Apple is delaying its HomePod smart speaker until 'early 2018' (APPL)

The release of Apple's HomePod speaker has been delayed until early 2018.Now the $349 HomePod won't ship in time for the holiday season.The specific reason for the delay is unclear.Apple said Friday that it's delaying the release ofits HomePod smart speaker until early 2018.We cant wait for people to experience HomePod, Apple's breakthrough wireless speaker for the home, but we need a little more time before its ready for our customers," an Apple spokesperson told Business Insider in an emailed statement. "Well start shipping in the US, UK and Australia in early 2018.Apple announced the HomePod in June 2017 and initially said the $349 speaker would ship by December. A spokesperson declined to comment on the specific reason for the delay.The HomePod is the second product Apple has delayed in recent memory. The release of AirPods,Apple's Bluetooth earbuds, was initially planned for October 2016 and pushed back two months.SEE ALSO:Spotify won't work with Siri on Apple's HomePodJoin the conversation about this storyNOW WATCH: This is the Google Home Max ' Google's high-end smart home speaker that will compete with Apple's HomePod
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