A few days ago, I informed you about the possible lack of interest on the part of users for the HomePod, since a few days after the reservation period opened, the shipping date remained the same, February 9, so that maybe Apple had more devices ready for send from those you initially planned.
But it seems that as the shipping date for the first units approaches, at least in the United Kingdom, the expected delivery date has been raised to February 13, implying that users are seeing the new one with better eyes Apple product. Although it may also be a business strategy on Apple's part.
If you ask an Apple user about the HomePod, user does not read technology blogs daily, it is likely that they do not know anything about HomePod, not even that it can be with that name. Apple has not bothered at any time promote and advertise what we can really do with the HomePod and what we can't, what it really is and what it isn't. It is clear that if you want to reach the general public, Apple's communication channel will have to work much more.
Since the announcement of its launch, on January 26, little by little we have been confirming many of the doubts that some users had, including Apple editors, things clear. For what especially attracts the attention of UK users, they have started to pre-order the HomePod like if tomorrow does not exist, unless the 4 ads that Apple has posted on its YouTube channel, have been more than enough reason to dive headfirst, so in my opinion, it sounds more like a commercial strategy than anything else on the part of Manzana.