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This is so disappointing if they simply focus on the mini. Really hoping for a refresh with the updates the mini has. The mini is good but it just doesn’t cut it for sound. If they don’t refresh I’ll certainly be looking out for 2 more.
 
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No future??? they are still selling the HomePod Mini. That is the future of the HomePod range.
Worse sound quality, worse design, same old Siri... the tidings are poor for minis and Apple Music as a result of this news. The only advantage the minis have are h1 chips and they can be dropped in any Apple product. No way I would invest any more money in the music side of the Apple ecosystem if they can dump homepods after only 3 years. Frankly, as others have said, the AirPods max look similarly doomed. Very disappointing news.
 
Not sure why people think discontinued HomePod = same fate for AirPods max. They are more expensive and have been sold out for months. Homepods have never been sold out.
 
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SOooooo do we think these are likely to go on sale places or best to snap one up from Apple now (UK based).

Also, what a shame that you can have all the HomePod Minis in the world but you're not going to get any bass on your movies.

I thought two HomePods + 4 HomePod mini was the future of the Apple TV immersive experience.
 
It would have been so easy to fix the sales problem with HomePod. Just lower the price to $199. Done.
 
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From the supposed release from Apple:

"We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers"

1. Apple really uses the phrase "Apple Online Store"? Apple's usual wording "The new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini with M1 are available to order today on apple.com and in the Apple Store app"

2. And the grammar / punctuation mistake?

Really from Apple??????
 
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SOooooo do we think these are likely to go on sale places or best to snap one up from Apple now (UK based).

Also, what a shame that you can have all the HomePod Minis in the world but you're not going to get any bass on your movies.

I thought two HomePods + 4 HomePod mini was the future of the Apple TV immersive experience.
Waiting to see what happens to the price in the next few weeks. If there’s a decent market for these second hand I’ll probably sell mine.

alternatively if the price drops below the £200 I originally paid I might actually consider getting another for a stereo pair lol.
 
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Also, I was hoping someone would release an interface to send PS5, XBOX to the HomePods but this seems unlikely now.

Apple wouldn't discontinue the HomePod when the new Apple TV is around the corner if it was in anyway connected to their plans.
 
What does any of this have to do with HomeKit?
Because you can invoke HomeKit commands with HomePod. Yes you can use your phone but it’s not as convenient.
yes you can use HomePod mini but that is an inadequate sounding speaker with tinny sound doesn’t fill a room. Solution could be to have both a mini and a Sonos for example to cover both worlds however that is ridiculous and most will find it easier to just use a Sonos with its built in Alexa , so yes this decision from Apple will inadvertently kill HomeKit.
 
Also, I was hoping someone would release an interface to send PS5, XBOX to the HomePods but this seems unlikely now.

Apple wouldn't discontinue the HomePod when the new Apple TV is around the corner if it was in anyway connected to their plans.
I think Apple TV is next for the axe. We’ll probably get a cheap dongle type model instead.
 
I strongly considered 2xHomepods for a Stereo pair for a TV when it first came out... but went Sonos instead, but not the Ones or other speakers but rather their Amp for my floorstanders for music and actual sound bar, sub and two ones for rears for 5.1 on my TV, plus 2 of their portable Moves for the office and backyard.

The biggest miss for me with the Homepod was the lack of line-in and lack of music queue features in a shared household. I'd consider the minis as PC speakers. I can airplay my mac to them but the delay is brutal for any realtime sounds. Line-in doesn't have that problem.

I actually don't mind Siri but am frustrated by its fragmentation (working differently on phone, ATV and watch). It really works well with Apple Music and for homekit voice control but not for much else, but thats all I use it for or checking the odd ball game score.

Im still contemplating a mini for the Thread radio, but hoping a new ATV comes out with Thread support.
 
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Not sure why people think discontinued HomePod = same fate for AirPods max. They are more expensive and have been sold out for months. Homepods have never been sold out.

Sorry that isn't true, see this story from just after it launched.

You have to understand how the market works, Apple have a loyal following so almost anything they release sells well initially but once they have sold to the die hards and the enthusiasts you have to covince the average consumer to buy. Thats a tall order with a pair of $550 headphones..
 
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I would pay full price for this speaker, even today, IF it would allow me to choose Google Assistant or Alexa as the default assistant. IMO Siri is what made this speaker not worth its price tag.
 
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It would have been so easy to fix the sales problem with HomePod. Just lower the price to $199. Done.

Best Buy has been doing this 3-4 times a year since at least late 2019. It seem that not even that moved enough units out the door.
 
In retrospect, they should have started with the cute, cheap Mini. Then when those were a success, introduced a HomePod Pro (the full sized HomePod)
 
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