Tyler Lizenby / CNET
Apples HomePod debuted in 2018. It had a price of $ 349, good sound and the risk of putting white rings on your tabletop. Since then, despite some nice iterations of the HomePod's functions through regular software updates, Apple has not made much progress in the smart home, even if Amazon and Google continue to expand their target groups Alexa and Google assistant Products across the board.
However, according to a Bloomberg report earlier this year, Apple isn't giving up on the HomePod. According to "people familiar with the plans," Apple plans to release a smaller, cheaper HomePod. The details are few, but sources say the new HomePod will be about half the size of the original. It keeps the same design, just on a smaller scale.
Apple did not announce the new speaker, as expected, at its global online developer conference in June or at its September event. With the announcement of a October 13 eventRumors of a possible HomePod Mini are circulating again. A report from Bloomberg earlier this year gave the new HomePod a tip for a release in October.
Continue reading:: Here's how to watch the Apple event on October 13th
Price premonitions
There's no word on price for the second-generation HomePod, but a smaller size probably means a lower price, too. This is the biggest step Apple can take to compete with the hugely popular (and often for sale) $ 50 Amazon Echo Dot and Google Nest Mini Speaker.
Since introducing the HomePod, Apple has cut the price of its smart speaker from its original $ 349 to $ 299 sells regularly for $ 199 in the USA. In the last few months Reports in circulation Apple is offering its employees a 50% discount on the HomePod with a limit of 10 per employee (from just two). Could these price cuts indicate a stock clearance?
New Apple patents
There are also rumors about Apple's patent application for a "Fabric-Covered Electronic Device with Touch Sensor" in 2019. The abstract description of the patent reads:
An electronic device such as a loudspeaker device may have a curved housing characterized by a vertical longitudinal axis. A layer of fabric can cover the curved housing. A touch sensor can be used to detect touch input on the tissue layer. The touch sensor may include capacitive touch sensor electrodes including drive lines and sense lines.
It also describes light-emitting components to mark where touch sensors are located. This differs significantly from the solid plastic top of the current HomePod and is similar to the current touch fabric design of the Nest Mini and is brand new Nest Audio.
Even with a sleeker design and better price, Apple still has smart home challenges to overcome. Apple's narrow selection of music streaming services and shorter list of compatible smart home products make it difficult to sell for anyone who isn't exclusively Appleverse.
Siri is still a problem
Then there is the problem of Siri as an assistant. Compared to the constantly evolving and personable voice assistants from Google and Amazon, Siri is not enough. Interactions only feel less naturaland often simple inquiries are not processed as seamlessly as Google or Alexa. We spent hours with all three and realized that there are Some things Siri just can't.
Whether it's rumors or fanboy wish lists, a continuation of the HomePod would surely require a combination of broader support for music services and serious Siri upgrades - in addition to that supposed price cut - for smart home savvy buyers to get the Apple speakers get a second look.
Bonus rumor: Apple AirTags
If the possibility of continuing the HomePod doesn't raise your eyebrows, there are other Apple products set to debut this year. In addition to the perennial Rumor has it Apple TV upgradeApple may also get into the tracker game with a product supposedly called AirTags or Apple Tags.
According to Bloomberg's sources, the tags allow users to keep track of items like wallets or keys, much like they did with the Tile tracker You can buy today. MacRumors also pointed to a mention of AirTags in an Apple support video (subsequently deleted) and screenshots shared with the website depicting AirTag setup.
Even if these products are next available for Apple, Coronavirus-related delays can mean a later publication. The Wall Street Journal reported a delay in Apple's production of the latest iPhone in April. With production across Asia being hit hard and consumers spending less on items with large tickets, this delay could also affect other Apple products like the HomePod or AirTags.
Last year there were reports that Apple was expanding its HomeKit team and preparing for new products. That gave us hope that Apple would have renewed interest in the connected home. If Apple is actually planning to break into the smart home, it really should start with an improved HomePod. Stay tuned for CNET's coverage of Tuesday's event for all things Apple.
