are losing market share by the day.

Also smart speakers are nowhere near as big as cars. If iPhone market share jumped that would mean something, but same story there with week sales.

Now don't get me wrong if you want to give Apple $5-15.000 for the full lineup, go ahead, it's unsurprising that there most popular demographic is teenagers who don't know what money or debt mean.

Edit so the quote in the article has some more context here www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-04-12/apple-s-stumbling-homepod-isn-t-the-hot-seller-company-wanted and both numbers are referring to sales not market share

 

[spazzcat]

I agree. This is also not newsworthy in my opinion. Apple had to prepare for high demand so what happened with the AirPods didn't happen again. They over-delivered on stock and had to cut numbers. It's a logical move any company would make.
And for god's sakes, stop comparing the HomePod to Alexa. Apple said from the get-go -> focus is on sound, not on ordering ubers and pizzas. I also don't have any issues with Siri - she does everything I need her to do and I find her voice more pleasant than that of Alexa.

We have no idea how many Apple has sold, nor does the person that wrote this article. This is just their opinion. Do I think they are selling tons, no, it a premium production that ins't meant to sell millions and millions. The market for this based on Apple Music users, which about 40 million, so if they sold 9 million of them that means they are at about 20% of their market already...
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If they have 10% of the market and just 3 weeks in only account for 4% of sales, that means they are losing market share by the day.

Also smart speakers are nowhere near as big as cars. If iPhone market share jumped that would mean something, but same story there with week sales.

Now don't get me wrong if you want to give Apple $5-15.000 for the full lineup, go ahead, it's unsurprising that there most popular demographic is teenagers who don't know what money or debt mean.

People keep thinking they are completing with Echo dots. They are not completing with Echo dots.

 

[dernhelm]

Apple hasn't figured this one out. It feels like they're trying to use a speaker to lock you into their ecosystem, but it isn't a loss leader. If you were designing a great speaker from scratch, you would want 1) Connectivity to any modern TV (via optical in for example). 2) Wireless connectivity to a reasonable variety of music services and sources (e.g. Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, Google, DLNA, whatever). 3) Build out functionality where multiple speakers work together to provide an enriched music experience (or just let you play the same playlist upstairs and downstairs). 4) Easy configuration and use (Alexa or Siri to it to switch from source to source, or to have the kitchen speaker play something different from the other speakers). 5) Sound great in any room.

Looking around, there are speaker systems that cost a lot less money that have more of those features than the HomePod. I understand HomePod does sound great in a any room, and and Siri provides some ease of use features, but really, that's about it. Even the build-out functionality hasn't arrived yet "later this year" is all we know. That isn't to say that Apple won't keep improving it, and it won't someday be worth it's price of entry, but it certainly isn't worth it today.

 

[MistrSynistr]

Everyone with a brain predicted this.

Cut the price.

Being $100 overpriced will cause lackluster sales.

So will incompatibility and Siri. Just take Siri out back and shoot it.

It truly is the price. It's a great speaker. It's just not a $350 speaker. It is a $250 speaker.

 

[Martyimac]

Hmm strange. Everyone I know has a HomePod. I’ve must have purchased about 40 of them as gifts as well. I own 3 of them because the sound quality is crazy good. I love taking FaceTime audio calls on it as well.

Hmm strange. Nobody I know has a HomePod. I've convinced at least 40 other folks not to buy one. I will never own 1, much less 3 of them because my current B&W speakers sound quality is crazy good, and I can hook them up to any of my other audio setups without having to use an iphone. And taking a FaceTime audio call is a misnomer. If there is no video, then where is the "Face"? LOL.
The poster quoted probably has no other quality audio equipment and is just starting to acquire decent equipment. Those of us who already own equipment, and have no need or want to replace it with stifled equipment, probably wont buy a Homepod because of all the limitations.

 

[LordVic]

For all you guys complaining about Siri, what exactly is so bad about it? I don’t use it much, but when I do, it works well enough for me. (Reading weather forecasts, setting timers, setting alarms, identifying songs, and playing songs)

SIRI on my iPad constantly gets things wrong. I can ask it "Hey Siri, What's the weather" in a row and get two completely different interpretations. First time it'll read the weather, and then next time I'll get "here's searches we found for 'whether'". Many other contextual questions just don't seem all that great. Yes, ti works for somethings well enough, like timers. But I have had issues with it being able to update calendars, or even play the correct media (especially since it will only control apps that I don't generally use).

it's the sheer inconsistency that pushed me over to google's assistant, which has far more functionality (especially with IFTTT), and home automation.

 

[spazzcat]

Apple hasn't figured this one out. It feels like they're trying to use a speaker to lock you into their ecosystem, but it isn't a loss leader. If you were designing a great speaker from scratch, you would want 1) Connectivity to any modern TV (via optical in for example). 2) Wireless connectivity to a reasonable variety of music services and sources (e.g. Pandora, Spotify, Amazon, Google, DLNA, whatever). 3) Build out functionality where multiple speakers work together to provide an enriched music experience (or just let you play the same playlist upstairs and downstairs). 4) Easy configuration and use (Alexa or Siri to it to switch from source to source, or to have the kitchen speaker play something different from the other speakers). 5) Sound great in any room.

Looking around, there are speaker systems that cost a lot less money that have more of those features than the HomePod. I understand HomePod does sound great in a any room, and and Siri provides some ease of use features, but really, that's about it. Even the build-out functionality hasn't arrived yet "later this year" is all we know. That isn't to say that Apple won't keep improving it, and it won't someday be worth it's price of entry, but it certainly isn't worth it today.

This product, just like their others, will grow in functionally over time, it has a full OS running on it. I would not be shocked if they were to announce music kit at the next WWDC.

 

[Mimiron]

Totally expected. I remember they advertised it as a "truly wireless" speaker... it has a power cord and can only use Apple Music? Come on! Allow Spotify and Android phones connect to the device and then "maybe" it will gain some traction.
I have a Bose Soundlink Revolve+ and would never give it up for this "homepod", even Siri is pretty lackluster nowadays. Don't get me wrong... I'm an Apple Music subscriber, but this is just wrong on so many levels. It's like Apple imposing sanctions on itself. Increasing versatility would definitely help sales.

 

[SoN1NjA]

I would've bought one, but considering all it can do is play Apple Music and tell me which is the tallest building in the world, is really wack

 

[GIZBUG]

When Siri is dumb as a box of rocks compared to Alexa who would buy this load of crap!

People who like to buy first generation products..........and be the first on the block to say "Look what I have!?"

 

[newyorksole]

The sales tapered off just like the bass. Bring back the bass Apple.

You mean the bass got worse for you after the update? Mine is the same.

 

[pete2106]

In the article photo. Why did that person put their phone down on top of a plant?

 

[dernhelm]

This product, just like their others, will grow in functionally over time, it has a full OS running on it. I would not be shocked if they were to announce music kit at the next WWDC.

Perhaps. But all that means is that people are going to wait purchase it (or purchase something else in the meantime). Which is kind of my point. Apple may be playing some sort of "long game" here - certainly the HomePod isn't going to make or break their bottom line - but it seems pretty pointless. Apple prides themselves on making great products - arguably some of the best in their category. I wish they would have done the same thing with the HomePod.

 

[TrentS]

In my eyes, the HomePod is downright ugly. After it has sat in one place for a while, its bound to collect lots of dust on that outer meshing, which will be very difficult to clean off. Also, there is no screen for the user to look at, which will make it quite boring after a while. Plus, there is one key component that Apple left out, which would have lofted their speaker unit above the others on the market: a surveillance camera.

If you produce a home speaker that has a nice screened interface ( for programming, displaying photos, and what not ), equipped with an outer shell that would be easy to clean, and also incorporate a sleek "pan and tilt" 1080p camera, fully controlled by your smart device from where ever you are, this item would be received much better.

Throw in a nice disco/party light system, and this thing would be a huge hit!

 

[PinkyMacGodess]

Saying the HomePod has a screen is like saying your tv’s “pittle red power on light” is a screen in and of itself

I thought the top of it had a screen buried under all that plastic. I've never owned, or played with one very much. Probably never will at this rate.

 

[Ghost31]

I thought the top of it had a screen buried under all that plastic. I've never owned, or played with one very much. Probably never will at this rate.

It’s not really a screen so much as a few lights that make little patterns and stuff. It doesn’t actually show anything useful. Just for booping Siri

 

[Nikiaf]

To these day, still not convinced smart watch is success. Apple Watch might selling well because the integration to Apple’s ecosystem. However, smart watch market is still not big enough. I have seen few people with Apple Watch, but I have yet seen Apple Watch in scales comparable with iPhone or even iPad. I still believe smart watch market is going to tank and I do not how it can rebunce.

The smartwatch/wearable category is like the modern equivalent of the pager. It lets you see notifications more easily, but you're still going to pull out your phone to actually deal with them. Since you already have a more capable device in your pocket, what's the point? I have an Apple Watch only because I felt it to be a better exercise tracker than a FitBit. I don't really see the utility in wearing it day-to-day. And I think eventually people will catch on to this and stop buying.

 

[kazmac]

Being late to the smart speaker game and Siri along with price is probably what is hampering sales. With no interest in Apple music or a smart speaker, this is one of those Apple items that proves I am not the target audience. I hope they funnel whatever software and hardware teams they put on this into products that need some tender loving care right now.

 

[Abazigal]

Tim is that you? I'm sure there are real demands for these products. I know plenty of non-fanatic that just want everything that Apple because it simply just works. The cinema displays were popular for the pro scene. I'm done for the moment they don't have any affordable computer that's worth what they are charging for. Good thing my rmbp 2013 is still solid after all these years.

I have no doubt that there are people who genuinely want a refreshed Mac mini, or apple display, or airport router. Thing is - these products don't represent the future at Apple.

The way I see it, Apple is increasingly putting more resources into developing their iOS platform, because that's clearly where the future (and the money) is, at the expense of the Mac platform. That doesn't mean the Mac platform will go away, but it will become more and more niche, and expect the amount of attention from Apple to decrease accordingly.

Personally, I have been a beneficiary of Apple's pushing of iOS, as I love my AirPods and Apple Watch, and use my iPad Pro and Apple Pencil extensively for work. I don't intend to replace my current MBA when it kicks the bucket, and my next "Mac" may well be a 12.9" iPad Pro when it gets refreshed.

The homepod was designed to leverage Apple's base of iPhone + Apple Music users. When you think about it, the homepod is clearly intended to function as an iPhone accessory and lock users in the iOS ecosystem. And given that the iPhone is still Apple's key revenue generator, it makes sense (to me at least) that Apple would devote more resources to the homepod.

 

[spazzcat]

Perhaps. But all that means is that people are going to wait purchase it (or purchase something else in the meantime). Which is kind of my point. Apple may be playing some sort of "long game" here - certainly the HomePod isn't going to make or break their bottom line - but it seems pretty pointless. Apple prides themselves on making great products - arguably some of the best in their category. I wish they would have done the same thing with the HomePod.

I own an Echo, some Sonos, and some HomePods, they are the best of these three...
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Being late to the smart speaker game and Siri along with price is probably what is hampering sales. With no interest in Apple music or a smart speaker, this is one of those Apple items that proves I am not the target audience. I hope they funnel whatever software and hardware teams they put on this into products that need some tender loving care right now.

You keep thinking they are going after the smart speaker market, this isn't their goal, if it was the product would be much cheaper. You really think Apple doesn't do any price research? I'm sure they are hitting their numbers, but we have no idea what those numbers are...