Demand for Apple's HomePod stalls after hot start

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

It seems that demand for Apple's smart speaker has slowed down. The HomePod began shipping to customers in the US in February, and seemed to be grabbing a lot of attention during its news cycle. The device was praised for its stunning sound which was at a level of larger, more expensive hi-fi speakers. The HomePod, it seems, was just the smart speaker the Apple ecosystem was waiting for.

Two months later, however, it looks like the HomePod demand is going flat. Bloomberg reports that Apple has lowered manufacturing volume for the smart speaker. The same report says that there's a possibility a cheaper and smaller model will be coming soon.

I had reservations about the HomePod's value proposition a year ago, just after it was announced.

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Going Local: A third of Google searches are now location-related

Photo by Edho Pratama on UnsplashFollowing from a 2016 report from Hitwise, revealing that 60% of Google searches came from a mobile device, new data obtained from Search Engine Journal reveals that in 2018 almost a third of Google searches are location related. If you are looking for successful SEO, then you need to work on your local rankings first. This applies even to global companies. Google has gone very local recently, automatically placing local results first and giving more priority to Maps. The gradual rise of voice command searches has also helped to drive the growth of locally minded Googlers.

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Echo Spot now available for pre-order in Canada for $169

Today, Amazon announces that Echo Spot is now available for pre-order in Canada! Echo Spot is designed to seamlessly integrate throughout the home; whether you’re using it to view the front door from the kitchen, or video calling from your home office, the sky’s the limit.  

Echo Spot is now available for pre-order at amazon.ca/echospot and at Best Buy Canada for $169.99 CAD and will begin shipping on April 25, 2018.

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Fitbit wants to democratize fitness wearables with latest line of smartwatches

By Gadjo Cardenas Sevilla

Fitbit is the leading company in fitness trackers. Fitbit has evolved from offering smart pedometers to making popular fitness trackers and has been trying its hand at more functional smartphones.

The core of Fitbit's focus has always been a well-rounded approach at fitness. The company doesn't only track steps or specific exercises, they stress the importance of tracking sleep and sleep quality, nutrition and a range of exercises. Now the company is aiming to democratize fitness solutions for all users. The Fitbit Versa is available for preorder, it costs $249.95 and will be coming to market by April 19.

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