Could Apple already be considering a lower-priced version of the HomePod?

The Apple HomePod hasn't exactly had the warmest of welcomes to the market, with customers complaining about its limited functionality -- and perhaps more importantly, its price. At $349, the smart speaker, released February 9, is leaps and bounds more expensive than similar (and perhaps more useful) products from other companies like the Amazon Echo and Google Home. The rumor mill has been churning, and some folks are claiming that Apple has taken note of the criticism. In fact, there are now reports suggesting that Apple could be releasing another version of the HomePod later in 2018 at a significantly lower price point. According to a report from KGI's Ming-Chi Kuo, "there will be a cheap version of HomePod in the second half of" this year.