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As part of the holiday promotion, Apple began offering promo codes to Apple Music subscribers today. So when you purchase HomePod, you can get a £50 discount by enter the code in the checkout section. Currently, only UK users can enjoy the £50 off on HomePod, but Apple likely to expand to more regions.

HomePod brings out the best in Apple Music. To celebrate the holidays, we're giving only Apple Music subscribers £50 off HomePod now through December 16. Claim your special promo code now.

This promotion lasted until December 16. After using the promo code, HomePod will be priced at £269. This promotion is sent by email, which contains a button for "Get Your promo code." Spotify, however, is also offering similar deal, when you subscribe to the music streaming service for the first time, and then sign up for family plan (only uses money from your 3 month trial), you will get a Google Home Mini for free.

Image Via MacRumors

HomePod, Apple's first smart speaker that introduced at WWDC last year, priced at $349, it's indeed the sky-high price that pulls many users away from purchasing the high-end handset. However, the company now offers HomePod with $299 price tag, although it is a refurbished product, but the speaker still received good care of it and functioning like the new one.

Refurbished HomePod is available in both white and space gray for $299, a decent $50 discount off of the regular price. The delivery time will take roughly 2 weeks if you order the smart speaker today. This is definitely a way to buy a like-new HomePod, plus these products are tested, certified, and cleaned before it gets put in the list and comes with AppleCare.

The HomePod is Apple's answer to the Amazon Echo and Google Home, but more centralized on music and sound quality, as it packed with 7 tweeter array and an Apple-designed 4-inch upward-facing woofer for crisp, clear, distortion-free sound even at loud volumes, combined with the powerful A8 chip, making it much more powerful than competing smart speakers.
HomePod integrates with Apple Music, so you can listening to over 50 million songs. It also built-in Siri support to provide news updates, play podcasts, offer weather reports, share traffic information, live sports updates, set reminders, send text messages, set multiple timers, make a phone call, and so much more. Apple is always adding more feature to the HomePod via software.

Image Via stern.de

Amazon has unveils many Echo-enabled speakers at its Seattle headquarter, like the Echo Plus, Echo Dot, Echo Show. The online retailer also announced first Echo device without speakers, Echo Input, as well as Echo Sub the subwoofer, Echo Link Amp the amplifier, and so much more that ranges from Smart Plug and Smart Home appliances.


Firstly, Amazon announced a new Echo Dot that has a brand new mic array, more powerful sound, and increased max volume, all these for $49.99. Echo Plus, a new Echo device, which designed for more advanced uses, it includes more powerful sound, stronger bass, new equalizer to adjust the bass, new temperature sensor, and a smart home hub for controlling smart home products, it cost you 150 bucks. Echo Show is redesigned with a larger HD display, improved stereo sound quality, smart home hub, it is priced at $229.9. All three Echo speakers now available for pre-order today.
The largest online retailer also unveiled Echo device without speakers, Echo Input, which adds Alexa to an external speaker and connects via 3.5 mm audio cable or Bluetooth. So if you have a speaker, just simply plug it, and then you can experience Alexa just for $34.99.

Amazon also gives a first look at Echo Sub, a plug-and-play enhanced subwoofer, once paired with the Echo/Echo Plus lineup, it'll provide a rich boost of bass. In reality, Amazon Echo Sub could even rival Apple's HomePod bass performances, plus it only cost like $130.

For more products that Amazon announced today, head over to Amazon Blog.

Strategy Analytics today released data on smart speaker sales in the second quarter of 2018. Previously, the company claimed that HomePod's smart speaker market share was only 6% in Q2 2018. Today's report shows that though HomePod has lots of space to grow, it become the best-selling smart speaker that cost more than $200.


Today's report counts the shipments of Q2 global smart speakers according to different models. It's worth noting that Google Home mini topped the list with 2.3 million units, accounts for 20% of market share, but Amazon Echo and Echo Dot combined shares were totaled about 30%.

HomePod didn't enter the top five global best-selling smart speakers, but Strategy Analytics reveals some interesting new details. According to David Watkins, the company's director, HomePod's market share in the second quarter of 2018 was only 6%, but its revenue accounted for 16% of the market. Apple's HomePod has 70% of the smart speaker market in $200+ segment.

For Apple, the decent performance of HomePod is a good news, but it may have some impact on Sonos' sales, with the latter's $200-$500 speakers is a direct competitor to HomePod. While Sonos offers a range of products that support AirPlay 2 and Siri, HomePod, obviously, offers a more seamless Siri and Apple ecosystem integration.

In addition to iOS 12, Apple today also released watchOS 5, HomePod software update, and tvOS 12, to all users. For watchOS 5, you can download it through Apple Watch app on your iPhone, then go to General -> Software Update. While tvOS 12 can be installed via Settings app -> System -> Software Update, and HomePods to be automatically updated

Apple released the beta version of HomePod firmware to its employees. The new software would be released with iOS 12 this fall, as the beta version of the HomePod firmware includes many new features, such as the ability to set multiple timers with Siri and make phone calls, they can also use the "Find My iPhone" command. (Via iGengeration)


The current HomePod cannot get the contact data in the user's iPhones, so it is not possible to make a call. However, users can make calls on the iPhone and transfer audio output to HomePod. Similarly, when a call is received, the HomePod will not ring since your iPhone will pick up, and from there, transfer the audio to the HomePod.

In addition to making calls, HomePod can also listen to voice messages and search for call history. Like other Apple operating systems, HomePod OS 12 supports the "Find My iPhone" command, and you can ask Siri to locate your iPhone and ring the iPhone. The upcoming update will also introduce a feature that let the HomePod connect to same WiFi as paired iPhone.

We'll learn more about HomePod in September or October when Apple issues iOS 12, as well as watchOS 5, tvOS 12 and macOS Mojave.

Image Via Macworld

In its latest published support document, Apple said it will host a HomePod live session in its support community on Wednesday, July 25, to give customers a chance of asking Apple support representatives about the smart speakers, like how to enable AirPlay 2, personalize your HomePod, and more. (via MacRumors)

Discover how to make HomePod your own: use AirPlay 2, create a stereo pair, personalize your setup and settings, ask Siri, and more. During this live event, Apple HomePod Specialists will be available to help you get the most from your HomePod.

Specialists will be on hand between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Pacific Time. To join the event, you simply need to visit Apple's official HomePod Community and browse the discussions, sign in your account, then create a post, from there, the Apple Support staff will help with your questions in real time.

Image iMore

In a new report, Bloomberg shed some lights on the future strategy of Apple's audio products. According to the report, Apple will release a high-end third-generation AirPods in 2019, as well as the next-generation HomePod, and over-ear headphones.

Next year's AirPods will support noise cancellation and be water resistant. According to people familiar with the plan, Apple is also working hard to expand the scope of AirPods. Third-generation AirPods will also be more expensive due to more new features. Currently, AirPods is priced at $159.


The AirPods will also match the iPhone product line, offering high-end and low-end versions, and high-end versions will support more features. In addition, Bloomberg says that one of the advanced features may be a new biosensor that supports heart rate monitoring.

Asides from the new AirPods, Apple will also release a new over-ear headphone in 2019. It was originally planned to be released this year but encountered many difficulties. It’s believed the new headphone will be a high-end product that is more expensive than the Beats series.

Finally, the report mentioned the next generation of HomePod. The second generation HomePod will be released early next year. And, Apple plans to reduce its dependence on Inventec and distribute more orders to Foxconn. Inventec is currently a supplier of AirPods and HomePod.

Five months following the official launch of the United State, United Kingdom, and Australia, Apple now officially accepting HomePod orders in France, Germany, as well as Canada.



Still comes in the white and space gray two colors, HomePod prices in France, Germany, and Canada are 349 euros, 349 euros, and 449 Canadian dollars. Users can either choose to order directly through the Apple Store App, Apple.com, or they can choose to go to the retail stores and third-party authorized resellers to purchase it.

Apple recently brought software updates to the smart speaker and added support for Siri in French, German, and Canadian English. Canadian French support will come later this year. HomePod should also enable Stereo Paring and multi-room audio once user updates it to the 11.4 version.

Nevertheless, HomePod has received a lot of queries since its release, and most of the skeptical voices believe HomePod is overpriced. Analysts and supply chain sources have predicted that Apple will develop a cheap version, perhaps a Beats-enabled speaker in a light of hope to use it compete with rivals such as Amazon Echo.

According to iOS developer Guilherme Rambo that although Personal Requests on HomePod currently only work for Messages, Reminders and Notes, it appears that in iOS 11.4 beta 3, the Automatic setup interface now shows Messages, Reminders, Calendar and Notes, meaning the HomePod will gaining Calendar support.

According to Bloomberg, Apple's first smart speaker - HomePod apparently didn't meet their sales expectation, leading it to cut orders with suppliers like Inventec in the late March, citing a person who familiar with the matter.

By late March, Apple had lowered sales forecasts and cut some orders with Inventec Corp., one of the manufacturers that builds the HomePod for Apple, according to a person familiar with the matter.

According to Barclays analyst Blayne Curtis who had week-long trip with his team spent to meeting companies in Apple's Asian supply chain. Today, they shared research on iPhones, AirPods, and the sales of Apple's first smartspeaker - HomePod from the trip.

First off, Curtis says Apple will continue to increased the productions of AirPods and fulfills the demand. Barclays forecasts that AirPods shipments will likely approach 30 million units in 2018, which proven that it's a strong seller for Apple despite their $159 price tag.

For the sake of comparison, it's believed the HomePod sales have been "underwhelming" so far. Apple was planned an initial production run of 6-7 million units, but it is not clear how many have sold. A most recent data came from Loup Ventures suggested that 3 percent of smartspeaker owners have a HomePod.

Image Credit CNN Money

Another interesting points made from the research notes that seems corroborated Apple's widely rumored of plans to launch the second-generation of iPhone X, a so-called 6.5-inch iPhone X Plus, and a lower-priced 6.1-inch LCD devices that featured with Face ID but no 3D Touch to keep the lower as possible.
The products that rumored to getting new updates this year including an iPad Pro to debut at WWDC that featured with Face ID, three upcoming 2018 iPhones, cheaper MacBook Air, AirPower, a new-generation of AirPods with "Hey Siri" functionality, a modular Mac Pro, as well as a $200 priced HomePod.

Image Credit B&H

Another prediction made by the Taiwan media, is that Apple will launch a more affordable MacBook Air in the second quarter of 2018 for $799 - $899, and the price range came from WitsView researcher Yubin Qiu. The current MacBook Air starts at $999.

In the test, HomePod received a "Very Good" sound quality rating, while Sonos One and the Google Home Max were both received higher overall sound quality scores. During the time, Consumer Reports' testers found a few issues from the smart speaker, and it's conducted in a dedicated listening room
Consumer Reports pointed out the major issue they found is the the bass was "boomy and overemphasized," the midrange tones were "somewhat hazy," and the treble sounds were "underemphasized." Overall, it is reported the HomePod's sound to be "a bit muddy" when played next to the Sonos One and the Google Home Max.
Outside of the smart speaker market, it reads that all three of these smart speakers “fall significantly short” of its highest-rated wireless speakers, like the Edifier S1000DB, priced at $350, received an “Excellent” rating in testing.

The HomePod will serve many music fans well, but CR testers did hear some flaws. The HomePod's bass was a bit boomy and overemphasized. And the midrange tones were somewhat hazy, meaning that some of the nuance in vocals, guitars, and horns was lost: These elements of the music couldn't be heard as distinctly as in more highly rated speakers. Treble sounds, like cymbals, were underemphasized. But the HomePod played reasonably loudly in a midsized room.

Keep in mind that HomePod has been highly praised both by the HomePod owners and by majority media sites that tested the device ahead of its release. Plus these sort of audio rankings is that sound, this can be subjective change to people. What's your thoughts on this? Do you agree with them?

Apple has updated its HomePod tech specs page with a new Audio Sources sectio detailing all of the ways in which the speaker can stream audio, just over one week before it will be hits to the retail stores.

Apple has primarily positioned the HomePod as a speaker capable stream Apple Music, and built-in with Siri, Users can ask Siri to send messages, check the weather, listen the latest news headlines, get trivia answers, play podcasts, to control HomeKit-enabled smart home accessories, and complete other tasks without needing to take out their iPhone.

The high-fidelity speaker is equipped an Apple A8 chip, a large woofer and seven tweeters, Apple says the HomePod can deliver a ‘wide, spacious soundstage’. It's smart enough as it can automatically sense the surrounding room and adjust its internal speakers to optimize how it sounds.

You can theoretically buy multiple HomePods to effortlessly setup multi-room music, and if there's more than one HomePod placed in the same room, the speakers will be able to detect each other and deliver stereo sound. However, the functionalities will be available later this year with a software update.

In a statement provided to CNBC and several other media outlets, Apple said it needs "a little more time" before the HomePod is ready. The company’s definition of "early" is generally January to April, though they did not provide a specific reason for the delay.

We can't wait for people to experience HomePod, Apple's breakthrough wireless speaker for the home, but we need a little more time before it's ready for our customers. We'll start shipping in the US, UK and Australia in early 2018.

The HomePod was originally planned to release December for $349, starts in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia. This makes HomePod is the first Apple product delayed since the AirPods last October, but eventually AirPods launched in December 2016.

Apple unveiled HomePod at its Worldwide Developers Conference in June. The Cupertino firm hope it could serves as a Siri assistant and HomeKit hub. The smart speaker said to equipped with spatial awareness and Apple-engineered audio technology, including a seven‑tweeter array and high-excursion woofer, and is powered by Apple's A8 chip.

Specifically, Inventec Appliances president David Ho mentioned recently that the company sees a trend towards both facial and image recognition technology being incorporated into smart speakers, without specifying which speakers in particular.

“We see trends that engineers are designing smart speakers that will not only come with voice recognition but also incorporate features such as facial and image recognition,” President David Ho told reporters after the company’s earnings conference.

“Such AI-related features are set to make people’s lives more convenient and to make the product easier to use.”

Inventec Appliances is currently the sole supplier of both Apple's AirPods and HomePod, but also makes Xiaomi smartphones, Fitbit devices, and Sonos speakers, among others. Given the company's ties to Apple, analyst Jeff Pu predicts Ho's comments could suggest a Face ID-enabled HomePod in 2019.

Jeff Pu, an analyst at Yuanta Investment Consulting, said Apple could roll out HomePods with 3D-sensing cameras in 2019.

Apple's HomePod is set to release in December, although Apple has yet to confirm a specific release date for the new device. The upcoming smart speaker was first revealed during WWDC in June, where the company explained it would be a music-focused speaker with high quality sound, deep Siri integration, and spatial recognition for providing the best sound in any space. 

It's not clear what new features watchOS 4.2 will introduce, but it could bring support for Apple Pay Cash, Apple's new peer-to-peer payments feature. Aside from releasing watchOS 4.2, Apple also seed the first tvOS 11.2 beta, the beta is available through the Software Update mechanism on an Apple TV with an appropriate configuration profile installed.

As for new changes in the beta, according to release notes accompanying the download, the tvOS 11.2 now restores the Unwatched category in the Home Sharing feature for Movies, TV Shows and Home Video. It also enables automatic frame rate and dynamic range switching on Apple TV 4K (Via iDB).

Apple today also released new firmware for the HomePod ahead of its December launch. The firmware isn't available through the Developer portal, but it will downloadable by testers who have a HomePod and it is listed on third-party iOS software sites, which making it available for download by the public. HomePod devices to becomes available for purchase later this year.