Apple Announces HomePod mini With Spherical Design and S5 Chip for $99

[ruimpinho]

HomePod will continue to be worthless until Siri is half of what Google assistant and Alexa are today.
For USA it's decent, but in most countries in Europe for example, it's still pure garbage. It knows nothing and keeps "searching the web" when I ask the most basic things.

 

[Neodym]

Intercom has me more excited than anything else so far.

Let's hope it works better than Walkie-Talkie on the Apple Watches, which is basically useless for many months now: Either not connecting at all or not getting any Audio through. Can't pinpoint the update which started the problems, but we've come from "Cool feature" to "Better make a phone call inside the house" ...

 

[minivini]

I'm not enough of an audiophile, so can anyone comment on how this compares to the audio components in the original homepod which has "a high-excursion woofer with custom amplifier and an array of seven horn-loaded tweeters, each with its own custom amplifier"?

As a recovering audiophile, I’ve been underwhelmed by the sound of the HomePod. I think it was so overhyped to begin with, my expectations were overloaded. I bought mine during one of the periodic Best Buy sales, otherwise, at $300 I would’ve returned it.
That said, if this is nearly as good, it’ll be pretty sweet for $100. I missed the early part of the live show, so I didn’t get any specifics on the mini, but if they are combine-able, I can see these in virtually all bedrooms and common spaces in our house. The intercom function alone is a big plus! If it can be used for HomeKit commands, it’s almost a no-brainer for us.

 

[Picard323]

Will intercom work on current homepods or is it specific to the new chip?

According to  website In tech specs of original HomePod it says intercom coming soon via a software update.

 

[Henry S]

I was hopeful for a rechargeable battery so I could move it around. I’ll stick to my $30 Bluetooth speaker, thanks.

 

[cardfan]

Umm. No thanks Apple. Improve the homepod. No one asked for this.

 

[SiskoKid]

According to  website In tech specs of original HomePod it says intercom coming soon via a software update.

Thanks!

 

[wood1208]

Perfect Christmas gift!

 

[minivini]

HomePod will continue to be worthless until Siri is half of what Google assistant and Alexa are today.
For USA it's decent, but in most countries in Europe for example, it's still pure garbage. It knows nothing and keeps "searching the web" when I ask the most basic things.

Maybe I’m in the minority, but Siri handles nearly everything I need her for. If I need to research something with any degree of depth, I’m using my iPhone or iPad.

 

[840quadra]

Curious if the power cord is finally (from factory) easily detachable? I have taken my HomePod with on work trips for hotel and desk audio, but had to pull and slightly modify the power cord to make it easy to remove for packaging purposes.

If that is the case with this, it will be a welcome addition to my travel kit. Am fine that it doesn’t have batteries, as speakers that feature those (sony XB31 for example) always seem to be dead when I need them because I have poor charging discipline, and strongly dislike Micro-USB anything these days.

 

[minivini]

Let's hope it works better than Walkie-Talkie on the Apple Watches, which is basically useless for many months now: Either not connecting at all or not getting any Audio through. Can't pinpoint the update which started the problems, but we've come from "Cool feature" to "Better make a phone call inside the house" ...

Walkie Talkie was, for sure, a pretty big letdown.

 

[centauratlas]

With the updated processor and ultra Wideband support, I am wondering if I should ditch the first gen HomePod, and consider this an upgrade?

That is what I am wondering - how much more capable is this than the first generation, and will they update the HomePod (non Mini)?

I kind of like the way the intercom feature was described.

 

[Pimmp]

Can they stop saying Hey Siri - How many times

Haha, my thought also. Two homepods outside my tv are getting nervous 😂

 

[atomic.flip]

Umm. No thanks Apple. Improve the homepod. No one asked for this.

most importantly they need to improve Siri. It’s totally not worth the cost for the audio quality unless they want to have input jacks on the back.

 

[Neodym]

I don't see any mention of connecting to external speakers, whether through cable or airplay...was hoping for that. otherwise I'm not sure I would get one.

That's exactly why I'll stay with an inexpensive Echo Dot to connect to the Amp driving the speakers both in our party room as well as the speakers in the courtyard. Even pondering going for an Echo Show setup. Sorry Apple, but some of your products are sorely lacking compared to the competition.

The privacy part is one of the few remaining arguments to not go full Echo ecosystem (yet)!

 

[Geckotek]

Let's hope it works better than Walkie-Talkie on the Apple Watches, which is basically useless for many months now: Either not connecting at all or not getting any Audio through. Can't pinpoint the update which started the problems, but we've come from "Cool feature" to "Better make a phone call inside the house" ...

Walkie Talkie works fine for me, but admittedly we only use it when my pre-schooler insists. It's pretty much just for his entertainment. Otherwise, we text.

 

[Pimmp]

Yeah my regular HomePod kept getting triggered by it.

What I want to know is if you can stereo pair a mini with the regular or not

Would be great to have a pair of the small ones behind as surround

 

[minivini]

I returned the original Apple HomePod - because it was overly hyped in the base. It sounded horrible for spoken word material. Perhaps it works well for drum-and-bass

Agreed. The sound quality was way overhyped early on. It produces a LOT of sound for its size, but it isn’t great sound - just good.

 

[centauratlas]

In my house we just yell loudly if the other person is in some other room. Small homes ftw. 😆

So is the "ftw" as in "for the win" or "f*** the world" since you have a small house?

 

[and 1989 others]

It is only a matter of time before this glows red and says 'Hello, Dave....'

 

[Pimmp]

Still only US? Cmon Apple, there is a world outside US

Big homepod not even released in Sweden yet 😂

 

[Neodym]

Maybe I’m in the minority, but Siri handles nearly everything I need her for. If I need to research something with any degree of depth, I’m using my iPhone or iPad.

In the meantime, Alexa provides a much better experience on questions outside the usual "sports/daily news", without having to go back to more traditional devices. People buy these products _because_ they want to use the voice interface.

 

[Puonti]

Apple: "We wanted to bring the HomePod to more people.."

World: "Yay! Global availability!"

Apple: "..so here's the mini for just $99 and the same regions as before"

World: "..."

😂

 

[BJMRamage]

so, this can't be used with TV ?

there is no CHECK under HomePod Mini:
Home theater with Apple TV 4K —

not sure the main page for HomePod Mini says it works with TV 4K ...maybe just not as immersive or spatial for "theater" sound

 

[Rodney Dangerfield]

Sonos rocks!