Apple
Apple unveiled a new smart home speaker at its big annual conference on Monday, a bold move by the iPhone-maker to catch up to Amazon and Google, which each have similar products for sale.
Apple's $350 HomePod combines the rich audio quality of Sonos speakers with the smarts of Siri, Apple's virtual assistant. That means the device can do anything from playing music to dimming the living room lights when users talk to it.
The device doesn't ship until later this year, so it's too early to say how it will compare to the rival Amazon Echo or Google Home products. But the HomePod's design and name quickly generated a flood of jokes and comments on Twitter, with many commenters noting its resemblence to a roll of toilet paper.
We're not sure what this guy is saying, but we're guessing he's making a similar joke:
This guy already has an Amazon Echo smart speaker, but wanted to dress it up with some Apple-inspired stylings:
Some people likened the HomePod's look to that of a marshmallow:
Or a chiclet:
The HomePod's cylindrical shape also reminded some people of another recently decomissioned Apple product.
Not even the speaker's internal hardware was spared.
Business Insider's own Matt Weinberger noted the increasing amount of felt that each company has added to their smart speaker:
The HomePod name was also a source of amusement:
Best of all, though, was the user who pointed out the missed opportunity in naming the new device.
Turns out I already have a #HomePod pic.twitter.com/VFUY6jfPIm
- Raz (@raztweets) June 5, 2017Идеальная подставка для HomePod pic.twitter.com/QlgLMGiNac
- Максим Хорошев (@khoroshev) June 5, 2017Just got the new Apple #Homepod. Jealous suckers? pic.twitter.com/bnGXxDAgqb
- Ody Granados (@Odymon) June 5, 2017Wow, the #HomePod comes in so many colours! #wwdc2017 pic.twitter.com/Bf4slYNlEC
- Michael G://ett (@MichaelGillett) June 5, 2017When you ask your #Homepod too many questions pic.twitter.com/8ss0DdAb3a
- Kim Arnett (@kimberlypilbeam) June 5, 2017Soon available in packs of twelve and in rainbow colors!! #HomePod pic.twitter.com/ObhkhPUEwB
- Bob Marsdale (@BobMarsdale) June 5, 2017HOMEPOD, recycled from Mac Pros that were never sold pic.twitter.com/PGMHnVrlrV
- Nicole Nguyen (@itsnicolenguyen) June 5, 2017After Apple sacked the design team for the disgraced cylindrical Mac Pro, it rehired them for the HomePod. #WWDC17 pic.twitter.com/zElfkPdguP
- Stephen Shankland (@stshank) June 5, 2017Check out Apple's new Imperial Spy Droid, I mean the #Homepod #WWDC2017 pic.twitter.com/cV0JKlB5j6
- David Leavitt (@David_Leavitt) June 5, 2017What if it's one speaker just slowly getting dressed pic.twitter.com/gNqEHaC9ng
- Matt 🍷🍔 (@gamoid) June 5, 2017What I think of when I hear #HomePod: pic.twitter.com/OGrLQHArNr
- Scott 🦁 (@TheScottfather) June 5, 2017What idiot called it HomePod and not Speaker of the House
- Jordan Kay (@_Jordan) June 5, 2017