Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
I wouldn't sweat it. Apple took a similar approach with the iPhone X, letting some websites and YouTubers get controlled hands-on time with representatives watching over their shoulder. The product doesn't launch for two weeks, they are probably just spacing out their media strategy to remain in the news cycle.
Neil, I didn't pay attention the the X review timing but you're saying they didn't supply review units to anyone before the pre-orders began? Now that I've gone back to look the first REAL in-depth X reviews didn't happen until a couple days after pre-orders began. So in-depth reviews of the Home Pod should probably start hitting the main sites next week. Thanks!
Yes, reviews of the iPhone X (and 8) didn't hit until after preorders began. That's normal practice for Apple. For example, iPhone 8 preorders began Sept. 15, but review embargo did not lift until the next week, on Sept. 19.
Also worth noting that the iPhone 8 officially launched on Sept. 22, just 7 days after preorders began. And the reviews arrived three days before launch. With HomePod, there is a two-week window. So we may not see review embargoes lift until Feb. 6-7-ish.
(I haven't been asked to sign an embargo, so I'm not withholding any inside info, just speculating.)
If you think about it, this is probably a good strategy for Apple. As seen on this very thread, initial sales for a pre-order are already built in. Apple has a good enough track record that a lot of people will buy the thing sight-unseen. Out in review world, even if a product is flawless, there is a decent chance that some reviewer will seek attention (and clicks) by writing a bad review. If that sort of thing is written before preorder sales and manages to generate enough negative buzz, it could dampen those sales, as some people decide to 'wait and see.' Then, even if the negative review is based entirely on false or distorted information or just plain made up criticisms, the next big news after that is about how pre-order numbers are disappointing. The result is a perfectly good product fighting an uphill battle on release. Heck, there are people who have already posted plenty of negative information about the HomePod on sites like this one, having never seen or heard the thing. Some appeared out of nowhere just to do that, which is at least potentially the dirty work of competitors.
So by tightly controlling access to the device until well after pre-sales begin, Apple can limit the potential damage of an attention seeker or of intentional sabotage. With that delay, even if someone puts out that misleading review and it gets some buzz, Apple follows it with a report of robust pre-order sales, and next, all those pre-orders start arriving and the customers themselves generate buzz about how much they like the thing. Mind you, this strategy wouldn't help if Apple were to actually produce a real turnip, but if the product is a good one, this way limits their exposure to negative opportunism, and primes the pump for positive buzz.
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
Here we go again. Yes, Apple is a self-loathsome creature that is ashamed of its pitiful offering so instead of canceling it and slithering away, it's going to just release it anyway but not give out free demos to the scornful media who routinely crucifies the #1 company in the world for the chance at clicks. Cook also hates freedom.
Very concerned. Worried. Bad feeling guys. /s
Sorry it’s a valid question. And I’m not the first to suggest it. Also if I’m going to spend $349 on something it would be nice to know what people who have used it think. And used it for more than an hour and not in a controlled setting.
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
I wouldn't sweat it. Apple took a similar approach with the iPhone X, letting some websites and YouTubers get controlled hands-on time with representatives watching over their shoulder. The product doesn't launch for two weeks, they are probably just spacing out their media strategy to remain in the news cycle.
Neil, I didn't pay attention the the X review timing but you're saying they didn't supply review units to anyone before the pre-orders began? Now that I've gone back to look the first REAL in-depth X reviews didn't happen until a couple days after pre-orders began. So in-depth reviews of the Home Pod should probably start hitting the main sites next week. Thanks!
Yes, reviews of the iPhone X (and 8) didn't hit until after preorders began. That's normal practice for Apple. For example, iPhone 8 preorders began Sept. 15, but review embargo did not lift until the next week, on Sept. 19.
Also worth noting that the iPhone 8 officially launched on Sept. 22, just 7 days after preorders began. And the reviews arrived three days before launch. With HomePod, there is a two-week window. So we may not see review embargoes lift until Feb. 6-7-ish.
(I haven't been asked to sign an embargo, so I'm not withholding any inside info, just speculating.)
If you think about it, this is probably a good strategy for Apple. As seen on this very thread, initial sales for a pre-order are already built in. Apple has a good enough track record that a lot of people will buy the thing sight-unseen. Out in review world, even if a product is flawless, there is a decent chance that some reviewer will seek attention (and clicks) by writing a bad review. If that sort of thing is written before preorder sales and manages to generate enough negative buzz, it could dampen those sales, as some people decide to 'wait and see.' Then, even if the negative review is based entirely on false or distorted information or just plain made up criticisms, the next big news after that is about how pre-order numbers are disappointing. The result is a perfectly good product fighting an uphill battle on release. Heck, there are people who have already posted plenty of negative information about the HomePod on sites like this one, having never seen or heard the thing. Some appeared out of nowhere just to do that, which is at least potentially the dirty work of competitors.
So by tightly controlling access to the device until well after pre-sales begin, Apple can limit the potential damage of an attention seeker or of intentional sabotage. With that delay, even if someone puts out that misleading review and it gets some buzz, Apple follows it with a report of robust pre-order sales, and next, all those pre-orders start arriving and the customers themselves generate buzz about how much they like the thing. Mind you, this strategy wouldn't help if Apple were to actually produce a real turnip, but if the product is a good one, this way limits their exposure to negative opportunism, and primes the pump for positive buzz.
Would we be saying the same thing if it was someone else not named Apple? You might be right as to why Apple is cutting back on early reviews but I think if Apple was really confident in what they were shipping they wouldn’t be worried about reviews. And besides they can still control who gets review units. So if they know a certain outlet is just about clicks then don’t give them a review unit.
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
Here we go again. Yes, Apple is a self-loathsome creature that is ashamed of its pitiful offering so instead of canceling it and slithering away, it's going to just release it anyway but not give out free demos to the scornful media who routinely crucifies the #1 company in the world for the chance at clicks. Cook also hates freedom.
Very concerned. Worried. Bad feeling guys. /s
Sorry it’s a valid question. And I’m not the first to suggest it. Also if I’m going to spend $349 on something it would be nice to know what people who have used it think. And used it for more than an hour and not in a controlled setting.
Well it's not exactly like having to make a mad dash to the Apple Store. There will be plenty of 'em to go around. Read the reviews in a couple of weeks and then decide. They'll still be making them.
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
Here we go again. Yes, Apple is a self-loathsome creature that is ashamed of its pitiful offering so instead of canceling it and slithering away, it's going to just release it anyway but not give out free demos to the scornful media who routinely crucifies the #1 company in the world for the chance at clicks. Cook also hates freedom.
Very concerned. Worried. Bad feeling guys. /s
Sorry it’s a valid question. And I’m not the first to suggest it. Also if I’m going to spend $349 on something it would be nice to know what people who have used it think. And used it for more than an hour and not in a controlled setting.
Well it's not exactly like having to make a mad dash to the Apple Store. There will be plenty of 'em to go around.
Are you sure? Isn't it standard operating procedure at Apple that all new products are supply constrained for a period of months after initial release?
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
Here we go again. Yes, Apple is a self-loathsome creature that is ashamed of its pitiful offering so instead of canceling it and slithering away, it's going to just release it anyway but not give out free demos to the scornful media who routinely crucifies the #1 company in the world for the chance at clicks. Cook also hates freedom.
Very concerned. Worried. Bad feeling guys. /s
Sorry it’s a valid question. And I’m not the first to suggest it. Also if I’m going to spend $349 on something it would be nice to know what people who have used it think. And used it for more than an hour and not in a controlled setting.
Well it's not exactly like having to make a mad dash to the Apple Store. There will be plenty of 'em to go around. Read the reviews in a couple of weeks and then decide.
i wonder if it will be supply constrained like AirPods were?
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
Here we go again. Yes, Apple is a self-loathsome creature that is ashamed of its pitiful offering so instead of canceling it and slithering away, it's going to just release it anyway but not give out free demos to the scornful media who routinely crucifies the #1 company in the world for the chance at clicks. Cook also hates freedom.
Very concerned. Worried. Bad feeling guys. /s
Sorry it’s a valid question. And I’m not the first to suggest it. Also if I’m going to spend $349 on something it would be nice to know what people who have used it think. And used it for more than an hour and not in a controlled setting.
Well it's not exactly like having to make a mad dash to the Apple Store. There will be plenty of 'em to go around. Read the reviews in a couple of weeks and then decide.
i wonder if it will be supply constrained like AirPods were?
I would expect that million initial stock to be done within a few days so it might seem like you better act fast!... But more are on the way.
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
I wouldn't sweat it. Apple took a similar approach with the iPhone X, letting some websites and YouTubers get controlled hands-on time with representatives watching over their shoulder. The product doesn't launch for two weeks, they are probably just spacing out their media strategy to remain in the news cycle.
Neil, I didn't pay attention the the X review timing but you're saying they didn't supply review units to anyone before the pre-orders began? Now that I've gone back to look the first REAL in-depth X reviews didn't happen until a couple days after pre-orders began. So in-depth reviews of the Home Pod should probably start hitting the main sites next week. Thanks!
Yes, reviews of the iPhone X (and 8) didn't hit until after preorders began. That's normal practice for Apple. For example, iPhone 8 preorders began Sept. 15, but review embargo did not lift until the next week, on Sept. 19.
Also worth noting that the iPhone 8 officially launched on Sept. 22, just 7 days after preorders began. And the reviews arrived three days before launch. With HomePod, there is a two-week window. So we may not see review embargoes lift until Feb. 6-7-ish.
(I haven't been asked to sign an embargo, so I'm not withholding any inside info, just speculating.)
If you think about it, this is probably a good strategy for Apple. As seen on this very thread, initial sales for a pre-order are already built in. Apple has a good enough track record that a lot of people will buy the thing sight-unseen. Out in review world, even if a product is flawless, there is a decent chance that some reviewer will seek attention (and clicks) by writing a bad review. If that sort of thing is written before preorder sales and manages to generate enough negative buzz, it could dampen those sales, as some people decide to 'wait and see.' Then, even if the negative review is based entirely on false or distorted information or just plain made up criticisms, the next big news after that is about how pre-order numbers are disappointing. The result is a perfectly good product fighting an uphill battle on release. Heck, there are people who have already posted plenty of negative information about the HomePod on sites like this one, having never seen or heard the thing. Some appeared out of nowhere just to do that, which is at least potentially the dirty work of competitors.
So by tightly controlling access to the device until well after pre-sales begin, Apple can limit the potential damage of an attention seeker or of intentional sabotage. With that delay, even if someone puts out that misleading review and it gets some buzz, Apple follows it with a report of robust pre-order sales, and next, all those pre-orders start arriving and the customers themselves generate buzz about how much they like the thing. Mind you, this strategy wouldn't help if Apple were to actually produce a real turnip, but if the product is a good one, this way limits their exposure to negative opportunism, and primes the pump for positive buzz.
Agree with you, but also consider that sometimes reviews help the product. See: Apple Watch Series 3 with cellular and the Wi-Fi connectivity bug. Had Apple provided review units earlier (even if the embargo remained the same), they could have presumably had more time to find out about and fix what was, for a very short while, a legit show-stopping bug for LTE users. You can bet your bottom dollar that Apple would have liked to have a day-one patch to fix that bug for faithful fans who preordered before reviews went live.
In the end, the Wi-Fi bug was a minor blip on the radar. Still shouldn't have happened, though.
It's now the 12th hour for the HomePod and it's still arriving on 09 Feb. Of course, we can't know about rate of manufacture, availability of components, and other aspects that can affect supply and demand, so all we can say is that demand is not currently outstripping supply.
It's now the 12th hour for the HomePod and it's still arriving on 09 Feb. Of course, we can't know about rate of manufacture, availability of components, and other aspects that can affect supply and demand, so all we can say is that demand is not currently outstripping supply.
I believe there was a story the other day that 1 million are on the way to Apple now, that according to the contract manufacturer Inventec, but they were anticipating 15M more this year give or take a million or so and coming from Foxconn in addition to Inventec.
IMHO they'll sell that one million before the weekend's out if not much earlier. Nice chunk'a change for Apple.
It's now the 12th hour for the HomePod and it's still arriving on 09 Feb. Of course, we can't know about rate of manufacture, availability of components, and other aspects that can affect supply and demand, so all we can say is that demand is not currently outstripping supply.
I believe there was a story the other day that 1 million are on the way to Apple now, that according to the contract manufacturer Inventec, but they were anticipating 15M more this year give or take a million or so and coming from Foxconn in addition to Inventec.
You're talking AirPods, right, because I can't see those numbers happening with HomePod.
It's now the 12th hour for the HomePod and it's still arriving on 09 Feb. Of course, we can't know about rate of manufacture, availability of components, and other aspects that can affect supply and demand, so all we can say is that demand is not currently outstripping supply.
I believe there was a story the other day that 1 million are on the way to Apple now, that according to the contract manufacturer Inventec, but they were anticipating 15M more this year give or take a million or so and coming from Foxconn in addition to Inventec.
You're talking AirPods, right, because I can't see those numbers happening with HomePod.
Oops, the report says the manufacturer is expecting orders for another 10-12 million this year, not 15. My bad.
Ordered mine with February 9th delivery but pissed that two days earlier, the Apple online chat gal assured me preorders would begin 3:01am EST.
What are you pissed about? Isn't that when pre-orders start? Aren't you getting it on the first day?
Preorders started at about 8:30 a.m. Eastern. I woke up at 3 in an attempt to preorder as well, but had no luck. Then I went back to bed. Not a big deal.
Worth noting that orders are still advertised to deliver on launch day as of Friday afternoon. Either Apple has made plenty of HomePods to meet demand, or demand is less than expected (doomed).
Ordered mine with February 9th delivery but pissed that two days earlier, the Apple online chat gal assured me preorders would begin 3:01am EST.
What are you pissed about? Isn't that when pre-orders start? Aren't you getting it on the first day?
Preorders started at about 8:30 a.m. Eastern. I woke up at 3 in an attempt to preorder as well, but had no luck. Then I went back to bed. Not a big deal.
Worth noting that orders are still advertised to deliver on launch day as of Friday afternoon. Either Apple has made plenty of HomePods to meet demand, or demand is less than expected (doomed).
Gotcha. Thanks, and my bad for reading the article where I see that it's mentioned. That means I ordered about 1.5 hours after it went live.
Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale.
Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout.
Here we go again. Yes, Apple is a self-loathsome creature that is ashamed of its pitiful offering so instead of canceling it and slithering away, it's going to just release it anyway but not give out free demos to the scornful media who routinely crucifies the #1 company in the world for the chance at clicks. Cook also hates freedom.
Very concerned. Worried. Bad feeling guys. /s
Sorry it’s a valid question. And I’m not the first to suggest it. Also if I’m going to spend $349 on something it would be nice to know what people who have used it think. And used it for more than an hour and not in a controlled setting.
It’s not a valid question. Suggesting that Apple is not seeding pre-sales review units because they’re secretly ashamed of their own product just means you don’t understand Apple or the risk vs rewards for Apple. Hint: read the post immediately before yours by AppleZulu (currently #41) that explains why they don’t need to seed review units during the pre-sale period. There’s no gain and plenty of downside.
Your “Makes me wonder if they’re ashamed!?” question is so disconnected from business reality it’s rather embarrassing.
All The A8 chip needs to do is manage sound manipulation, communications, a very basic OS aaand SIRI. So it should be fine.
I guess the only possible question is future OS and SIRI upgrades for the HomePod. They are quite likely, desirable in fact. Will they be significantly more demanding to the extent a more powerful SOC is needed? Probably not, but I get the original commenter’s concern.
Comments
So by tightly controlling access to the device until well after pre-sales begin, Apple can limit the potential damage of an attention seeker or of intentional sabotage. With that delay, even if someone puts out that misleading review and it gets some buzz, Apple follows it with a report of robust pre-order sales, and next, all those pre-orders start arriving and the customers themselves generate buzz about how much they like the thing. Mind you, this strategy wouldn't help if Apple were to actually produce a real turnip, but if the product is a good one, this way limits their exposure to negative opportunism, and primes the pump for positive buzz.
But more are on the way.
In the end, the Wi-Fi bug was a minor blip on the radar. Still shouldn't have happened, though.
It's now the 12th hour for the HomePod and it's still arriving on 09 Feb. Of course, we can't know about rate of manufacture, availability of components, and other aspects that can affect supply and demand, so all we can say is that demand is not currently outstripping supply.
IMHO they'll sell that one million before the weekend's out if not much earlier. Nice chunk'a change for Apple.
Worth noting that orders are still advertised to deliver on launch day as of Friday afternoon. Either Apple has made plenty of HomePods to meet demand, or demand is less than expected (doomed).
Your “Makes me wonder if they’re ashamed!?” question is so disconnected from business reality it’s rather embarrassing.
So it should be fine.
I guess the only possible question is future OS and SIRI upgrades for the HomePod. They are quite likely, desirable in fact. Will they be significantly more demanding to the extent a more powerful SOC is needed? Probably not, but I get the original commenter’s concern.