HomePod Launches in Spain and Mexico

[MacRumors]

Apple's HomePod Siri-enabled smart speaker expanded to an additional two countries today, with the device now available for purchase in Spain and Mexico.

In Spain the HomePod is priced at 349 euros, and in Mexico, it can be purchased for 7,999 pesos. The HomePod is more expensive in Mexico and Spain than in the U.S. due to value added taxes in both countries.

With the HomePod's expansion to Spain and Mexico, the speaker is now available in a total of eight countries. When HomePod first launched in February, it was available in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia before expanding to Canada, France, and Germany in June.

Rumors suggest the HomePod could expand to Italy in the near future, with Apple employees testing an Italian language version of the device.

Article Link: HomePod Launches in Spain and Mexico

 

[TantalizedMind]

Finally the cartel can listen to some sick beats.

 

[Vasilioskn]

$400 for this in Spain? Lmao

 

[AngerDanger]

$400 for this in Spain? Lmao

Yeah, personally, I don't see Apple gaining much traction in these markets without releasing a lower cost option…

Go Doink Yourself

HomePod Doink​

 

[Regbial]

Too little, too late. Just give up Apple.

 

[Jeaz]

The good news is that they are expanding this to new markets. (don't really understand why it's not available worldwide, but never mind).
The bad news is that this means a HomePod 2 is not happening soon. I like the idea of the HomePod, but without some sort of proper connection to the Apple TV, its use is far too limited to me.

 

[theOmega]

In all my life wherever I’ve lived everyone needed to have a home speaker, my friends had some huge ones that could take 7 CDs and god knows how many cassetes, I had a ****** cassette radio player but it did the job, then my computer became my sound system so I started buying and borrowing CD’s, at some point had a 5.1 system (same with the TV) those where fun times! But that’s what the HomePod is and it sounds pretty good.

I don’t think we’ll see the full potential of the HomePod for a while but for now it’s the best way to listen to songs from Apple Music, not everyone will buy it but that will change overtime.

The iPhone has always been on sale in less fortunate countries like Spain but sales probably have been picking up every year.

I think until 5G is a standard it will take a while for all AI to really take off, but for now good for those folks, Spanish music sounds great on my HomePod!

 

[dcingie]

Too little, too late. Just give up Apple.

Well they’ve probably got millions of unwanted units sitting around collecting dust. Probably just trying to cut their losses, lol.

 

[ImAnAgent]

I have no use for a HomePod or any of the other smart speaker things. My phone can do anything these can do.

I don't need another device that just duplicates functionality.

 

[rmoliv]

$400 for this in Spain? Lmao

What's with the price? I find it cheap, for an Apple device.

The iPhone has always been on sale in less fortunate countries like Spain but sales probably have been picking up every year.

There are 11 Apple Stores in Spain for a reason. Spain is one of the biggest markets in the EU after the UK, Germany, France and Italy. Perhaps you'd consider Ireland, Denmark and Norway "more fortunate" countries however there are no Apple Stores in there. Others like Austria only got one recently.

 

[ImAnAgent]

What's with the price? I find it cheap, for an Apple device.



There are 11 Apple Stores in Spain for a reason. Spain is one of the biggest markets in the EU after the UK, Germany, France and Italy. Perhaps you'd consider Ireland, Denmark and Norway "more fortunate" countries however there are no Apple Stores in there. Others like Austria only got one recently.

Spain is also the top tourist spot in Europe over the past few years. I always wondered why it for people get there idea that's it's a less fortunate country. Barcelona is very well off.

 

[Grey Area]

There are 11 Apple Stores in Spain for a reason. Spain is one of the biggest markets in the EU after the UK, Germany, France and Italy. Perhaps you'd consider Ireland, Denmark and Norway "more fortunate" countries however there are no Apple Stores in there. Others like Austria only got one recently.

Still, one has to wonder. In Spain iOS market share is hovering around just 10%, whereas in Ireland and the Scandinavian countries it is around 50%. Regardless of how to call it, it sure seems those countries are more willing to spend on iOS devices per capita than Spain.

Of course, Apple will have done some math. And Spain has the language advantage - once you have made the HomePod speak Spanish, you have a lot of potential customers, not just in Spain. Those smaller northern countries on the other hand all have their own "little languages" (no disrespect, I am a Swede myself). But, people in those countries generally have no problem with English, either. Apple could just sell the HomePod without support for the national language. People would buy it. And I am not just speculating there - here in Sweden there are now numerous electronics chains that import and sell the HomePod on their own, leading to the bizarre situation that you can buy this Apple product all over the place except from Apple. Not sure if that is what Apple had in mind...

 

[ipedro]

Too little, too late. Just give up Apple.

Weren’t you one of the ones who said the same thing about the AppleWatch?

Apple always starts with a basic foundation and consistently improves the devices while it slowly builds up an installed base. When it reaches a critical mass, everyone has to have one. It happened with the iPod, with the iPhone and with the AppleWatch. In a few years everyone is going to be falling over themselves to get a HomePod.

 

[patent10021]

wtf, just releasing v1 there now? Sucks. That means v2 ain't gonna be around until 2020 or something. Here's hoping for a firmware update that will be so killer it will be v2-like.

 

[uspino]

...in less fortunate countries like Spain

Extremely less fortunate: they suffer from universal healthcare, less income inequality, no hurricanes, no synagogue shootings, no school shootings, no Trump... I too wonder who would ever want to live in such an unfortunate country.

 

[tatsumi]

Meanwhile I am still waiting for it to release in japan, one of the biggest markets for apple, which the majority of smartphone users being on iOS.

Well I guess I will have to buy another one in Australia.

 

[danny842003]

I have no use for a HomePod or any of the other smart speaker things. My phone can do anything these can do.

I don't need another device that just duplicates functionality.

What phone have you got that can fill a room with sound?

 

[ImAnAgent]

What phone have you got that can fill a room with sound?

I don't have any such use for that so it's a non issue for me.

 

[danny842003]

I don't have any such use for that so it's a non issue for me.

Ok but that’s not what you said.

 

[ImAnAgent]

Ok but that’s not what you said.

I forgot this thing was even a speaker when I made my reply. I still have no use for it because my phone does everything I need it for.

 

[tromboneaholic]

The good news is that they are expanding this to new markets. (don't really understand why it's not available worldwide, but never mind).
The bad news is that this means a HomePod 2 is not happening soon. I like the idea of the HomePod, but without some sort of proper connection to the Apple TV, its use is far too limited to me.

It takes time to localize Siri to understand regional content.

It's not just a matter of a straight translation from English to Spanish. On the HomePod, Siri understand the titles of shows and movies (for example) that have been changed as well as translated.

I do think Apple could put more resources here.

 

[Regbial]

Weren’t you one of the ones who said the same thing about the AppleWatch?

Apple always starts with a basic foundation and consistently improves the devices while it slowly builds up an installed base. When it reaches a critical mass, everyone has to have one. It happened with the iPod, with the iPhone and with the AppleWatch. In a few years everyone is going to be falling over themselves to get a HomePod.

lol ur targeting me? No it wasn't me, probably. If it was, I was just angry they dumped the iPod Nano which had similar functions to an apple watch regarding fitness, for the watch.

I'll give you the basic foundation and improvement thing. And maybe it did happen with the watch... but this smart speaker thing is just a capitalist craze. Even with the google and Amazon ones (notice how cheap those are)... THe truth is the public, the market doesn't want to play upwards of $150 for a single speaker, no matter how rich it sounds (which the reviews on the Homepod don't mention as too favorable mind you) or how smart it is directing sound.

As someone said, and other topics mention, there's a lot of leftover stock of HomePods gathering dust. The truth is, if Apple wanted to tap into this market they'd release a cheaper speaker, $150 max. If they wanted to sell future versions of the Homepod (which is doubtful they'll invest in and make considering it didn't sell well) they'd need to "improve" it by lowering it's price. But Apple is not in the pleasing the consumer business anymore. Now it's more about "premium" products and their "prestige". When before Apple did make products for the general public, like say the iPod line. Which they've now killed. They also killed budget iPhones. Capitalism is a slippery slope I guess..