If you can wait they will probably eventually be available locally.

I see the price in Australia is $AU500 so I'm guessing they'll retail for about $NZ600 here, which means $NZ1200 for a stereo pair. I am watching this one with interest because I wouldn't mind spending $1200 if the sound quality is proportional to the price, but I think that remains to be seen.

Better off with the Sonos from what I can tell from reviews so far.  Unless you're desperate for Siri, but even that functionality will be cut down on HomePod for a while until some updates come along.  

The Sonos One already has Alexa and apparently is slated for Google Assistant and Siri at some point in the (near?) future. I grabbed one from Amazon US and am loving it so far, amazing sound and seems to be just as good at hearing as my Echo.

I read that Sonos are currently available 2 for the price of one due to Homepod launch. Not sure where tho..but it was widely advertised on US blogs.

I struggle to see any benefit in being able to talk to my speakers.

There's a fair bit of choice - B&W have some good units around that price and if I am buying speakers I would rather the money spent designing them went to sound, not making them able to tell me the weather...

I've already moved to Google Home. The fact that the Homepod doesn't support Google Play was a big turn-off.

The fact Apple are highly unlikely to licence the technology means it's going to be nothing but a niche Apple ecosystem product.

CES was full of products such as TVs with Google Assistant built in that can all be controlled via voice from the device itself or from another Google Assistant product on the same network. Virtually every 2018 LG product has full voice control built in. Google have already won the war against Alexa, and Apple really don't stand a chance at this point of ever making much ground.

Do what I did with my laptop but the reverse way. Bought it in NZ, use my Aussie passport to claim GST back at airport, Fly out, Fly back. Profit...

Just do not do as I when leaving Australia on my NZ passport and not have the requirements for a claim. I had around $1500 of stuff I bought in Aussie that I was planning to claim on (As it was more expensive here once you get GST back) and then I realized that you must have spent $300+ on each receipt to claim. I cocked that one up.... 

Dulouz:

 

I've already moved to Google Home. The fact that the Homepod doesn't support Google Play was a big turn-off.

 

Why should it.. Does the Google Home support Apple Music natively? Of course you can AirPlay other stuff to it but you can hardly expect Apple to support their competitors service..

If you're in the google ecosystem buy a Google Home, If you have Apple stuff buy the HomePod

sbiddle:

 

The fact Apple are highly unlikely to licence the technology means it's going to be nothing but a niche Apple ecosystem product.

 

CES was full of products such as TVs with Google Assistant built in that can all be controlled via voice from the device itself or from another Google Assistant product on the same network. Virtually every 2018 LG product has full voice control built in. Google have already won the war against Alexa, and Apple really don't stand a chance at this point of ever making much ground.

 

Niche? Apple? Are you aware of how many active Siri users there are worldwide?

Hint: it's 500,000,000.

I will definitely be buying a HomePod as it will integrate flawlessly with all my other devices (which are 100% Apple). I imagine millions of people will be in the same boat.

I won't be partaking until it's officially launched in NZ though, as I imagine a lot of the features will be unavailable (although I guess I could always just AirPlay).

Yabanize:

Dulouz:

I've already moved to Google Home. The fact that the Homepod doesn't support Google Play was a big turn-off.

Why should it.. Does the Google Home support Apple Music natively? Of course you can AirPlay other stuff to it but you can hardly expect Apple to support their competitors service..

If you're in the google ecosystem buy a Google Home, If you have Apple stuff buy the HomePod

 

Dingbatt:

 

Don't buy the Homepod expecting a 'smart speaker', at least in the sense people have come to expect from the Echo or Google Home range. It is foremost an audio device with some smart functionality rather than than a smart device that can play music. Apple have already signaled that multi room and stereo are coming, just not at launch (a bit like Bixby really).

That's exactly it. I still use an iPod Hi-Fi (every day) which I love. I have an AirPort Express hooked up to its AUX input so I can AirPlay to it. I think the HomePod will just be a more finessed version of that. Obviously the HomePod is a lot smaller so I'm not expecting as much bass, but I'm also sure that speaker technology has evolved considerably in the 12 years since the iPod Hi-Fi was made. I have a Sonos in the office that impresses me every day with how much sound it puts out from such a small device.

sbiddle:

 

The fact Apple are highly unlikely to licence the technology means it's going to be nothing but a niche Apple ecosystem product.

 

CES was full of products such as TVs with Google Assistant built in that can all be controlled via voice from the device itself or from another Google Assistant product on the same network. Virtually every 2018 LG product has full voice control built in. Google have already won the war against Alexa, and Apple really don't stand a chance at this point of ever making much ground.

 

 

 

I can't even get my Android TV to work with my You Tube account...

Benjip:

 

sbiddle:

 

The fact Apple are highly unlikely to licence the technology means it's going to be nothing but a niche Apple ecosystem product.

 

CES was full of products such as TVs with Google Assistant built in that can all be controlled via voice from the device itself or from another Google Assistant product on the same network. Virtually every 2018 LG product has full voice control built in. Google have already won the war against Alexa, and Apple really don't stand a chance at this point of ever making much ground.

 

 

Niche? Apple? Are you aware of how many active Siri users there are worldwide?

 

Hint: it's 500,000,000.

 

I will definitely be buying a HomePod as it will integrate flawlessly with all my other devices (which are 100% Apple). I imagine millions of people will be in the same boat.

 

I won't be partaking until it's officially launched in NZ though, as I imagine a lot of the features will be unavailable (although I guess I could always just AirPlay).

 

There's not a great deal of integration required to play music. My Bose speaker and my B&W Zeppelin all 'integrate flawlessly' with my iMac...