HomePod speaker. Image: pianodiaphragm/Shutterstock
Apple is facing criticism from customers who say its HomePod speaker leaves stains on wooden surfaces.
Apple has designed its HomePod speaker to be a major competitor in the smart speaker space and it hopes to provide an alternative to Google Home and Amazon Alexa devices.
According to Bloomberg, the speaker generates thinner profit margins for the company compared to products such as the successful Apple Watch and iPhone.
Powered by Apple’s popular Siri virtual assistant to provide voice control, the company nevertheless has high hopes for the product’s integration into the lives and domestic ecosystems of consumers.
HomePod has its flaws
The speaker retails at a pretty hefty $350 and although Wirecutter called it “the best-sounding wireless smart speaker available”, it also noted a long list of flaws with the product. The ability to connect multiple speakers in multiple rooms, touted as a marquee feature, has not yet been introduced and there has been no timeline offered by Apple for future feature additions or updates.
Perhaps the most glaring issue is the fact that the speaker can cause damage to wooden furniture, with owners and reviewers on Twitter noting this issue.
Apple Confirms HomePod Can Leave White Rings on Wood Surfaces With Oil or Wax Finishes https://t.co/8J9ea1IrAJ by @rsgnl pic.twitter.com/DDQSP74U4L
— MacRumors.com (@MacRumors) February 14, 2018
#homepod left rings on my wood furniture in less than 20 minutes of use. Thanks #apple I am glad a paid $400 to make perfect etched circles on my more expensive furniture. Guess I can not move it now to cover up the mark. Evil geniuses you are. #applesupport pic.twitter.com/eZng16barS
— Guy San Francisco (@Guyinsf415) February 10, 2018
Apple advice
Apple updated its customer support page with advice: “It is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-damping silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces.
“The marks can be caused by oils diffusing between the silicone base and the table surface, and will often go away after several days when the speaker is removed from the wooden surface. If not, wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth may remove the marks.
“If marks persist, clean the surface with the furniture manufacturer’s recommended cleaning process. If you’re concerned about this, we recommend placing your HomePod on a different surface.”
Apple also said the speaker should be kept away from heat sources such as radiators, stoves and even candles.
Many are viewing the advice to simply move the speaker to a different surface as a less-than-ideal solution to the flaw and say that the warning about wooden surfaces should have been issued prior to the speakers hitting the market.
Wirecutter reviewer John Chase said: “This really undermines the design aspect of the HomePod, especially if you were thinking of displaying it on some prized piece of furniture. It will surely be a sore point for many potential buyers.”
The speaker flaw comes at a bad time for Apple, as the company is only now recovering from the aftermath of the recent iPhone battery controversy.
HomePod speaker. Image: pianodiaphragm/Shutterstock
