Amid struggles to make headway within the sensible speaker market, Apple has employed a brand new HomePod software program head, in line with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman. The firm has reportedly introduced onboard Afrooz Family, who co-founded the high-end audio startup Syng with former Apple designer Christopher Stringer.
Apple’s $349 HomePod arrived in 2018 to very combined critiques, and was discontinued early this 12 months. The firm has noticeably didn’t compete with sensible speaker rivals, notably Amazon’s Alexa-powered Echo gadgets and Google’s Assistant speaker household.
Family labored for Apple between 2012 and 2016 and was on the unique HomePod group earlier than beginning Syng. That firm aimed to develop a “revolutionary” speaker to provide immersive audio, however finally developed a moderately area of interest, $1,800 speaker. The earlier HomePod software program head, Jason Harrison, left Apple for Airbnb final 12 months.
Apple’s newest speaker product is the $99 HomePod mini, which we described in our Engadget evaluate as an “acceptable Echo alternative.” That gadget has reportedly helped gross sales a bit, however hasn’t put a lot of a dent in a market dominated by Amazon and Google, in line with Bloomberg.
The largest drawback with Apple’s sensible audio system could also be Siri and HomeKit, which are not as extensively supported as Alexa and Google Assistant. The unique HomePod was additionally fairly costly at launch. To make inroads, Apple might have to alter its strategy and proceed to enhance integration — because it not too long ago did with a HomePod mini replace that made it work with Apple TV. Apple’s major purpose is to merge its HomePod and Apple TV {hardware}, in line with Gurman.
Apple is holding its Unleashed occasion on Monday, the place it is anticipated to launch new MacBooks and probably AirPods, however there is no rumors of a brand new HomePod product coming any time quickly.
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