Skip to main content

Tim Cook bristles at the idea that the Apple HomePod is following the Echo

Apple Homepod
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends
Rich Shibley/Digital Trends

By the time the Apple HomePod made its official debut earlier in 2018, the Amazon Echo had already spent over three years with homeowners. As such, it’s hard to blame folks for comparing the two smart speakers, and yes, perhaps suggesting that the HomePod took a few cues from its older competitor. But unsurprisingly, Apple CEO Tim Cook is none too pleased with the insinuation. In a recent interview with Fast Company, the executive dismissed claims that the HomePod is in any way a “me too” product.

“I wouldn’t say ‘follow,’” Cook told Fast Company of the comparisons between the HomePod and the Echo. “I wouldn’t use that word because that implies we waited for somebody to see what they were doing. That’s actually not what’s happening. What’s happening if you look under the sheets, which we probably don’t let people do, is that we start projects years before they come out. You could take every one of our products –iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — they weren’t the first, but they were the first modern one, right?”

It’s certainly true that while Apple isn’t always the first to market, it tends to offer the product that becomes the market standard. And while the HomePod made its appearance significantly later than the Echo, plans for the smart speaker first began swirling around Apple around six years ago. As FastCo notes, “one report suggested that the speaker started life as an internal project…[and] moved through several designs, one of which was three feet tall.”

Whether or not Apple or Amazon had the concept first, the initial reaction to the Apple smart speaker has been a bit chilly, to say the least. Siri is much less capable of controlling your smart home than Alexa, and while the speaker itself has been praised as top-notch, its abilities beyond playing music are rather questionable. But Cook seems perfectly fine with that, at least for the time being.

“Great artists spend enormous time thinking about every detail,” he said of the company’s focus on sound over just about everything else. “If you get this little squeaky speaker, all of that is gone! All of the art and craft of music is gone. [HomePod] is the realization that that is important. Part of the enjoyment in music is hearing the full sound.”

Editors' Recommendations

Lulu Chang
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Apple HomePod vs. Apple HomePod 2023
Apple HomePod second-gen.

It has been quite a few years since Apple first launched the (now-defunct) HomePod, but the old smart speaker has been given a revival. The second generation HomePod retails for $299, and it offers some serious improvements over the original. Not only does it bring enhanced audio quality, but there are plenty of other upgrades that make it much better than its older sibling. Here’s a closer look at all the differences (and similarities) between the original HomePod and HomePod 2023.
Design

When compared side by side, you won’t notice many differences between the two HomePods. The new HomePod is about 200 grams lighter than the original model and is a couple of millimeters shorter, but overall the two are very similar. The touchpad on top of the HomePod 2023 is also a bit larger and now extends almost all the way to the edge of the device. Beyond those minor differences, they both sport an oblong design and come in multiple colors.
Speakers and sound
A diagram of the second-gen Apple HomePod internals (left) seen next to those of the first-gen HomePod. Image used with permission by copyright holder

Read more
Apple finally activates HomePod Mini’s hidden temperature/humidity sensor
Black HomePod mini on a side table, in front of an Apple TV

Apple recently revealed its second-gen HomePod, which is set to become the company’s flagship smart speaker in 2023. Featuring the S7 chipset, spatial audio, Matter compatibility, and tons of fancy room-sensing tech, the device is certain to be a hit when it launches in February. It’ll also feature a temperature and humidity sensor. Oddly enough, so does the existing HomePod Mini -- except Apple has only just activated the feature.

Apple has kept the temperature and humidity sensor deactivated for years, although now, with the launch of a new HomePod around the corner, the company has finally gone ahead and turned on the instrument in its existing Home Mini lineup. Once your HomePod Mini receives the update, you’ll be able to use it to track both the temperature and humidity in your home, then use that information to create various automations through Apple Home.

Read more
Apple reportedly working on a new iPad-like smart home display
Someone holding the 12.9-inch version of the iPad Pro (2022).

Apple recently announced a new HomePod with support for Matter, but it seems the company might have bigger smart home plans for the rest of 2023. According to the latest report from Bloomberg, Apple is allegedly working on an iPad-like device that could directly compete with Amazon’s Echo Show and Google’s Nest Hub Max.

Details on the rumored product are scarce, but it seems the device would feature a touchscreen and function similar to an iPad. Magnets would allow it to be mounted to a wall, and HomeKit would give it access to all your smart home products. It’s unclear at this time if the device would feature a stand, allowing it to sit on your countertops like the Echo Show and Nest Hub. What is clear, however, is that Apple wants to gain a stronger foothold in the smart home market -- and this could serve as a great alternative to using the HomePod Mini as a HomeKit hub.

Read more