Apple Inc. has delayed the launch of its HomePod smart speaker to early next year. In a statement reported by several US technology websites, Apple said: “We need a little more time before it’s ready for our customers.” The statement added that the company will start shipping in the US, UK and Australia in early 2018, after it was set to hit the markets in December. Apple, which first introduced the voice-controlled HomePod in June did not reveal the reason behind the delay. HomePod’s will cost nearly $349, and it is expected to compete with other speakers like Sonos, along with the Amazon’s smart assistant “Echo”, or Google Assistant.