leighr

Surely the record companies mentioned, Stardust and Pickwick, are culpable. They would have signed off with the online storefronts stating that they legitimately licenced the music, thereby knowingly committing deceit. I would imagine that the shift record labels have no fixed address though, and so it’s easier to hit up the big music players for the money. 

Cost is a relative thing. Perhaps Apple would have been better to introduce HomePod at $175 in order to firstly gain market share, and then move up to premium HomePodPro models. They couldn’t drop the quality though, people expect poor quality from Google and Samsung, even Amazon, but poor quality from Apple would not be tolerated, so it would have to be the same model, but at a price that doesn’t really make them money - which a lot of companies do to gain traction. That said, $349 is not a lot for an excellent speaker system, which HomePod is. Well advanced technically from the competing tinny speakers, and cheaper that Google’s premium speaker, it’s main issue is that people compare it to the little tinnies because of its similar look and size. Looking forward to receiving mine next week!

Interesting about the "one day battery life of Apple Watch". I always get three days of battery life with my Series 2 Apple Watch with normal use.

Have to say that I miss Scott's work. Still hope that one day he will return to Apple.