Apple HomePod faces tough odds against Amazon Echo in connected home market

Four months before its anticipated launch, some experts have already discounted Apple HomePod's prospects for success. HomePod, due in December, is Apple's belated entry into the connected speaker market and a challenger to Amazon's leader in the space, the Echo. These devices, which understand human commands, can be used to order food, play music, and look up information on Wikipedia. Connected speakers are part of a broader white-hot market for connected home devices, which Amazon, and Google hope to control against rival devices planned by number of others like Apple and Microsoft. All of these companies want consumers to use their respective technology to control connected gadgets, from smart lights and thermostats to audio-video gear.