, Columnist
Apple's HomePod Stumble Isn't a Momentary Lapse
Manufacturing and logistical missteps are eroding the company's supply-chain mystique.
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Christmas will be a little disappointing for some Apple fans. And the company's holiday season slip-up may be another sign that its crown as the disciplined king of manufacturing is becoming tarnished.
Apple Inc. acknowledged on Friday that its much-hyped HomePod voice-activated home speaker won't go on sale next month in the U.S. and two other countries, as the company had announced in June. The company said the product needs more seasoning. "We can't wait for people to experience HomePod," Apple said in a statement, "but we need a little more time before it's ready for our customers."