Apple Developing New 'HomePod' Models With Screens and Cameras

[69Mustang]

My stereo HomePod setup is going to look mighty stupid with a screen in front of one or more speakers.

Has April Fool's day come ten days early?

I wonder what would happen if you didn't buy a product suited for a totally different use case? What would be the outcome of you using a product more suited to your desired use case? Idk, something like a HomePod Mini or the recently discontinued HomePod-RIP. Seems infinitely more sensible dontchathink?

 

[Prof.]

HomePod Max

 

[OxOOCOFFEE]

It sure sounds like BeIA ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BeIA?wprov=sfti1 )
I am sure they will introduce it as revolutionary invention

 

[citysnaps]

So an iPad with a HomePod Mini strapped to the back😂 - sounds like another brave move by Apple😳

Yeah...kind of like an iPod with a phone strapped to its back.

 

[Hammerd]

iPad affixed to a homepod? Hmm.. let’s call that an iPod!

 

[jonblatho]

Not sure how a cheap Apple "HomePad" could happen financially.

Not sure what your definition of cheap is, but you can basically throw this together with parts from the entry-level iPad (~10” LCD panel, SoC a generation or two back) and probably slightly better audio than a HomePod mini.

 

[hagar]

Ain’t happening. Sounds very expensive if it’s from Apple. Basically an iPad and HomePod combined into one. And they probably would over engineer it. Remember the HomePod took 5 years of development.

 

[famanoran]

iPad affixed to a homepod? Hmm.. let’s call that an iPod!

Better still... an "iPadPod"

 

[Hammerd]

Better still... an "iPadPod"

Home iPadPod Mini Pro?

 

[Mac... nificent]

If you mount your ipad in front of a HomePod. You already have one of these devices.

Good point. Why not just buy a iPad stand. That way you'll get more use out of the iPad.

 

[NEV3S]

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.

The only reason Siri is less capable is due to privacy restrictions. Google’s AI compromises your privacy and learns more about you in order to deliver more features/information. ( also for better advertising from selling that same information.)

 

[paultopia]

Personally, I'd rather have some kind of speaker dock and software for the iPad mini--Apple already makes screens and cameras, why do I want an extra device?

 

[benshive]

Effing fix Siri.

Cue those who say it works all the time for them. I call BS.

I love the HomePod for its speakers. The only time Siri is used is when I accidentally trigger her with something I'm saying and then my dog gets freaked by the random voice and scrambles under the bed

 

[dpackman]

With a camera? Need one of these in every bathroom.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Alexa can hear a whisper and give accurate results from across the room, but Siri can't handle a simple query that is fully and loudly enunciated 2 feet away.

 

[thawk9455]

Don't they basically already have this? Buy a dock with a speaker for your iPad or iPod Touch, bam, done. Especially if they finally made iPads properly support multiple users.

I'm a little surprised they didn't rush out an ability to use a webcam with an AppleTV about a year ago. Could have been great through the pandemic and social distancing to do FaceTime calls directly on the AppleTV rather than weird screen mirroring solutions with echo, etc.

 

[thawk9455]

Alexa can hear a whisper and give accurate results from across the room, but Siri can't handle a simple query that is fully and loudly enunciated 2 feet away.

I don't have this problem at all. Only person in our house that has issues with Siri is our 2yo, and to be honest, I can't understand what he's saying 50% of the time either. Right now I'm hoping she'll keep ignoring him for awhile...

 

[Rogifan]

The HomePod didn’t fail because it didn’t have a screen. It failed because Siri is still subpar; people who want a smart speaker care more about the smarts and the price than they do audio quality; people who care about audio quality/home theater want something better than HomePod (and probably aren’t price sensitive either). If Apple wants to stay in this space why don’t they develop a sound bar/Apple TV combo. Something that would easily integrate with smart TVs.

 

[LinkRS]

Alexa can hear a whisper and give accurate results from across the room, but Siri can't handle a simple query that is fully and loudly enunciated 2 feet away.

I would have to say Siri is inconsistent. I remember one time a month ago, I said in a normal speaking voice "Hey Siri, what's the weather?", expecting my iPhone to respond (which is in my hand), and my HomePod in the other room responds. Other cases where my iPad, iPod, and HomePod are all in the same room, and they take turns responding to questions. LOL

 

[Scotticus]

Effing fix Siri.

Cue those who say it works all the time for them. I call BS.

The main reason Siri is behind the other voice assistants is because of the privacy policies at Apple. Of course it'd be nice if it was a better service, but I moved to Apple for their privacy policies, and I'm willing to live with a slightly less useful voice assistant if it means all of my data isn't being hoovered up and sold to whoever's got money laying around

 

[LinkRS]

The HomePod didn’t fail because it didn’t have a screen. It failed because Siri is still subpar; people who want a smart speaker care more about the smarts and the price than they do audio quality; people who care about audio quality/home theater want something better than HomePod (and probably aren’t price sensitive either). If Apple wants to stay in this space why don’t they develop a sound bar/Apple TV combo. Something that would easily integrate with smart TVs.

Personally, I didn't buy HomePod because I wanted a smart speaker, I bought one to have an easy way to listen to my music without having to stream from my phone. I didn't realize at the time, that without an Apple Music subscription, the HomePod is pretty limited in what it can do. I wouldn't buy a Smart Home device, I don't trust them at this point. Too many security vulnerabilities.

 

[paultopia]

The HomePod didn’t fail because it didn’t have a screen. It failed because Siri is still subpar; people who want a smart speaker care more about the smarts and the price than they do audio quality; people who care about audio quality/home theater want something better than HomePod (and probably aren’t price sensitive either). If Apple wants to stay in this space why don’t they develop a sound bar/Apple TV combo. Something that would easily integrate with smart TVs.

I have a full-sized homepod (that I got at a discount). Siri works fine for what I use it for, namely playing music and running HomeKit accessories---but the price is just too damn high.

 

[wetcanvas]

Why do I feel like Apple is coming up with these ideas 3-5 years after everyone else is already doing it.

 

[sidewinder3000]

Effing fix Siri.

Cue those who say it works all the time for them. I call BS.

I like Siri. She works great for a small number of things. Bit there are a few ways where she is way too limited, or just bad, and needs immediate and swift improvement.

 

[Deliro]

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.

As opposed to an iPad ? Not sure I get the value proposition.