The CultCast

Send us a text!This week: HomePod pre-sale has begun!  But... we’ll tell you why Apple’s new smart speaker may be a huge flop.  Plus: audiophiles are comparing HomePod’s tech to speakers that cost $85,000; Apple adds some long-awaited features to iOS 11; how to backup your iCloud photo library to your PC (and why you should); and wrap with another episode of Drone Chat!  This time, we’ll tell you why DJI's Mavic Air is the perfect drone for almost everyone.   This episode supported by   Easily create a website by yourself, at Squarespace.com.  Use offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain.   Print postage from your office and take advantage of special shipping discounts at pb.com/cultcast, and beat the postage rate increase with exclusive discounts on letters.  Plans start at just $5 a month!   CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   HomePod pre-orders begin Friday ahead of Feb. 9 launch https://www.cultofmac.com/524821/homepod-pre-orders-begin-friday-ahead-feb-9-launch/ Apple today Wednesday that it will release its $349 HomePod on February 9. Pre-orders start this Friday! That technology includes a seven-tweeter array and a 4-inch woofer — plus spatial awareness capabilities. These allow HomePod to “read” its environment and tailor audio output for the best results, though this functionality won’t be available until later this year. In large rooms, you can even pair multiple HomePods for bigger sound.   Why Apple’s HomePod is poised to bomb https://www.cultofmac.com/524895/apple-homepod-bomb-opinion/ HomePod, the first new Apple product of 2018, is about to arrive. And as a huge Apple fanboy, I couldn’t care less. Thanks to Siri, HomePod is great at the things you want to know, and do, in your home. Set timers. Convert measurements. Get translations. And get live news, sports, weather, and traffic. You can also create lists that anyone can add to. Will it replace an iPad or AppleTV as as HomeKit hub? It’s too damn expensive Siri sucks You’re stuck with Apple Music Will Spotify work at all? HomePod is not even finished yet! No stereo or multi-room support till alter this year   Audiophiles on Reddit are comparing HomePod’s tech to speakers costing 85,000 http://www.loopinsight.com/2018/01/24/on-homepod-and-audio-quality   iOS 11.3 beta 1 is out with iCloud Messages, new Animoji and more https://www.cultofmac.com/525115/ios-11-3-beta-1-battery-improvements-new-animoji/ Apple gave the public a preview of the new features coming in iOS 11.3 Wednesday.

Send us a text!This week: Tim Cook is THRILLED with the US’ new tax overhaul, and has some exciting plans to spend Apple’s massive fortune.  Plus: forget other smart speakers—we’re tell you why we’re now even more excited for HomePod.  And stick around for our favorite movies, shows, and sausages in an all-new very weird What We’re Into!     This episode supported by From how to become more productive and professional to how to read body language, network, and negotiate, the Art of Charm podcast covers anything that will help you become a high-performer at home and at work.  Check it out at theartofcharm.com/podcast.   Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / @lewiswallace   You’ll soon be able to disable Apple’s iPhone throttling feature https://www.cultofmac.com/523987/disable-iphone-throttling-soon/ Tim Cook has revealed that a future iOS 11 update will let users disable the feature that was causing their iPhone to throttle performance. He says that this forthcoming update will give users the option to disable performance throttling if they would rather be at risk of unexpected shutdowns but maintain full CPU and GPU performance.   Apple says it will add $350 billion to U.S. economy https://www.cultofmac.com/523809/apple-says-will-add-350-billion-u-s-economy/ Apple’s big tax break is about to unleash an big beautiful avalanche of spending from the iPhone-maker. In its last earnings report, Apple said it held $252 billion in cash overseas. It appears, given the new corporate tax rate of 15.5  percent, that it is returning a majority of this to the United States.  This low rate is a one-time deal for corporations to repatriate their overseas cash hordes Apple revealed its plans to contribute $350 billion to the U.S. economy over the next five years now that the fee for repatriating its mountain of overseas cash has been significantly lowered. Even though construction on Apple’s new spaceship campus just finished, the company says its already looking to build a new one. Plans (including the location) for the third Apple HQ will be revealed later this year. The building will initially house new team specializing in technical support for customers. The company also says it plans to increase the size of its advanced manufacturing fund from $1 billion to $5 billion. The fund is used to invest in U.S. manufacturing companies and suppliers. Apple says it will add over 20,000 new jobs in the next five years by hiring for new jobs at its existing campuses and the new one. $30 billion will be spent on capital expenditures in the US over next 5 years with $10 billion of that going to data centers. With the new tax law in effect, Apple expects it will only pay $38 billion

Send us a text!This week: our list of the weirdest, whackiest, and wonderfullest gadgets of CES 2018!  Plus: Stevie Wonder, Stevie Nicks, and hanging with Andy Dick—we remember our favorite stories from CES's of years past.   This episode supported by   From how to become more productive and professional to how to read body language, network, and negotiate, the Art of Charm podcast covers anything that will help you become a high-performer at home and at work.  Check it out at theartofcharm.com/podcast.   Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / @lewiswallace   Major power outage hits CES https://www.theverge.com/2018/1/10/16875192/ces-2018-blackout-power-outage Power in the North and Central halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center, which hosts CES annually, was out for nearly two hours on Wednesday. The outage impacted hundreds of companies, including giants like LG, Samsung, and Sony, as well as many small startups that paid thousands of dollars to have a presence on the massive show floor. This year’s CES seems to be marked by more chaos than usual, including unprecedented rain that flooded streets and shut down Google’s giant funhouse booth for a day.   Hue lights’ new iOS and Mac app will customize lighting for any occasion https://www.cultofmac.com/522577/hue-lights-mac-ios/ Outdoor products on the way Updated Hue app with complete redesign Partnership with Razer Philips Hue Sync Hue Sync will analyze anything displayed on your monitor in real-time and create light scripts to compliment your content   DJI’s new Osmo 2 gimbal makes smooth iPhone footage cheap https://www.cultofmac.com/522089/dji-unveils-cheap-osmo-2-gimbal-smooth-iphone-footage/ Capturing super-smooth video on your iPhone is about to get a lot easier (AND cheaper) thanks to the folks at DJI. DJI unveiled its newest handheld smartphone gimbal today called the Osmo 2. The new gimbal packs simplified controls to allow anyone to record shake-free video from their iPhone, and it’s got some new tricks you won’t find on its predecessor.   How to reopen a recently closed tab in Safari on iOS https://www.cultofmac.com/521667/how-to-reopen-recently-closed-tab-mobile-safari/ You’ve closed a tab in Safari and instantly realized that it was the wrong one. This trick works on both the Mac and on iOS devices. All you need to do is long-press (or long-click on the Mac

Send us a text!  This week on a very fun, educational, and addictive CultCast: Everything you want to know about Apple’s $29 iPhone battery replacement program, and why you should absolutely use it. We’ll tell you about Steve Job’s new fashion line soon to be sweeping the runways of a Costco near you We break down just how much money Tim Cook earned each week and each day in 2017. Spoiler: He’a rich yaaa’aaall!. A high-tech butt cleaner, a $400 cooler, and a powerhouse network attached storage — Faves N Raves is back baby. We’ll pitch you our favorite tech then vote on which is best.   This episode supported by   Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.   From how to become more productive and professional to how to read body language, network, and negotiate, the Art of Charm podcast covers anything that will help you become a high-performer at home and at work.  Check it out at theartofcharm.com/podcast.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time use code CULTCAST at checkout to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / @lewiswallace   Apple apologizes with $29 iPhone battery replacements https://www.cultofmac.com/520837/apple-apologizes-29-iphone-battery-replacements/ Apple confirmed last week that it lowers CPU performance. But they say they do it because as batteries age they can’t meet peak CPU draw demands, especially when the battery is low. When this happens it causes the device to restart, so Apple added an algorithm that curves CPU demands as batteries age. STATEMENT:  “First and foremost, we have never — and would never — do anything to intentionally shorten the life of any Apple product, or degrade the user experience to drive customer upgrades,” the company says on its website. “Our goal has always been to create products that our customers love, and making iPhones last as long as possible is an important part of that.” Apple also says it will come out with an iOS update in early 2018 that will give users more visibility into the health of their iPhone’s battery. Third-party apps like coconutBattery can also be used to check an iPhone’s battery status. Devices affected by the throttling include the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and iPhone SE. Apple notified customers today that it will reduce the price on out-of-warranty iPhone battery replacements by $50, putting the cost at just $29. There was a rumor going around that Apple would only replace batteries for phones that didn’t pass a battery diagnostic test, but an internal Apple memo apprehend by French Tech Blog iGeneration states that the Genius bar should allow battery replacements for all who ask If you’re wondering if you should replace your battery, Apple can run a diagnostic on your phone's battery remotely – you don't need to visit an Apple Store.  Just contact their customer service via chat or email.     ‘Steve Jobs’ could be Italy’s hottes

Send us a text!This week: our picks for the BEST Apple Gadge of 2017 💪🏼  Plus: Apple admits they are indeed slowing down older iPhones and Mac, but there’s more to the story than you’ve heard. We’ll tell you how to check if you’re affected, how to check your battery health, and how to prevent getting throttled.   This episode supported by   The single-router wifi model just doesn’t work for our increasingly high-bandwidth world. The EERO distributed system will blanket your home in hyper-fast, reliable WiFi, and you can score free overnight shipping with code "CultCast" at checkout.   Upsie saves you up to 70% on warranties versus traditional retailers, and you know exactly what’s covered before you buy. Plus their iPhone X accidental damage warranty is $80 less than Apple Care Plus. Get 10% off your first purchase at upsie.com with code “CultCast at checkout.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / @lewiswallace   How old batteries are slowing down your iPhone and Mac https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comments/7inu45/psa_iphone_slow_try_replacing_your_battery/ It all started with a post on Reddit (TeckFire): My iPhone 6S has been very slow these past few weeks, and even after updating multiple times, it was still slow. Couldn’t figure out why, but just thought that iOS 11 was still awful to me. Then I used my brother’s iPhone 6 Plus and his was faster than mine? This is when I knew something was wrong. So, I did some research, and decided to replace my battery. I did a Geekbench score before the battery change, and found I was getting 1466 Single and 2512 Multi. After changing my battery, I did another test, and this time it was 2526 for Single and 4456 for Multi. From what I can tell, Apple slows down phones when the battery gets too low.   Apple hit with two lawsuits over slowing down iPhones https://www.cultofmac.com/520147/iphone-lawsuits-battery/ Apple has admitted to purposely throttling the performance of aging iPhones, but they say it’s not to shorten your device’s life, but to lengthen it. Lithium-ion batteries become less capable of supplying peak current demands when in cold conditions, have a low battery charge or as they age over time, which can result in the device unexpectedly shutting down to protect its electronic components. Last year we released a feature for iPhone 6, iPhone 6s and iPhone SE to smooth out the instantaneous peaks only when needed to prevent the device from unexpectedly shutting down during these conditions. We’ve now extended that feature to iPhone 7 with iOS 11.2, and plan to add support for other products in the future.”   A bad battery will result in a slowed Mac too https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4468165?tstart=0   Slow iPhone? Here’s how to check the health of your battery - leander https://www.cultofmac.com/519699/how-to-check-health-iphone-battery/ coconutBattery is a

Send us a text!Ho Ho Hooo! This week on a very merry CultCast: Next-day delivery of iPhone X is a sprinkling of Christmas magic Updated AirPods are supposedly coming in 2018 How the iPhone almost never was HOT Tips: How to listen to Youtube videos when your iPad or iPhone screens are off How to picture-in-picture Youtube videos on your iPad And how to keep those pesky ads out of your Youtube videos for free And we wrap up with our favorite shows of 2017! To all our Cult friends, meeeeerry Christmas, happy (belated) Hanukkah   This episode supported by   Casper’s American-made mattresses have just the right amount of memory foam and latex, and people everywhere love them.  Learn why and get $50 towards any mattress at Casper.com/cultcast.   Backblaze is unlimited cloud backup for Macs and PCs for just $5 a month. And it’s native for Macs!  Try it out free for 15 days at Backblaze.com/cultcast.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @lkahney / @lewiswallace   Next-day delivery of iPhone X is a sprinkling of Christmas magic https://www.cultofmac.com/519349/next-day-iphone-x-shipping/ It’s a Christmas Miracle! All models are available in the U.S. Apple Store, marking something of a Christmas miracle for Apple — when you consider that the majority of pre-release reports suggested that the iPhone X wouldn’t be shipping to most customers until some time in 2018.   Listen up: Updated AirPods are supposedly coming in 2018 https://www.cultofmac.com/519555/updated-airpods-2018/ Did you know AirPods are among the most beloved new products that Apple has launched in years, with around 98 percent of customers describing themselves as either “very satisfied” or “satisfied” with Apple’s wireless buds. Apple is planning to release an updated version of its AirPods wireless earbuds in the second half of 2018, respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims in a new note to clients. While he doesn’t share too many details about what the new AirPods will do differently, he does suggest that they will adopt a smaller quartz component — quite possibly making them even smaller than the first-gen model currently available.   Today in Apple history: iPhone may have to seek new name https://www.cultofmac.com/519065/apple-history-iphone-new-name/ The original iPhone wasn’t an iPhone at all.  Back in 1998, a company called InfoGear showed off an “iPhone” at CES. Costing $499, with extra charges for internet access, the device made very early use of touch technology, visual voicemail, basic apps and more. Even though it got go

Send us a text!This week: In a surprising turn of events, Jony Ive has taken back the reigns of Apple’s design team. The new iMac is out, and the reviews are coming in.  We’ll tell you what’s new about this beastly machine with a MONSTER price tag By the numbers: how much dough Apple earns every single second will help you realize what plebeians we all are And we wrap with how Apple got it right 2017, and what they need to do better in 2018!   This episode supported by Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.   If you want the fastest WiFi everywhere in our home, check out an award winning Orbi WiFi System from Netgear, at http://netgear.com/orbi.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / @lewiswallace   Jony Ive is once again leading Apple’s design team https://www.cultofmac.com/518077/jony-ive-design-team/ Jony Ive is reportedly returning to hands-on design duties at Apple, two years after being promoted to the role of Chief Design Officer. According to an Apple spokesperson, “With the completion of Apple Park, Apple’s design leaders and teams are again reporting directly to Jony Ive, who remains focused purely on design.” Why Ive would be returning to his old role isn’t immediately clear — nor what this means for Dye and Howarth. Ironically, at the time that Ive was given his new job in 2015, some pundits suggested it meant Jony was on his way out of Apple, and this was a way of carrying out the transition. Now that he is “demoted” to his old position, no doubt many people will take it as signaling much the same thing.   Apple’s insane earning power https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/7jleyf/apple_makes_144476_per_second/   Apple’s ridiculously powerful iMac Pro is coming this week https://www.cultofmac.com/518429/imac-pro-this-week/ By the time you hear this, the iMac Pro will be ready for you to come 'n git it Comes wtih an  8, 10, or 18 core Intel Xeon Chip 32, 64, or 128 GB of DDR4 A new thermal design means the iMac Pro runs 80 percent cooler than a regular iMac Four Thunderbolt 3 ports for powering two 5K displays or four 4K displays at once, a 10-gigabit Ethernet port, four USB-A 3.0 ports, an SD card slot, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. That makes it Apple’s most port-friendly Mac in years. Hermetically sealed. Not upgradeable in any way, not even RAM.   iMac Pro impresses in first hands-on reviews https://www.cultofmac.com/518511/imac-pro-impresses-first-hands-reviews/ A fe

Send us a text!This week: Everything you need to know about Apple Pay Cash. One of the best, most anticipated Apple TV apps fo 2017 is FINALLY available.  We’ll talk about that. Why are we so hard on Apple?  We recently received some harsh email from a critic asking that very question.   We wrap up with our huge list of the best gadgets of 2017!!     This episode supported by Build a beautiful, responsive website quick at Squarespace.com.  Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off. Squarespace—Build it Beautiful.   The single-router wifi model just doesn’t work for our increasingly high-bandwidth world. The EERO distributed system will blanket your home in hyper-fast, reliable WiFi, and you can score free overnight shipping with code CULTCAST at checkout.   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney / @lewiswallace   iPhone X delivery times fall to within one week in US http://appleinsider.com/articles/17/11/30/iphone-x-delivery-times-fall-to-within-one-week-in-us All iPhone X models up for sale on Apple's online store are showing delivery in a week, down from 2-3 weeks two weeks ago. KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said supply chain improvements were to thank for Apple's improved iPhone X ship times, specifically a diversification of LCP LTE antenna orders and higher yields of iPhone's TrueDepth dot projector.   Everything you need to know about Apple Pay Cash  Used to pay people via the Messages app, though you can also use your Apple Pay Cash card to make Apple Pay payments if you have money on the card (card lives in your Apple Wallet) You can add cash to your card by receiving payments, or adding cash in the wallet app (minimum $10).  This is one in the Wallet app.  Just select the card then press the little “i” at the bottom right of the screen Money paid to you will live on your Apple Pay Cash card until you use it or transfer it to your bank. Debit cards let you send money for free, while credit cards cost 3% You can send money via Siri to people in your contacts You can send/receive a minimum of $1-$3,000 in a transaction, and can send/receive up to $10,000 in any 7 day period.   Amazon Prime Video is finally available for your Apple TV https://www.cultofmac.com/517355/amazon-prime-video-debut-appletv/ Apple has finally delivered on its WWDC promise to bring Amazon Prime Video to Apple TV, with just a few weeks to spare before Apple hit its own end-of-the-year deadline. The tvOS version of the app is available to download on Apple TV 3rd generation devices or above by searching “Amazon Prime Video” on your set-top box. It brings an end to the days of having to use AirPlay to play Amazon Prime Video on your Apple TV, via another device.   Ditch your old router, Eer

Send us a text!This week: The bigs ones.  The bangers.  It’s our favorite movies of 2017! The useful iPhone X gestures you haven’t heard about. Apple’s new Youtube channel and it’s actually pretty cool. The data for the LTE Apple watch is way more than we originally were told It’s the end of an era.  Jailbreaking is dead.   This episode supported by   Learn all you want for free with 30-day trial to LinkedIn Learning at http://linkedin.com/cultcast   If you just want great WiFi everywhere, check out an award winning Orbi WiFi System from Netgear, at http://netgear.com/orbi   CultCloth will keep your iPhone X, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney    Heads up: Apple Watch data is significantly more expensive than carriers will tell you https://www.reddit.com/r/apple/comments/7gg373/heads_up_apple_watch_data_is_significantly_more/ Just a heads up: Got my first AT&T bill with my Apple Watch LTE added on. Taxes on the $10 data plan add-on come to $7.69 meaning the cellular plan for the watch is actually $17.69/month or $212.28 for a year of service. That's insane and totally not worth it. Just wanted to make people aware of the fact that AT&T conveniently neglects to mention how expensive the plan will actually be.   Big Cydia sources shut down as jailbreaking dies out https://www.cultofmac.com/515907/big-cydia-sources-shut-jailbreaking-dies/ Jailbreaking was once a necessity to millions of iPhone owners, is just about dead, at least according to Cydia store creator Jay Freeman Many of the features that made jailbreaking so popular — like video recording, useful settings toggles, custom ringtones, and enhanced multitasking — are now baked into iOS. So jailbreaking is no longer required for many iPhone and iPad users. It was the only way to obtain native apps during the handset’s first year on the market. But even after the launch of the App Store, users turned to jailbreaking to get their hands on software Apple wouldn’t allow. Two of Cydia’s largest repositories have been shutdown as jailbreaking dies out. ModMy and ZodTTD are no longer available, leaving BigBoss as the only major source still available to those who want apps and tweaks you can’t find in the App Store.   Apple’s new YouTube channel teaches iOS tips https://www.cultofmac.com/516289/apples-new-youtube-channel-teaches-iphone-ipad/ Apple wants to help you make the most of your iPhone and iPad with a brand new YouTube channel. It offers a collection of how-to videos that teach you how to take screenshots, send attachments in Mail, print on the go, and more. The channel, which launched on Monday evening, currently hosts ten how-to videos. They’ll teach you how to do things like change your wallpaper, mute or leave a group conversation in iMessage, delete call logs and photos, and more.

Send us a text!This week: HomePod’s been delayed, we’ll talk about that, but Bloomberg put out an interesting piece on the history of the HomePod, and it gives previously undisclosed details of the device you may find very interesting. We gotta talk about net neutrality How Tesla just out Apple’d, Apple Is there still a point to Apple TV?   Tactics to get the best prices on all the Black Friday stuff you want Oh yeah, and 🦃 Gobble gobble yaaa’aaall! 🦃   This episode supported by   Learn all you want for free with 30-day trial to LinkedIn Learning at LinkedIn.com/cultcast   If you just want great WiFi everywhere, check out an award winning Orbi WiFi System from Netgear, at http://netgear.com/orbi   CultCloth will keep your iPhone 7, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad sparkling clean, and for a limited time you can use code CULTCAST to score a free CleanCloth with any order at CultCloth.co.   The Cult of Mac watch store has the best straps in the biz!  Check out the huge Black Friday sale with savings up to 50% at http://store.cultofmac.com.   Thanks to Kevin MacLeod at incompetech.com for the great music you hear on today's show.   On the show this week @erfon / @bst3r / @lkahney   Net neutrality is almost dead, but we can still save it FCC is about to kill Net Neutrality, and they’re calling it the Restoring internet freedom order They’re currently taking our feedback into account, but the official vote for the order will be on Dec. 14th Details of the new plan will were released today.  The plan completely removes restrictions on throttling or prioritizing content, and explicitly allows paid prioritization of content Go to Battleforthenet.com.  It will help you take action. If will connect you to your congress person via phone and even provide you a script of what to say.   Tesla out-Apples Apple with the new Roadster “one more thing" https://youtu.be/lAQGBxtLSWU?t=1m15s   Apple’s HomePod smart speaker won’t be home for Christmas - buster https://www.cultofmac.com/514723/apples-homepod-smart-speaker-wont-home-christmas/ Apple’s new Siri-powered smart speaker won’t be one of the hottest gifts of the 2017 holiday season after all. The HomePod was set to launch in December 2017, but the company released a statement today saying it needs more time to make the smart speaker ready for customers. “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 When it does launch, HomePod will cost $349, making it a lot more pricey than rival smart speakers from Amazon and Google   Apple's HomePod project actually predates the Amazon Echo, but has been canceled and restarted numerous times, and has undergone radical design changes