That there is no software equalizer comes under the heading of generally one needs to do their homework when buying a product.
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Apple Discontinues Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini
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Apple has done A LOT of backtracking lately.....A LOT. Rumors of them adding ports like you said. Rumors of them making a lower priced monitor. Actually making a monitor after they discontinued them years before. Back tracking on the Mac Pro.
Until supplies last could be about the old version before release a newer one
The headphones are not that much more expensive compared to the competition if you add the design, ease of swapping the ear pieces (trying to replace them on my Sennheiser is about 15 minutes of just frustration and with the AirPods Max its literally seconds), not having to clear out pairing lists almost every day, almost perfect auto device switching, and more. I find all those things make the difference worth it. If you don't its fine, that is why there are competing products.
Plus anything that supports Bluetooth can work with these headphones. My custom built Windows 10 Gaming PC for example. The Homepod does not have this advantage.
That really isn't how Apple does thing honestly.
If there is something new coming, it's likely quite different than the existing HP or they wouldn't be advertising the fire sale in this way...just not what they do at all.
You highly doubt Apple will do something it literally said it was doing? This isn’t a rumor, it’s a press release. Next time you might want to stop and think before clicking the post button.
I dont think its worth a second homepod for apple TV, a soundbar does a better job for similar cost with dolby atmos and comes with a floor woofer. If you like music only, sure. But for TV, its too high a price for less functionality.
pointing out a lack of features isn’t “whining”. it shouldn’t require me to use a device in a way that hamstrings its main function just to reduce the bass level.
You can’t have it both ways – either an EQ is important, in which case let me use one natively through the speaker, or it’s not, therefore don’t give me “you can use one with this awkward work around”.
I agree.
A TV sound solution needs at least enough flexibility to work for all TV audio, not just whatever comes out of the Apple TV hardware.
Guess I should be glad I stuck with my Sonos and never tried to switch over.
At this point wish I had done the same when I was choosing between the Apple and Sonos. Although, according to a lot of commenters, there’s no market in it...
I was hoping to create a stereo pair for Apple TV 
Wishful thinking: HomePod Max with surround sound.
Wishful thinking: HomePod Max with surround sound.
The worse thing about this everyone who was begging for cheap is going to shell out a whole lot more for Sonos. To get anything comparable to HomePod will cost you £500 and £1000 for a stereo pair.
Anyone who replies to this within “but Sonos one..” obviously hasn't heard a HomePod.
I’m almost embarrassed with how gutted I feel about this news.
Anyone who replies to this within “but Sonos one..” obviously hasn't heard a HomePod.
I’m almost embarrassed with how gutted I feel about this news.
There s the issue as you illustrate- "for certain use cases" while trying ot sell it to the mass marked for $300 when it came out; many times the competition price.
And "No other smart speaker integrates as well with the apple ecosystem." Right, but EVERY speaker has Bluetooth. Heck Apple Music is on Android now. You can't take the locked-down approach and at the same time then start putting it everywhere too. Then wonder why no one is buying your hardware (or very few). The locked-down device is never going to compete.
Just like my Apple TV box post. If I wanted Apple TV+ you can get it built into newer TVs, or Airplay to any devices like TVs the past few years, Roku box, etc. All cheaper solution than a $180+ box.
They have to figure out fast if they want subscription sales or hardware. Both don't work. You have to pick making the money on one and sacrificing the other. If they want to sell TV+ then they need to get selling the hardware at or near cost; making it back on the content. That's basically how everyone else does it. There are very few who are going to shell out almost $200 for streaming box hardware these days on top of the monthly content cost. Not when the competition is $100 or way under and does 99% of the same stuff.
Yeah, because it's soooo difficult and awkward to pick up iPad and choose the music you want, isn't it? Have your muscles atrophied so much through just using your voice you can't pick up an iPad anymore?
Depends on region. In the US the Homepod launched at $350 and a stereo pair of Sonos One ar $399; on sale for $379 now.
It made zero sense to spend $700 on 2 Homepods in comparison. Even if you only get 90% of the quality it's nearly half (57%) the cost.
There simply are not enough buyers out there for Homepods even if they sound better. The premium price wasn't worth it to most people. And audiophiles are buying better stuff to begin with.
Apple has to sell a certain number to make the R&D and continuing the product line worth it. Clearly not the case here.
I highly suspect the Airpods Max is going to go the same route. There just arent enough sold to justify continuing it very long. It's in a weird too premium-priced area where you can get 90%+ the performance or nearly half the cost from Sony or Bose.
Your argument is ridiculous and I don’t get why you’re picking this fight. It’s not about how easy/difficult it is to do, it’s about wanting to use an expensive product to its fullest.
You seem to be accepting that wanting an EQ is valid, but also arguing that it shouldn’t be built-in to the device’s software, for what reason?
They don't do the "until supplies last" thing for things where an updated version is coming.
If anything is coming, it will be a totally different release/idea/approach (like a Sound Bar or something).
I’d change “lately” to “since JI Left”, there really feels like a philosophical shift, one I welcome. JI is a legend but maybe technology isn’t ready for his vision, my iPhone 12 Pro Max is heavy but the battery is amazing, I’m happy with the offset. bring on all the rumours, more port (even if thicker laptop), affordable apple screen, all of it
This article and its title make it sound like Apple HAD to discontinue the HomePod so they focus on the HomePod Mini which is not what they said.
What Apple really said is that they will just focus on the Mini now, but they didn’t say that for that to happen they had to kill the HomePod. TechCrunch explained it well and their title was accurate.
What Apple really said is that they will just focus on the Mini now, but they didn’t say that for that to happen they had to kill the HomePod. TechCrunch explained it well and their title was accurate.