It has a newer S7 chip. And humidity sensor, and Thread and Matter support. Not sure if spatial audio was there before. Small update, probably not worth upgrading for most OG owners, but probably worth it for others looking to buy.
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Apple Announces New HomePod for $299 With Full-Size Design, S7 Chip, and More
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You can play from your devices by using AirPlay that treats it as a Wifi speaker so you can play local files.
Technically $299 USD accommodates for inflation at approximately 6.5% depending on country so once removed the HomePod 2023 is $279 with discounts from Amazon and other seasonal ones it would bring it to 249 if not 199 at some deep discount days.
I was hoping they would do something between the HomePod Mini and the full sized HomePod. There is no way I'm dropping $600 bucks for a "stereo" setup. I'll stick with the mini's for now. The price is just too high! I'm sure they sound awesome but that's just a deal breaker for me.
From the Music app? You mean like from an idevice? I Airplay my local library to HomePod all the time.
Doubt it. Apple have doubled down on the features and form factor while downgrading the audio quality. Even if they sound the same, people will pay for those extra tweeters
Huh? It’s not advertised as MacBook speakers (though it can serve as them to a limited capacity). If you want MacBook speakers, shouldn’t you be looking at products advertised to be MacBook speakers?
Another option that I use is an HD HomeRun device which puts antenna channels on your ATV via your router. So you get video/audio through ATV/HomePods and iDevices as well.
I'm guessing they couldn't get enough stock both for these and the new MBPs, so they decided to skip the holiday shopping season and this will give a nice boost to their Q1 earnings.
Special audio was there before. That chip is from the Apple Watch and the prior gen HomePod was released four years ago and had an iPhone chip. Pretty weak update in that sense. Prior gen had six mics, new one has four. Prior gen has seven tweeters, new one has five. Prior gen had the ambient room temperature/humidity sensor (it was just set to inactive; they are going to make active the one in the mini). The new one is also lighter weight which typically results is a lesser sound quality. Matter support is a given.
All in all I would argue a weak four-year 2nd gen update. Not even so much as a single additional physical input or output, which some people had wanted of the product and was a commonly mentioned area for improvement in tech reviews for subsequent generations.
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Got two Homepods connected to a new appletv. Until one breaks there's no need to update. Do all my entertainment/audiobooks/etc through echo studios that have native Audible support and other services ALONG WITH that aux in plug for computer sound.
I've never had the network problems with the studios I have with the Homepods. Had to install three individual on/off receptacles on the surge protector to let me reset the appletv and two Homepods, and did numerous resets just this Holiday Season.
If Apple had mentioned they'd have a new Homepod out, I might have waited, but too bad for them. Maybe Homepod 3s where they have an aux in and support things other than the Apple prison.
I've never had the network problems with the studios I have with the Homepods. Had to install three individual on/off receptacles on the surge protector to let me reset the appletv and two Homepods, and did numerous resets just this Holiday Season.
If Apple had mentioned they'd have a new Homepod out, I might have waited, but too bad for them. Maybe Homepod 3s where they have an aux in and support things other than the Apple prison.
We have the same flawed mentality when making purchasing decisions 😂
As far as those hardware changes, I think we'll need to see what the real world differences are, for better or worse or same overall. I’m sure reviewers will do comparisons.
It’s not an update to get all hyped about, that’s for sure. I think the excitement is just in the fact that it’s back.
I do think a line-in would have been good for longevity’s sake. I’m hoping someone will figure out a hack to make HomePods into “dumb” speakers once they lose their smart functions.
Where did you see that OG has temperature/humidity sensors?
Prediction: 2024 will reintroduce iPod Classic. Same classic click-wheel design and 320x240 screen, now featuring leftover M1 chip and no headphone jack. Requires AirPods 4th gen, AirPods Pro 3rd gen, or AirPods Max 2nd gen or newer. Apple Music subscription required for music playback. Available in 8GB for $249 or 64GB for $399.
I would say ... it is possible that Apple would make it a Bluetooth speaker, but then you see... i don't think they did that the last time with the OG one ... so it would be doubtfiul they would here, sadly.
No design change in 5 years!?!?
I'm a fanboy and even i can tell this a cash grab.
"Dust off the OG HomePod design files and lets add a temperature sensor and a speed bumped chip".
don't get me wrong, its great to see the OG back, but $199 would have been a better price point, given that basically zero R&D went into this.
I'm a fanboy and even i can tell this a cash grab.
"Dust off the OG HomePod design files and lets add a temperature sensor and a speed bumped chip".
don't get me wrong, its great to see the OG back, but $199 would have been a better price point, given that basically zero R&D went into this.
hey siri, lights on - 'give me a moment... one more moment.. still working on that... something is taking too long here..'
Explain? I can stream from the Music app to my OG HomePods and also to my HomePod Minis. I do this from a Mac, an iPad or an iPhone. No issues whatsoever. Perhaps I am misunderstanding you, but I can definitely stream to any HPs in my network, no matter which gen. Given they support AirPlay 2, I can stream to multiple HPs simultaneously. So your issue is... ? Moot?
