HomePod Firmware Reveals Further Details on Apple's Smart Speaker

[dan110]

Firstly, he's been CEO for almost 6 years. But let's discuss facts, ok?

- Retail: They're in the process of entering new markets (Taiwan, Singapore, Austria, Mexico, etc.), while also renovating/relocating existing stores (i.e. the shopping space at Fifth Avenue is going from around 32,000 to 77,000 square feet). Meanwhile, their competitors have little to no retail presence.

- New Hardware, Software, and Services: Apple Music, Apple Pay, Apple Watch, AirPods, and HomePod

- Apple Music: This service will have 30 million paid subscribers by this September. Other than Spotify, what other streaming music service has numbers like that?

- Apple Watch: Horace Dediu estimated last quarter Apple has sold 30 million units of the 2.5 year old Apple Watch to date. The number is probably closer to 35 million now. Jawbone, Motorola, Intel, et al. are exiting the market, while FitBit struggles to compete. (How's Android Wear doing?) Combined with their other wearables (Beats and AirPods), Apple earned $7 billion in revenues for a 3 year old product category. To put that into perspective, those numbers are similar to all of Tesla's 2016 revenues.

Values: Apple has doubled down on the environment, accessibility, diversity and inclusion, supplier responsibility, and privacy. For more information about their progress on these efforts, visit their website.

Services: This segment is expected to become a $50 billion business by 2020––doubling its current revenues. Services had revenues similar to all of Facebook last year.

"Cash" on hand: Last quarter, Apple extended it's share buyback program to $300bn. Under Tim Cook, they have retired more than a billion shares and have increased dividends each year. Their "cash" on hand, including debt, is close to $160 billion dollars (or $60 billion more than Alphabet). Excluding debt, they have more cash than Amazon, Microsoft and Google combined. Also, their share price is up almost 180% since Tim Cook became CEO.

Those are facts. If Tim Cook is such a failure, then Steve Jobs' legacy needs to include his failure for selecting an incompetent individual to lead Apple.

With respect, when people talk about Tim's "failings", I don't believe they're talking about the dollars and cents. They're talking about his inability to lead the company technologically and culturally the way Steve did. If that is possible at all.

Yeah, he's been great for shareholder value, but coming from someone that is a staunch tech consumer that absolutely fell in love with Apple's offerings, brand, and software integration, he has in a word, "failed".

This phenomenon is very similar to where Microsoft was at as a business in the early to mid-2000s when Balmer was CEO. They were making money hand over fist because they had market dominance. But, ironically, their products were horrible.

 

[dontspeakeasy]

With respect, when people talk about Tim's "failings", I don't believe they're talking about the dollars and cents. They're talking about his inability to lead the company technologically and culturally the way Steve did. If that is possible at all.

Yeah, he's been great for shareholder value, but as a tech consumer that absolutely fell in love with Apple's offerings, brand, and software integration, he has in a word, "failed".

This phenomenon is very similar to where Microsoft was at as a business in the early to mid-2000s when Balmer was CEO. They were making money hand over fist because they had market dominance. But, ironically, their products were horrible.

With respect, did you bother to read my post? I discussed much more than shareholder value. Unlike you and others in this thread, I applied facts and not my tired ass opinions. Also, Microsoft was down about 38% during Ballmer's time as CEO and down almost 50% during his first six years (or the same amount of time Tim Cook has been CEO at Apple).

Thanks for trying, tho!

 

[Abazigal]

https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2017/6/14/homepod

Here is one take on what the homepod might represent. In summary, people writing it off as yet another smart speaker are selling it short. There is a larger ecosystem play at stake here than simply selling you expensive speakers with Siri bundled in.

HomePod will serve as the foundation for augmented hearing in the home.

While HomePod is technically a smart speaker, it is more correct to say HomePod is a computer with a touchscreen, speakers, and microphones. The device is powered by Apple's A8 chip, the same chip found in an iPhone 6 and 6 Plus. This chip is responsible for turning HomePod into a computer that contains the best-sounding speakers most people will have ever owned.

HomePod's sound output clearly stood out from that of Amazon Echo and Sonos Play 3. In fact, it made the Amazon Echo sound like a cheap toy, and the Sonos Play 3 sounded so inferior,

HomePod is a computer capable of mapping a room and then adjusting its sound output accordingly. This is another way of saying that HomePod is able to capture its surroundings and then use that information to tailor a specific experience to the listener. It is easy to see how collecting data and then using that data to improve the experience will position HomePod as an augmented reality (or maybe we should say augmented hearing) device.

HomePod is not Apple's first product designed to compete for our attention in the home. Instead, Apple has been selling Trojan horses in its battle for our home called iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. These mobile devices are very likely to remain near us, or in some cases, on us, when we are at home. HomePod is unlike the Amazon Echo because it doesn't pretend that we lack smartphones, tablets, or wearables. This is one reason why Apple decided to take a straightforward path in pitching HomePod as a great music speaker. The device is all about producing sound so great that it cannot be replicated by any of our other devices, even if the HomePod has touch controls located on the top of the device.

When it comes to pricing, HomePod should not be compared to voice assistant conduits such as Amazon Echo or Google Home. The HomePod is not just a "smart speaker." Saying that HomePod is competing against Amazon Echo is equivalent to saying the iPod competed against generic MP3 players.

Instead, a more relevant HomePod comparison would be dedicated speaker systems from Sonos and Bose. With HomePod, Apple is aiming to sell the best speaker someone has ever owned. The Sonos Play 5, at $499, may be the closest comparable speaker to HomePod within the Sonos lineup. At $349, HomePod is priced very competitively not only when it is compared to the Play 5, but even when it is compared to the $299 Sonos Play 3, which was inferior to HomePod in terms of sound quality. Meanwhile, surround sound speaker systems from Bose retail from $700 to $1,000, or the same price as three HomePods.

The writing is on the wall: Apple wants to control as many speakers in our lives as possible. Controlling sound is Apple's secret strategy for gaining a stronger foothold in the home.

If this is true, this will be something the competition will find difficult, if not impossible to replicate.

 

[Denmac1]

OK, I've tried to interpret this thread and have looked at apple's website.
Maybe I've missed something here. I know that it works with Apple Music. Can I airplay my iTunes library? If not, no deal.
If it can do that and pull off advanced Siri functions, I might be interested.

 

[Abazigal]

I'm confused. I see a lot of people here saying that HomePod will only work with Apple Music.

However, Apple's own specifications state that the HomePod supports AirPlay.

This means that you can play any music over the HomePod just by picking it as the audio device on your phone. I play all sorts of things on my AirPlay enabled JBL speaker, including Spotify, Google Play Music, and even audio from an Apple TV when I use it on the projector which has a crappy speaker in it.

Unless Apple artificially restricts you from doing that, which would be absolutely insane for a $349 speaker. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

You are not wrong, but it will likely be even easier to just use Siri to start a song on your homepods than unlocking your phone, locating the right song and tapping on the airplay icon. In the end, it's still another incentive to want to use Apple Music over the rest of the competition, as you won't be able to control them with Siri the same way you can with AM.

 

[44267547]

how can say that? I just added [support] rest of the post is same. And i don't think it confuse people.

(On topic Home Pod response)

Wrong. You did edit your post AFTER you were quoted on the Home Pod , which IS time stamped by the way. You did so because what you originally stated did not make complete sense. Furthermore, it does create confusion when you post one thing regarding The topic and then other forum members don't understand the reply after the initial edit. My suggestion would be to leave your post be or add "Edit" in the narrative, so others have a general idea of what you edited regarding the Home Pod article.

 

[44267547]

I applied facts and not my tired ass opinions.

I Can appreciate facts, but there's also a lot of very good opinions in this thread that others made some very valid points. So I'm not sure if you're referring to others having "Tired opinions", or just yourself, but there are some very well thought out posts in contradiction to those who have no idea what they're talking about in this thread (I'm referring to Those who are anti-Apple or Anti-Cook) . And some very knowledgeable members about Apple's back history might I add.

 

[MrX8503]

What has he done, really? He's approaching 10 years as CEO.

Steve Jobs came back to Apple in 1997 brought it back from the dead, came out with the iMac, the iPod, "created" OS X from scratch and introduced the iPhone by 2007. All in just 10 years and that doesn't even include things like the iBook, the first mainstream portable with integrated wireless and so on.

Hit after hit.

What has Tim Cook done in his soon to be 10 years. 1 failing product. Oh and milking every dollar out of existing products. Not a great record. Those are the facts.

Approaching 10 years? You know the original iPhone came out 10 years ago and Tim Cook didn't have influence on the iPhone till 5S/6.

But hey, let's ignore facts.

 

[Z6128]

I still want one but I'm confused for the purpose, at least for me personally, beyond asking it what the weather is or what my plans are for the day.

I have invested heavily into the Sonos ecosystem and have been waiting for a voice command system that works with Apple Music and Sonos and was hoping the HomePod would be it. But it is looking more and more like they want the HomePod to just be the speaker you listen to music on.

What about my $2,000+ worth of Sonos equipment throughout my house? This has all gotten a little out of hand, but maybe I'm missing the point . Still hoping they have some Apple Music integration down the line. I know there's a lot of hate for it but it's worked best for me over the competition.

 

[matrix07]

I have apple tv. My concern is when i'm playing video games on t.v ex: ps4, I'm wondering if it will work.

Then you need a receiver that has AirPlay built in.

What about my $2,000+ worth of Sonos equipment throughout my house? This has all gotten a little out of hand, but maybe I'm missing the point . Still hoping they have some Apple Music integration down the line. I know there's a lot of hate for it but it's worked best for me over the competition.

This is exactly why I never invest in SONOS in the first place. I foresee this day. That said if SONOS works best for you then I'm sure they will have voice command soon. They will compete with HomePod, or they will go Blackberry.

Agree about the coincidence.
But they'll never concede that (while a blind weasel would recognize it)
They'd rather proclaim the design idea originated from a steamy night with far too many beers when Phil took off his khaki shorts ...
(which could be hard to be contradicted, looking at the specific design)

I don't think a company that's so obsessive with design like Apple needs that obscure company to have an idea about as minimalism a speaker as they can. It's just a coincidence which happens in life, like those iPad smart cover looks similar to some toilet cover. People mocked Samsung because they don't have this tradition.
But if someone like to think Apple lack ability to think of a very simplified round speaker shape while their products are all about very simplified shape, then goes ahead I think.

I was looking for multi room speakers when the homepod was revealed. I went with sonos and went back to Spotify since it works better with sonos than apple music does (spotify connect). My thinking was that sonos simply has more product and most importantly. I bought a sonos connect amp so I can get my minipods to work with the rest of the sonos speakers. Didn't feel that I wanted my speaker system locked into the apple ecosystem and rather have it open so any device can play music to it.

This thinking is so against Apple philosophy I don't why you bother with Apple products in the first place. People should understand by now that Apple is all about its ecosystem and apart from Mac there's rarely any products that work great out of it. Even Mac works best within the eco system. I cancelled Spotify as soon as there was Apple Music and I never look back.
If you want open, Apple is not the solution.

I'm confused. I see a lot of people here saying that HomePod will only work with Apple Music.

However, Apple's own specifications state that the HomePod supports AirPlay.

This means that you can play any music over the HomePod just by picking it as the audio device on your phone. I play all sorts of things on my AirPlay enabled JBL speaker, including Spotify, Google Play Music, and even audio from an Apple TV when I use it on the projector which has a crappy speaker in it.

Unless Apple artificially restricts you from doing that, which would be absolutely insane for a $349 speaker. Please correct me if I'm wrong?

You're not wrong. It's just some people who hate the product that tried to push this false narrative. I bet you will be able to play Spotify from your phone to every HomePods in your home .. and in sync. Marks my words.
We already have a guy accused HomePod of this shortcoming by posting the picture of Harman Kardon speaker saying .. unlike HomePod 'this can play ALL streaming services because it has "Apple built in AirPlay". Doh.

 

[A MacBook lover]

That's rewriting history a little bit. That wasn't the case with the Mac, it wasn't the case with the iPod, and it wasn't the case with the iPhone either. wWhen they came to market, they had technology and usability unmatched by anything from the competition.

HomePod is not a better speaker that other products, and not a btter home assistant thatn other products. It's not better at anything, not when it comes to technolgy and not when it comes to usabailty.

What do you know?...Besides making provoking blanket statements with no backing it up?

The HomePod is a technological breakthrough though. I know a good bit about speakers... and here's the breakdown...

Beamforming via phased arrays to control directivity is years ahead of mainstream home hifi (ie passive flat-baffle speakers).

Most manufacturers you could care to name haven't got the foggiest clue about engineering for controlled directivity which has manifold psychoacoustic benefits, let alone design advanced DSP to control it.

Only massively vertically-integrated R&D-heavy firms with huge economies of scale (eg Harman International, Bang & Olufsen) are even close to nailing beamforming technology for home audio. Not even hifi stalwarts like Focal or Dynaudio are anywhere close to that level of engineering expertise and manufacturing capability.

While we shouldn't assume Apple will knock it out of the park, one must also recognize that home hifi is largely woefully underengineered, with some companies not even using computer modeling to design their speakers(!!!). This is even more the case especially wrt directivity control, and passive flat-baffle speakers are pathetically antiquated compared to what apple has with the HomePod. It will likely slaughter any bookshelf speaker below a $2k price tag...

They take existing tech and improve upon them in a way that makes them fun and easy to use.

That's usually true, but in this case, apple is showing off their sound engineering chops, and really doing something special here.

The only other beam forming speaker on the market that you can currently buy is the BeoLab 90 from Bang & Olufsen. It costs $40,000 (yes, you read that correctly) because beamforming is THAT far ahead of normal HiFi speakers. For apple to release that tech at $350 is unprecedented, and almost unbelievable... like the original iPhone.

 

[Ghost31]

So you say everything Cook releases is vague? You mean like the iPad that's been highly successful with the recent launch back in June, the Apple Watch that's been highly successful, not to mention the best selling smart phone in the world with the iPhone, the AirPods that have been back ordered since last December and have had stellar reviews. Sounds like those vague products are doing very well to me.

Also, does that, shock you that Apple has not released their product first or others? It shouldn't. It Shouldn't be about being the first on the market, it should be about releasing the better product. They always are the last, but they always seem to put out the products that have more unique features. That's what makes Apple products stand out.

The HomePod may not be the first smart speaker/Bluetooth home audio system on the marker, but it certainly is going to bring quality sound and will sell out.

I'm personally not interested in the home pod, but I know better than to underestimate apples new products. I thought the Apple Watch was the dumbest thing ever until I got one. I'm gonna bite my tongue until the product actually comes out

 

[McFlyOz]

I love articles like this. People attacking each other makes my day with smiles and wonderment full of kitten face smushing glow effects.

 

[X--X]

The HomePod is a technological breakthrough though. I know a good bit about speakers...

No. It's a simple rip-off.

The 360 speaker array with woofer was invented by Harmon/Kardon and the concept of the speaker in terms of design and usability is a direct copy of the Whyd Speaker from a French startup.

LOVE THE HEADLINE FROM 2016: "This voice-controlled speaker looks like something Apple would design"

 

[4jasontv]

I love articles like this. People attacking each other makes my day with smiles and wonderment full of kitten face smushing glow effects.

I read a few pages and jumped to the end to say this, only I would never have been so poetic.

 

[Sunny1990]

(On topic Home Pod response)

Wrong. You did edit your post AFTER you were quoted on the Home Pod , which IS time stamped by the way. You did so because what you originally stated did not make complete sense. Furthermore, it does create confusion when you post one thing regarding The topic and then other forum members don't understand the reply after the initial edit. My suggestion would be to leave your post be or add "Edit" in the narrative, so others have a general idea of what you edited regarding the Home Pod article.

i understand what you are saying here. But keep in mind not everyone here is a native English speaker or writer So mistakes are made while writing.

The members that quoted your post regarding to my original post :-@dmylrea @Chupa Chupa @gnasher729 . I would really like to have their opinion on this. So here is my original post :-

"While HomePod sounds Good but if it's only exclusively to Apple Music? it will be a downside for me. As i also use other Music Services like Spotify!"

Here is my post after i edited it :-

"While HomePod sounds Good but if it's only exclusively [supports] Apple Music? it will be a downside for me. As i also use other Music Services like Spotify!"

I just added [support]. I would really like to have a opinion how much confusion does this make after editing.
----------------------
And you didn't even quoted my full post. You just quoted first line from the entire post. Which also make confusion. Please quote full post next time.

On a Side Note :- if you think my posts are confusing or you don't agree there is a option for you put me on your "ignore list." It will solve all problems.Thanks

 

[GiovannyLira]

Apple doesn't have clear strategies with products anymore.

Everything that Cook releases is vague, just like Apple Watch where they completely changed the interface, the marketing and targeting multiple times and they will do the same with HomePod. They're not thought out products.

It's more like, let's realease it and see what happens.

----

PLUS it feels like they are already behind, right from the start. Everybody is going to screens to display additional information. Just a music speaker that only works with Apple Music and with no real display for 349 plus taxes, I don't see it being a big hit.

We'll see.

Dude, do you know the difference between reality and perception?

 

[X--X]

Apple doesn't have clear strategies with products anymore.

Dude, do you know the difference between reality and perception?

MacPro 2013 unchanged to this day: Schiller told reporters that the Mac Pro’s thermal issues “restricted our ability to upgrade it” and that Apple is “sorry to disappoint customers who wanted that.”

Touch Bar: "But it seems rather gimmicky and not as well thought out as it could be."

$10.000 Apple Watch: $10,000 golden Apple Watch scrubbed after just one year.

 

[mdelvecchio]

Apple doesn't have clear strategies with products anymore.

Everything that Cook releases is vague, just like Apple Watch where they completely changed the interface, the marketing and targeting multiple times and they will do the same with HomePod. They're not thought out products.

It's more like, let's realease it and see what happens.

----

PLUS it feels like they are already behind, right from the start. Everybody is going to screens to display additional information. Just a music speaker that only works with Apple Music and with no real display for 349 plus taxes, I don't see it being a big hit.

We'll see.

Apple: most successful company in human history.

You: anonymous guy on a rumors site.

don’t quit your day job.
[doublepost=1501389627][/doublepost]

MacPro 2013 unchanged to this day: Schiller told reporters that the Mac Pro’s thermal issues “restricted our ability to upgrade it” and that Apple is “sorry to disappoint customers who wanted that.”

Touch Bar: "But it seems rather gimmicky and not as well thought out as it could be."

$10.000 Apple Watch: $10,000 golden Apple Watch scrubbed after just one year.

Ignorant nonsense. If you actually knew what you were talking about, you’d know Cook said specifically at the Watch launch event that the gold material Edition was a very limited run. Couldn’t have been any clearer....yet still here you are twisting up various untruths. Due to that I’ll disregard everything you hand to say owing to your ignorance.
[doublepost=1501389871][/doublepost]

It's a Steve Jobs product which has seen almost no improvements in 10 years. the only difference in terms of software (which means actual use) in 10 years is now we have sort of a baby drag and drop. That's it.

And it is not "highly successful" either, sales have gone down for iPad every year. Because they didn't continue to innovate on it with Cook as CEO, as they should have.

More ignorant nonsense. The ipad hardware is vastly improved in the 7 years of its existence — not ten, as it was released in 2010. as you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about, it’s hsrdly worth mentioning all the dramatic improvements, and the fact that it destroyed all other tablets. it’s an ipad market now, not a tablet market. lastly, despite slowing sales, the ipad sales are still insanely successful. the ipad revenue is bigger than other entire companies. ipads sell in bigger numbers than macs. oops.
[doublepost=1501389969][/doublepost]

Closer to six years actually. He took over in 2011.

https://www.aboveavalon.com/notes/2016/12/6/milking-the-iphone

In his years as CEO, Tim Cook has achieved the following milestones as of end of last year.

The iPhone installed base has grown by 500M users.
The iPad installed base has grown by 175M users.
The Mac installed base has grown by 50M users.
Apple introduced Apple Watch, the company's first wearable product. Approximately 18M Apple Watches, a device positioned as an iPhone accessory, have been sold to date.
Apple is earning more than $6B per year of revenue through app sales via the App Store.
Apple successfully made the difficult jump from a paid music download model to streaming and is approaching 20M paying Apple Music subscribers.
Apple continues to push forward with Apple TV. The company is approaching 10M units sold since the device was updated in 2015.
Apple continues to develop key services including Apple Pay, Messages, and Maps.

Those are the facts.

thank you. this guy is a pathetic troll. good to see others recognize the BS when they see it too.

 

[Abazigal]

Apple doesn't have clear strategies with products anymore.

Everything that Cook releases is vague, just like Apple Watch where they completely changed the interface, the marketing and targeting multiple times and they will do the same with HomePod. They're not thought out products.

It's more like, let's realease it and see what happens.

----

PLUS it feels like they are already behind, right from the start. Everybody is going to screens to display additional information. Just a music speaker that only works with Apple Music and with no real display for 349 plus taxes, I don't see it being a big hit.

We'll see.

I don't know which I find more dismaying. This response, or the fact that it had 36 likes at the time of responding.

 

[44267547]

If you think my posts are confusing or you don't agree there is a option for you put me on your "ignore list." It will solve all problems.Thanks

Two points to make before I end this: (Which I don't think you understand).

1.) If you want to discuss the HomePod, then please do so, as this what the thread is in reference to.

Yes, I will be purchasing the HomePod. Yes, I think it will be successful and I think it will apply to a mass market that will take advantage of The sound that will bring A great listening experience.

2.) Using the ignore list has nothing to do with editing your post because I find your post "Confusing" about the Home Pod. Or simply because I don't agree with you about the Home Pod, but that doesn't mean I use the ignore option either. That's NOT how discussion works. The only thing confusing is why you would edit your post after somebody quotes you, which I find odd. Also, Ignoring somebody for editing your post doesn't have any correlation with me responding to your post either about the Home Pod.

 

[chineseguy38]

Apple doesn't have clear strategies with products anymore.

Everything that Cook releases is vague, just like Apple Watch where they completely changed the interface, the marketing and targeting multiple times and they will do the same with HomePod. They're not thought out products.

It's more like, let's realease it and see what happens.

----

PLUS it feels like they are already behind, right from the start. Everybody is going to screens to display additional information. Just a music speaker that only works with Apple Music and with no real display for 349 plus taxes, I don't see it being a big hit.

We'll see.

[doublepost=1501396080][/doublepost]

Apple doesn't have clear strategies with products anymore.

Everything that Cook releases is vague, just like Apple Watch where they completely changed the interface, the marketing and targeting multiple times and they will do the same with HomePod. They're not thought out products.

It's more like, let's realease it and see what happens.

----

PLUS it feels like they are already behind, right from the start. Everybody is going to screens to display additional information. Just a music speaker that only works with Apple Music and with no real display for 349 plus taxes, I don't see it being a big hit.

We'll see.

I do agree in someway. iPad mini is dead. That's Tim Cook's idea when it first came out. Apple Watch marketing is a mess. Look at iPhone now. What on earth throwing out another premier phone at the same time with the "S" models? They should just concentrate with the "S" models instead.

 

[Bacillus]

Except there is no quote of him actually saying that. #fakenews

I guess that's a Trumpification from yr part:
http://www.watch-insider.com/news/i...he-swiss-watch-industry-really-be-in-trouble/
https://www.google.nl/amp/s/www.cultofmac.com/309512/jony-ive-called-swiss-made-watches-trouble/amp/
https://www.technobezz.com/jony-ive-statement-about-swiss-watch-is-in-trouble-is-true/
http://macdailynews.com/2015/10/23/...*-as-apple-watch-designer-jony-ive-predicted/
Www.digitaltrends.com/wearables/jony-ive-iwatch-is-super-cool-could-disrupt-watch-industry/amp/
[doublepost=1501397761][/doublepost]

Swiss watch sales did decline.....
Doesn't change that there isn't a HomePod competitor.

Sorry, but there is a few more things going on in various market segments than your oneliner analysis covers:
www.theverge.com/platform/amp/circuitbreaker/2017/5/9/15584234/smartwatch-mechanical-martenero-omega-frederique-constant

And your statement better be reversed: there is a HomePod competitor while actually there is no HomePod (...)
You must be unaware about the (design) original where Apple got its HomePod inspiration from =>

LOVE THE HEADLINE FROM 2016: "This voice-controlled speaker looks like something Apple would design"

(but let me guess: "they were too early, that's coincidence, Apple matured the idea, Ive exclusively owns minimalistic design, they should be sued because they copied Apple's idea in advance etc. etc."
I hear those twisted brains working...)

 

[44267547]

Everybody is going to screens? Who has done this besides Amazon? And that product hasn’t received great reviews.

So you're saying the Amazon Show hasn't had great reviews? Are you taking in account to the the positive reviews that talk about it as well? It certainly has great reviews and given it's only been available for less than six weeks. The price point Might be offputting for some, but actually the initial reviews are very good about its capabilities And how it will expand beyond where it is currently.

 

[Bacillus]

I don't think a company that's so obsessive with design like Apple needs that obscure company to have an idea about as minimalism a speaker as they can. It's just a coincidence which happens in life, like those iPad smart cover looks similar to some toilet cover. People mocked Samsung because they don't have this tradition.
But if someone like to think Apple lack ability to think of a very simplified round speaker shape while their products are all about very simplified shape, then goes ahead I think.

You also wouldn't expect those obsessive about Samsungs' copying "tradition" and Apple's own screen technology, to follow Samsung and have their screen production laid in the hands of Samsung and/or OLED technology "derived" from it.
So I think Ive should be awarded for that Whyd design (he's so incredbile, he still found time to do the ApplePark trees during the Whyd ripoff...)