Apple HomePod release: Pre-orders open for company's new smart speaker

Apple is finally selling the HomePod, its smart speaker. The round, voice-controlled sound system was initially revealed in June and was supposed to go on sale before the end of the year. It wasn't initially clear when Apple would start selling the device, since it only said that pre-orders would open at some point today. But they went live at lunchtime, at the same time in all the countries it will be sold in. It won't actually arrive until next Friday, when it is also expected to appear in Apple Stores, though it's still not clear whether you'll actually be able to listen to it in those stores.