R.I.P. Big HomePod. You Deserved Better

Misunderstood until the end

With Apple’s recent announcement that the original HomePod was being discontinued, and that the $99 HomePod mini will now be the focus of Apple’s smart speaker strategy, the saga of one of Apple’s most maligned and misunderstood products seems to have come to an end. If Apple is ever going to make a large HomePod again — especially one priced at $349 — it almost…