Bloomberg reports that Apple has hired Afrooz Family, a former HomePod engineer to lead the HomePod software development team. This could indicate a renewed effort by Apple to make HomePod more competitive. HomePod software version 15, which Apple released in September, includes some new features such as the ability to use one or two HomePod Mini speakers with an Apple TV 4K. Apple's smart speaker range is up against stiff competition, especially from Amazons and Googles speakers with smart assistants.
Family, who was Apple's senior audio engineer, left Apple to co-found Syng Audio with Christopher Stringer. Family was described as Syng's secret weapon in a Financial Times article. The Cell Alpha connected speaker is Syng's most famous product. It offers spatial audio with a Death Star-like design but costs $1,799. Bloomberg reports that Syng's family left earlier in the year.
Apple's first HomePod was released in 2018. It was well-received for its sound quality, but it was also criticized for being too expensive. Apple ended production of the device in March. Last year, Apple released the smaller and cheaper HomePod Mini.
Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
