Nov 17, 2017 - Technology

Apple moves HomePod release to early 2018, missing Christmas rush

Apple CEO Tim Cook introduces the HomePod speaker at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference in June. Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez / AP

Apple announced in a statement Friday that its HomePod smart speaker won't be ready in time for its initial December release date, adding that the production process needs "a little more time." A company spokesperson told TechCrunch that the new plan is to start shipping in the U.S., U.K. and Australia in 2018.

Why it matters: The delay is a hit to Apple, whose original plan was to coincide with the $350 speaker's release with the Christmas rush.

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Axios
Updated 11 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: COVID-19 looms over White House Halloween celebrations — Fauci: Trump hasn't been to a COVID task force meeting in months.
  2. Health: Fauci says if people won't wear masks, maybe it should be mandated — America was sick well before it ever got COVID-19 —U.S. hits highest daily COVID-19 case count since pandemic began — AstraZeneca to resume vaccine trial in U.S. — How to help save 130,000 lives.
  3. World: Polish President Andrzej Duda tests positive for COVID-19.
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Mike Allen, Margaret Talev
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

Post-debate poll finds Biden strong on every major issue

Joe Biden speaks Friday about "The Biden Plan to Beat COVID-19," at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images

This is one of the bigger signs of trouble for President Trump that we've seen in a poll: Of the final debate's seven topics, Joe Biden won or tied on all seven when viewers in a massive Axios-SurveyMonkey sample were asked who they trusted more to handle the issue.

Why it matters: In a time of unprecedented colliding crises for the nation, the polling considered Biden to be vastly more competent.

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Bryan Walsh, author of Future
5 hours ago - Science

The murder hornets are here

A braver man than me holds a speciment of the Asian giant hornet. Photo: Karen Ducey/Getty Images

Entomologists in Washington state on Thursday discovered the first Asian giant hornet nest in the U.S.

Why it matters: You may know this insect species by its nom de guerre: "the murder hornet." While the threat they pose to humans has been overstated, the invading hornets could decimate local honeybee populations if they establish themselves.

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