Apple Confirms HomePod's Supported Audio Sources in Tech Specs

[Abazigal]

They would make more profit, if u could use spotify with it.

You don’t understand how Apple makes money, so you?

The whole point of a vertically integrated ecosystem is that you will never have a large user base. You are offering a highly differentiated product, which means that by definition, you can’t reach everybody. But it also means that you have a group of loyal users who are willing to pay handsomely for your products because it represents a perfect fit for them.

The HomePod, like the Apple Watch and Apple TV, is an iPhone accessory. Its purpose is primarily to add value to the Apple ecosystem, thereby making it more attractive to stay within the Apple ecosystem (and consequently more unpalatable to step outside of it).

Apple is betting that this product will incentivise enough users to stick with iPhones and (to an extent) Apple Music. So they lose some sales from users on Spotify or those using android phones. No big deal. You win some, you lose some, and the trick here is making sure you win more than you lose.

 

[Dave245]

I bet Siri works as usual. "Hey siri, play hotel california in living room". -"Calling mother...." -"NOOOOOOOOOO!"

Am I the only one who doesn’t have a problem when using Siri? If I ask to play a song in my iPhone or iPad using Siri “Hey Siri play Ed Sheeran Shape Of you” it plays the song, if I tap on my AirPods I can do the same and it works just as well, if I set an alarm “Hey Siri set my alarm from 4am tomorrow” it sets my alarm.

From the very early hands on Siri is said to be faster and have more knowledge about music with the HomePod but we will see. Siri isn’t 100% but neither is Amazon Alexa nor Google, the difference is I wouldn’t put Amazon Echo or Google Home in my house!

 

[Starfyre]

Because if you're having a party, no one wants the music to stop when you get a phone call.

Sonos speakers don't support Bluetooth audio either.

What does Sonos support?

 

[ignatius345]

Unless you already have one there is literally no way you can make that call right now...

I'm pretty sure my high-end bookshelf speakers are better -- also there are two of them for, you know, stereo sound. I think I can safely make the call, thanks.

 

[mpainesyd]

Siri will happily find and play songs with my Mac or iPhone without needing internet streaming so why not HP (through Homesharing)? I realise the internet is needed for Siri but for those with unreliable or expensive internet connection, streaming all music is undesirable.

 

[KidAKidB]

Seems silly that we can't stream via Bluetooth. Is that just to ensure that only Apple devices can stream to it? Seems silly that even using Apple Music on Android won't work with it.

 

[Gameboy70]

How would that equate to new Apple Music subscriptions rather than simply not selling to people who don't have AirPlay devices? Nobody in the Android ecosystem would want to add this device, it would simply be a dumb bluetooth speaker for them...and an expensive one at that. BT 5.0 does not have new audio codecs yet, the entire 5.0 stack isn't ready to match the sound quality of AirPlay, which is why I believe it's not included.

Just speculation on my part, but Android users could use the HomePod through Apple Music, which plays directly on the HomePod, and isn't streamed—unlike content over AirPlay. Of course, Android users willing to use HomePod via Siri and Apple Music only is clearly a niche demographic, but for that small user base, lack of BT and AirPlay wouldn't be an obstacle.

 

[The Game 161]

Seems silly that we can't stream via Bluetooth. Is that just to ensure that only Apple devices can stream to it? Seems silly that even using Apple Music on Android won't work with it.

it works via airplay

 

[KidAKidB]

it works via airplay

But does Apple Music on Android support AirPlay?

 

[The Game 161]

But does Apple Music on Android support AirPlay?

If you have Apple Music the HomePod will know this so saying hey Siri should work with your music

 

[KidAKidB]

If you have Apple Music the HomePod will know this so saying hey Siri should work with your music

That's a valid point... I didn't even consider that. Thanks!

 

[Gameboy70]

I hope Beamforming is able to make sound from a box the size of a jumbo roll of toilet paper really seem to be coming from up to 7 different locations at the same time, much like having up to 7 speakers spread around the room can yield such distribution too. It would be spectacular from a single tiny box priced at only $349. We'll both see soon enough.

Listen to the Hands-on with the HomePod episode of the query podcast, starting at the 11:38 mark, where Serenity Caldwell's describes her impressions of the soundstage the HomePod creates for the device's diminutive size [update: the size-to-soundstage comparison actually happens at 1:32]. She was pleasantly shocked. Not definitive proof of anything, of course, but an encouraging data point.
[doublepost=1517773633][/doublepost]

What’s this obsession with Spotify un less your getting it free of course, Apple Music is better in my opinion

I subscribe to both. AM has an arguably better UI, but Spotify's playlists and discovery algorithms are vastly superior to AM's curation. Apple insists that expert curation yields better results than a programmatic approach, but not in my experience.

Spotify's Discover Weekly selections are generated by profiling two or more songs you've played with other users with a similar overlap, then importing non-matching songs from their selections into yours. For instance, if I listen to Beethoven, Kendrick Lamar, and Joy Division, and human curator would fail at trying to extrapolate a fourth artist to suggest from the previous eclectic choices. But there are other Spotify users out there who have listened to least two of those three, so Spotify's algorithm can suggest another track from another user with overlapping tastes.

Fund managers should theoretically be sufficiently street smart to outperform automated index funds, but history has vindicated the latter. It's the same with algorithmic playlists over curated ones. AM's curated playlists are decent, but Spotify's algorithmic ones are mind-readingly more in sync with my tastes.

 

[sziehr]

If you're looking for Sonos level audio performance, keep looking. The toy category doesn't have anything that supports your requirements. My speakers have integrated Spotify Connect, Tidal HiFi, Deezer and whatever else. They support bluetooth, Airplay and whatever else. They have optical inputs and they're connected to my LAN. Or rather, wifi because I didn't want to have all those cables on the floor. They play all of those without a hitch, from Windows, from Mac, from iPhone, from Android and whatever else. They sound amazing. I could purchase as many as I wanted and set them up in different rooms in the house should I have too much money. They also serve as my TV's sound system. All that combined with a sound quality Sonos and HomePod can only have wet dreams about.

I am looking for the ability to cast from the iPhone / iPad I already own.

Sonos performance is little league stuff compared to what I have sitting in my listening room a true reference sound system.

I wanted Sonos to be able to take casting from my phone and sound acceptable. This is why I am not a huge fan of most BT speakers.

I could also care less if they limit my use to iPhone / iPad / Mac. If I planned on leaving this system I would need to worry far more about other things like my giant 5k monitor than I would some 350 dollar speaker.

Apple did not do enough to downplay the fact that this is not a smart speaker and that it is a high fi mono speaker with some tricks.

I will report back once I have the home pod and have taken it through the paces. I suspect it will be as good as my old Zeppelin air which died.

 

[Madmic23]

What does Sonos support?

They work over wifi. You use the app on your phone to pick the song / playlist / music service, and it’s streamed directly to the speaker, just like HomePod Speakers. Speakers that rely on Bluetooth are basically replacing an audio cable with Bluetooth, so whatever audio is playing on your phone comes out of the speaker.

 

[Starfyre]

They work over wifi. You use the app on your phone to pick the song / playlist / music service, and it’s streamed directly to the speaker, just like HomePod Speakers. Speakers that rely on Bluetooth are basically replacing an audio cable with Bluetooth, so whatever audio is playing on your phone comes out of the speaker.

Does this mean if I play music on Sonos that I can’t make a personal hotspot from my phone at the same time?

 

[foxcub6]

Listen to the Hands-on with the HomePod episode of the query podcast, starting at the 11:38 mark, where Serenity Caldwell's describes her impressions of the soundstage the HomePod creates for the device's diminutive size [update: the size-to-soundstage comparison actually happens at 1:32]. She was pleasantly shocked. Not definitive proof of anything, of course, but an encouraging data point.
[doublepost=1517773633][/doublepost]
I subscribe to both. AM has an arguably better UI, but Spotify's playlists and discovery algorithms are vastly superior to AM's curation. Apple insists that expert curation yields better results than a programmatic approach, but not in my experience.

Spotify's Discover Weekly selections are generated by profiling two or more songs you've played with other users with a similar overlap, then importing non-matching songs from their selections into yours. For instance, if I listen to Beethoven, Kendrick Lamar, and Joy Division, and human curator would fail at trying to extrapolate a fourth artist to suggest from the previous eclectic choices. But there are other Spotify users out there who have listened to least two of those three, so Spotify's algorithm can suggest another track from another user with overlapping tastes.

Fund managers should theoretically be sufficiently street smart to outperform automated index funds, but history has vindicated the latter. It's the same with algorithmic playlists over curated ones. AM's curated playlists are decent, but Spotify's algorithmic ones are mind-readingly more in sync with my tastes.

Omg didn’t think folk went into analysing all this ? I pick a song from what I like and play it , I like what I like without some computer for you me to listen to some crappy music , I do think some folks over complicate life chill out man enjoy the music

 

[Madmic23]

Does this mean if I play music on Sonos that I can’t make a personal hotspot from my phone at the same time?

I'm not sure why you'd want to turn your phone into a hotspot at that time, because you need to be on the same wifi network as the Sonos speaker. If you started the music and then switched your phone over to being a hotspot, the music would continue to play on the Sonos. Sonos doesn't need your phone to play the music, just to control it.

 

[Gameboy70]

Omg didn’t think folk went into analysing all this ? I pick a song from what I like and play it , I like what I like without some computer for you me to listen to some crappy music , I do think some folks over complicate life chill out man enjoy the music

How's that CD player working out for you? The "pick a song and play it" approach is fine if all you do is listen to music in your collection. Discovering new music requires more sophisticated methods—or more "complicated," as some cynical ankle biters would put it.

 

[MNWildFan]

I don’t think we needed an official confirmation to know you can Airplay to the HomePod using any Apple device that can Airplay.

Bluetooth was left out for the obvious reason, it being lesser audio quality than what can be streamed over WiFi. It’s about maintaining a certain level of quality. Apple would love nothing more than to sell as many HomePods as possible.

Same reason wireless CarPlay is done over WiFi as opposed to Bluetooth as well. I've got a wireless CarPlay head unit in my car now (the only one out there still, the Alpine ILX-107), and I honestly don't mind the lack of Bluetooth. When it works well enough, I can really notice a sound quality difference when compared to Bluetooth. Especially when it comes to phone calls.

Only downside to all of this is that WiFi is quite a bit more power hungry when compared to Bluetooth. Honestly though, I will take the better sound quality any day of the week.

 

[PastaPrimav]

[doublepost=1517520858][/doublepost]Apple TV does have Siri...it’s from the remote. What version you got?

Completely different from hands-free Hey Siri. Not even "remote"ly comparable.

 

[MidtownAtlCoffe]

Apple today updated its HomePod tech specs page with a new Audio Sources section that lists all of the ways in which the speaker can stream audio, setting the record straight on some conflicting information.

o Apple Music: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any of over 45 million songs available on Apple Music. A subscription is required.

o iTunes Music: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any songs, albums, or audiobooks purchased from the iTunes Store.

o iCloud Music Library: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any songs uploaded to a user's iCloud Music Library, including songs imported from other sources such as CDs, with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription.

o Beats 1: HomePod users can ask Siri to play Apple's official radio station.

o Podcasts: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any podcast episodes from the iTunes podcast directory.

o AirPlay: HomePod users can use AirPlay to play other audio from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac. AirPlay 2, coming later this year, is only required to stream audio from these sources to multiple HomePods.
Earlier this week, iMore's Serenity Caldwell put together a useful breakdown with more detailed information about how the HomePod works with Apple Music, iTunes Match, iCloud Music Library, AirPlay, and more.

HomePod orders began last week ahead of the speaker's official launch on February 9 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Article Link: Apple Confirms HomePod's Supported Audio Sources in Tech Specs

[doublepost=1518273919][/doublepost]Anyone able to get a Mac to AirPlay to HomePod? I was able to AirPlay to HomePod from my iPhone and Apple TV but not my MacBook or iMac. Inside of iTunes on the Mac the HomePod shows as an option, but from the menu bar, the AirPlay dropdown does not show it (meaning 3rd party apps aren't using AirPlay).

 

[macworksgreat]

[doublepost=1518273919][/doublepost]Anyone able to get a Mac to AirPlay to HomePod? I was able to AirPlay to HomePod from my iPhone and Apple TV but not my MacBook or iMac. Inside of iTunes on the Mac the HomePod shows as an option, but from the menu bar, the AirPlay dropdown does not show it (meaning 3rd party apps aren't using AirPlay).

I was able to do it.....I had named my HP and I was able to click on it. It worked.