Apple delays launch of smart speaker
蘋果計劃推遲自家智能揚聲器的發布時間
Apple is delaying the release of its HomePod smart speaker until 2018.
蘋果計劃將自家智能音箱HomePod的發行時間推遲到2018年。
The electronics giant said the device, which was due to be released in December this year, still needed development work.
電子巨頭蘋果近日稱，本計劃于今年12月份發行的智能音箱需要更多的開發時間。
It said the HomePod would be ready to go on shop shelves in the US, UK and Australia "early in 2018".
官方稱HomePod計劃在“2018年早些時候”面向美國、英國和澳大利亞市場發布。
The news is a blow to its plans to take on rivals Amazon and Google in the growing market for home devices that use AI to help consumers.
這個消息對于蘋果來講是個打擊：它本計劃與亞馬遜和谷歌在這個愈漸擴大的智能家居市場中依靠人工智能技術展開競爭并造福消費者。
'Not surprising'
“并不意外”
In a statement sent to news organisations, Apple said the wireless speaker needed "a little more time before it's ready for our customers".
蘋果的新聞稿稱這款無線揚聲器需要“更晚些時候才能面見消費者。”
The delay will mean Apple misses the lucrative holiday season during which many consumers buy gadgets as gifts.
這個延遲意味著蘋果將錯失節前購物季：消費者習慣假期前購買些小配件作為禮物。
The gadget was first unveiled in June this year when Apple said it would go on sale in the US for $349 (￡265). In the UK it was expected to cost ￡350.
這款設備于今年六月首次與公眾見面，蘋果稱它在美國的定價為349美元（265英鎊）。在英國的售價預期為350英鎊。
It was designed to be a competitor to other smart speakers - such as Amazon's Echo and Google's Assistant. Sonos, Microsoft and others also make similar gadgets.
它的設計初衷也是與其他智能揚聲器開展競爭，比如亞馬遜的Echo和谷歌的助手Sonos、微軟及其它公司開發的類似配件。
Like them it was designed to play music and act as a hands-free helper letting owners set timers, maintain shopping lists and get reports about the news, weather and other subjects.
一如其它智能揚聲器，它可以解放用戶的雙手播放音樂、設定時間、存儲購物清單、收聽新聞、天氣預報及其他主題的信息。
Since Apple unveiled the HomePod both Google and Amazon have added new models to their ranges of smart speakers, intensifying the competition with Apple.
自從蘋果發布了HomePod的相關信息，谷歌和亞馬遜就對自己的智能揚聲器增加了新的模式以加強自家產品與蘋果的競爭力。
Writing in Engadget, associate editor Jon Fingle said the delay was "not surprising" given that the HomePod was Apple's first try at a smart speaker.
癮科技公司副主編喬恩稱該“延遲”“一點也不意外”。因為HomePod是蘋果公司涉足智能揚聲器研發領域的第一次試水產品。
"The HomePod isn't necessarily in trouble," he said. "but it may face a tougher battle than it did beforehand."
“HomePod并不是開發遇到了困難，”他說。“不過他未來也確實要面對更殘酷的戰場了。”
安娜譯
