Apple Developing New 'HomePod' Models With Screens and Cameras

[Seanm87]

Apple really dropped the ball with the Smart Home stuff. They were way too late and the HomePod was just a glorified music speaker (nothing against it, I own one and its great for music). And also too expensive. As someone else mentioned the HomePod mini should have been their FIRST product not one that followed years later.

 

[DogGone]

This would be a game changer for HomeKit. A central hub to adjust lights, temp, view cameras etc. I really hope this comes to fruition.

Why do you need a central hub when anyones phone or iPad can do the exact same thing? The home app means you can control from anywhere as long as you have your iOS device with you.

 

[Minato1990]

Would it have the same audio abilities as the first homepod though?
Because I do use my homepods in stereo modes for my tv through my apple tv in 4k theater mode.

 

[[maven]]

I wouldn't mind a replacement for my Chumby One that I still (!) use as internet radio alarm clock...

 

[WiiDSmoker]

I have Alexas at home and CarPlay in my car. Whenever I ask Siri anything it says it can’t show it to me when I’m driving. Does the HomePod do something similar? Does it say it has no screen so can’t answer?

Yes it says sent to your phone or I can't answer that

 

[blcamp]

Meh. I have an iPad already; that can be my hub. I just want updated big HomePods with a better processor and all that wonderful sound that my 2 current HomePods have!

 

[Canyda]

So, an iPad with a big speaker. But different... And besides, within two years? Unlikely.

Well this is the thing, right? I can use my iPad Mini 5 or my iPad Mini 2 as essentially the same thing, minus an "always on" full screen clock (unless I buy a separate app for that). I can situate my old Mini in the kitchen for easy recipe lookup, video calling, etc.

So Apple selling me *another* $599 device that basically would do what my iPad Mini can do except BE WAY LESS PORTABLE... not sure about that.

 

[ophh1]

Annnnnnd we call it the HomePad

 

[viettanium]

just an iPad docking mode!

 

[Neepman]

A 50 buck Echo Show was a life changer for most of my family when I gifted a few of them this last year. Apple will charge 500 bucks for the same piece of kit 4 years too late. Fail.

 

[jonnyb098]

While it seems a cool concept......is this just not an iPad with a simple user interface and better speakers? iPads are around $299 so this would have to be $299 tops if not cheaper. I see it being more a simple screen with complications like the watch has.

 

[Remy149]

Apple, my lord...Why do you have to be so late in the game?This will likely take them a good 1-2 years to develop and by that time there is new tech and people moved on and you have to cancel that too. Like making a mini HomePod should have been the FIRST product years ago. I love my large HomePod, but it was quite frustrating to not be able to expand all around the house without a significant footprint and high price...The entire HomePod team needs a shuffle and head shake.

Apple is rarely first to a market they often watch the competition then try and one up them.

 

[69Mustang]

They need something specifically for the Elderly, & they can certainly use Silicon Valley as a testbed !

It's something I think Steve Jobs would have created already.

Something super easy to use, & with just a few key voice commands.

Seriously? The Venn Diagram of Steve Jobs and concern for the elderly would probably look like two circles... with no intersection.

 

[Canyda]

A HomePod with an iPad attached. It will be expensive undoubtedly, but nothing is going to work for them until they improve Siri. When you compare the abilities of Google assistant to Siri, Siri is hands down in beta still. They dropped the ball there, to th epoint that I don;t think they can catch up.

Yeah, the one thing I love about the Google Nest Hub my kids got us for Christmas a few years back is that Google Assistant is far better at getting you the information you need.

My big complaint with Siri is that it's so inconsistent. I've been needing it to convert square metres to square feet a lot recently and sometimes it does it perfectly and other times it says "Here's websites that can do that for you."

 

[AppleInLVX]

If true, then I'm super glad I FOMOed a second HomePod before they were completely sold out. Unlike many of you, I just don't want another camera in my house, and the screen wouldn't be useful in the context I use the speaker. I have multiple iPads to satisfy the use cases mentioned here.

So... yay, I guess.

 

[pauloregan]

This is surely an April fool released early in error.

 

[1applerules1]

sweet, now I can see what Siri found on the web when I ask what 2+2 is

 

[wd4fsu]

A 50 buck Echo Show was a life changer for most of my family when I gifted a few of them them this last year. Apple will charge 500 bucks for the same piece of kit 4 years too late. Fail.

Not sure how a cheap Apple "HomePad" could happen financially. One thing I haven't seen mentioned is that Amazon uses all that Echo traffic to sell ads or sell you product - something Apple isn't going to do. Amazon clearly can charge a LOT less because of this.

Combine that with Apple's reluctance to sell anything cheap, and well, you know what will happen. Wallet rape.

 

[anthogag]

I bought a HomePod when it was "discontinued". I had to return it because I can't BlueTooth streamed audio from my iPhone or iPad to the HomePod. For example, if a WiFi connection is temporarily blocked due to congestion, the HomePod will be silent (the spinning circle).

The HomePod sounds good but it's not better than my Ultimate speakers I was going to replace with the HomePod.

I can see why the HomePod was discontinued.

 

[Havalo]

So basically an iPad mini with a protruding speaker on the back with a $1000 plus price tag. May be with a stand as an extra addon

 

[smulji]

That would be a great control-center concept (with HomeKit on the screen) and everything. If they can figure out how to make it 'affordable' (less than $199), that would be a nice addition.

There are 1 billion iPhones & 500 million iPads in use. Why not just use those as your control center for HomeKit?

 

[x-evil-x]

I don’t care much for a home assistant to sound wonderful. I just want loud and clear. I don’t use it for music or video as I have dedicated home theater. Apple is late to the game they should of released a screen HomePod years ago. I’ll probably get rid of my google home and Alexa if this actually comes of anything.
only reason I haven’t thought about a HomePod is the main reason. I ended up putting an iPad mini on the wall

 

[0s and 1s]

This sounds lovely at a sub $300 price point, but the Apple tax likely makes this a $400 reality. ☹️

 

[I7guy]

Now the announcement about discontinuing the homepod makes more sense. Doesn't make me any happier however, the next incarnation will be able to not only hear you, but see you.

 

[routine_analyst]

Again... replace the HomePod with an "AirPort basestation" branded wifi mesh system with a speaker for Siri and a screen for HomeKit and add that mesh technology to the HomePod mini as "extenders".