Amazon Confirms More Alexa-Enabled Speakers Will Eventually Support Apple Music

Abazigal said:
What are the odds that we start seeing some sort of user backlash against smart speakers a couple of years down the road? In light of the recent Facebook scandals, I wonder if this will gradually lead to users being more mindful of their privacy and being less trustful of such devices. It’s Facebook today, it could easily extend to other companies such as google and amazon tomorrow.

Apple’s bet on privacy is starting to look more and more prescient by the day.

It feels a bit premature to write off the HomePod just yet, or assume that google and amazon have the smart speaker market all scooped up just because unit sales appear to be in their favour.
Click to expand...
I think there will be something in the next few years security wise that causes some people to ditch their smart speaker devices. I really like Apple's stance on privacy, but unfortunately I can't outfit my house in HomePods so I have a few Dots throughout the house. I would love to see an Apple device similar to the Echo Dot, but I just can't see Apple competing in that low end market. When/if the backlash occurs I think people will just get rid of their current devices and learn to live without them. I think it would taint the overall market and sour peoples opinions of all of them. Apple I think needs to start being more vocal in some way about their stance on security. They already talk about that a lot but that needs to be an extremely large focus for them as a differentiater.
 
Rogifan said:
So you’ll be able to natively use Apple Music with Sonos via...Alexa. Who at Apple thinks this is a good idea? Where the heck is SiriKit domain for music? I am never one to say Steve wouldn’t have but...my goodness this is stupid. Apple should have a SiriKit domain for music (which would allow native support for 3rd party speakers like Sonos) and a cheaper HomePod mini. Instead they offer it up to Amazon’s Alexa. <facepalm> Eddy Cue has got to go.
Click to expand...
Amazon and Google are flooding the market with very cheap, but useful smart speakers, for less than $50. Apple has dongles that are more expensive. And those same cheap smart speakers can be paired/connected to better speakers later if you choose. Honestly, I don't think Apple has a viable way forward with regard to cheaper smart speakers. With the Apple TV, they can rely on their deals, apps, and superior user experience to gain customers. Those advantages don't exist with the HomePod. I think this is a smart business decision on their part.
 
jeremiah256 said:
Amazon and Google are flooding the market with very cheap, but useful smart speakers, for less than $50. Apple has dongles that are more expensive. And those same cheap smart speakers can be paired/connected to better speakers later if you choose. Honestly, I don't think Apple has a viable way forward with regard to cheaper smart speakers. With the Apple TV, they can rely on their deals, apps, and superior user experience to gain customers. Those advantages don't exist with the HomePod. I think this is a smart business decision on their part.
Click to expand...
That means HomePod is a failure. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it quietly dies. Like the iPod HiFi did. It’s a shame because I think Apple absolutely could and should be competing in this market. And by market I mean voice assisted IoT not audiophile music speaker. Apple certainly shouldn’t be promoting a competitors voice assistant. Of course Apple is making the same mistake with Apple TV. Who in their right mind would spend $179 (or $199) on an Apple TV box when you can get a cheap HDMI dongle that does the same thing. Or when your smart TV has streaming apps built right in. I don’t think it’s a coincidence these two products are hardly ever mentioned by execs at Apple. My guess is sales aren’t great. I feel bad for employees who work(ed) on HomePod as it sounds like they wanted a different product than we got.
 
MiamiC70 said:
The nail in the coffin of HomePod.
Click to expand...

Yeah. I’ve heard that before. *coughapplewatchcough*

Some people will never understand Apple’s signature strategy even though they essentially repeat it verbatim for every single device:

1. Wait until they can release something that has a unique advantage

2. Release a foundation device that is very basic to its core and does what it does well with room to grow.

3. Iterate on the device, while building a user base that’ll get those improvements as they come

4. 3 years in, the device is feature rich and powerful enough to start going mainstream, while the previously built user base is activated and suddenly it seems like everyone has one.

5. By the 4th generation, everyone wants one

You can apply that perfectly to iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch and HomePod is following the exact same path.
 
Guess I should tell my wife to send back the HomePod I'm getting for Christmas then....

(I won't be doing that.)
 
ipedro said:
Yeah. I’ve heard that before. *coughapplewatchcough*

Some people will never understand Apple’s signature strategy even though they essentially repeat it verbatim for every single device:

1. Wait until they can release something that has a unique advantage

2. Release a foundation device that is very basic to its core and does what it does well with room to grow.

3. Iterate on the device, while building a user base that’ll get those improvements as they come

4. 3 years in, the device is feature rich and powerful enough to start going mainstream, while the previously built user base is activated and suddenly it seems like everyone has one.

5. By the 4th generation, everyone wants one

You can apply that perfectly to iPod, iPhone, and Apple Watch and HomePod is following the exact same path.
Click to expand...


What's unique about the HomePod?
 
dontwalkhand said:
The ability to access Siri and integrate into the rest of your Apple ecosystem. Also the ability to be a HomeKit hub.
Click to expand...

The AppleTV can act as a HomeKit hub, but to be fair, HomeKit really isn't floating anyone's boat, especially at this side of the pond. Siri is a very poor as a digital assistant and there are many other ways to integrate calendars, lists, mail etc. than just HomePod.

None of those things you list are USPs of HomePod.

Is AppleMusic so good that people will stick with it over Amazon, Spotify, Tidal etc., depending on what hardware is accessible to them?

Is Siri that good it must be used as "the only" digital assistant?

When I see HomePod, I think of iPod HiFi... Far too expensive to make any real impact.
 
newtonuk said:
The AppleTV can act as a HomeKit hub, but to be fair, HomeKit really isn't floating anyone's boat, especially at this side of the pond. Siri is a very poor as a digital assistant and there are many other ways to integrate calendars, lists, mail etc. than just HomePod.

None of those things you list are USPs of HomePod.

Is AppleMusic so good that people will stick with it over Amazon, Spotify, Tidal etc., depending on what hardware is accessible to them?

Is Siri that good it must be used as "the only" digital assistant?

When I see HomePod, I think of iPod HiFi... Far too expensive to make any real impact.
Click to expand...
It works better with my apple devices than the echo or the google home.
 
Shanghaichica said:
It works better with my apple devices than the echo or the google home.
Click to expand...

Good :). Look at a realistic household who might want to buy a smart speaker and let's assume that they're have a moderate budget... They buy, let's say, an Amazon Echo and then realise that their AppleMusic subscription, which they got because they have an iPhone and is about to expire, doesn't work with their Echo, unlike Spotify or Amazon Music... Will they sell the device and buy a HomePod or will they let their AppleMusic subscription expire and sign up to something that is supported, which both are on the iPhone anyway.

The majority of people will move services I bet.
 
newtonuk said:
Good :). Look at a realistic household who might want to buy a smart speaker and let's assume that they're have a moderate budget... They buy, let's say, an Amazon Echo and then realise that their AppleMusic subscription, which they got because they have an iPhone and is about to expire, doesn't work with their Echo, unlike Spotify or Amazon Music... Will they sell the device and buy a HomePod or will they let their AppleMusic subscription expire and sign up to something that is supported, which both are on the iPhone anyway.

The majority of people will move services I bet.
Click to expand...
Well Apple Music is already supported on the echo in the US and will eventually make its way over here.

However although I won two HomePods I readily admit that the echo and google home are more capable which is why I own 2 echos and 1 google home mini and a fire HD 8 which works as a show.
 
newtonuk said:
The AppleTV can act as a HomeKit hub, but to be fair, HomeKit really isn't floating anyone's boat, especially at this side of the pond. Siri is a very poor as a digital assistant and there are many other ways to integrate calendars, lists, mail etc. than just HomePod.

None of those things you list are USPs of HomePod.

Is AppleMusic so good that people will stick with it over Amazon, Spotify, Tidal etc., depending on what hardware is accessible to them?

Is Siri that good it must be used as "the only" digital assistant?

When I see HomePod, I think of iPod HiFi... Far too expensive to make any real impact.
Click to expand...
In the US at least, Apple Music has the most Music. Tidal is stupid and expensive. Amazon's UI is terrible, and to a point so is Spotify's.
[doublepost=1545338445][/doublepost]
newtonuk said:
Good :). Look at a realistic household who might want to buy a smart speaker and let's assume that they're have a moderate budget... They buy, let's say, an Amazon Echo and then realise that their AppleMusic subscription, which they got because they have an iPhone and is about to expire, doesn't work with their Echo, unlike Spotify or Amazon Music... Will they sell the device and buy a HomePod or will they let their AppleMusic subscription expire and sign up to something that is supported, which both are on the iPhone anyway.

The majority of people will move services I bet.
Click to expand...
I was about ready to plop down the cash to get a HomePod, but with this news, I am going for the Echo instead. I have listened to both, and the room that this device is going in, both will sound good, with the perfect amount of bass, etc when listening to music, provided you don't get the Echo Dot.
 
Rogifan said:
That means HomePod is a failure. And I wouldn’t be surprised if it quietly dies. Like the iPod HiFi did. It’s a shame because I think Apple absolutely could and should be competing in this market. And by market I mean voice assisted IoT not audiophile music speaker. Apple certainly shouldn’t be promoting a competitors voice assistant. Of course Apple is making the same mistake with Apple TV. Who in their right mind would spend $179 (or $199) on an Apple TV box when you can get a cheap HDMI dongle that does the same thing. Or when your smart TV has streaming apps built right in. I don’t think it’s a coincidence these two products are hardly ever mentioned by execs at Apple. My guess is sales aren’t great. I feel bad for employees who work(ed) on HomePod as it sounds like they wanted a different product than we got.
Click to expand...
We'll have to wait and see. I'm not sure that with Apple, neglect means failure. Unfortunately, there are too many examples of Apple ignoring popular products for years even though customers would have been satisfied with even minor tweaks/updates.
 
[doublepost=1545252237][/doublepost]
Offering your paid service on additional devices =/= death of the HomePod.[/QUOTE]

You’re right seeing as though the HomePod is already dead.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Back
Top