Apple Discontinues Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini

[femike]

People actually expect to be using a HomePod in 20 years?

What tech products from 2001 are you using right now?

A few things I use on a regular basis:
Sony speakers (24 years)
Denon CD player (23 years)
Cannon scientific calculator (39 years)
Korg guitar tuner (31 years)
General Electric Super Radio 2 (31 years)
USB thumb drive (18 years)
... and many other electric items in use after 20 years like fridge, washing machine, iron, power tools, etc.

But of course none of these require an internet connection and most of these can be opened and repaired.

 

[Matt Leaf]

I was in the market recently and ended up with a Sonos One SL. If it had been the same price, a HomePod would have been a no-brainer. But I’m not big on voice assistants, and all I needed was AirPlay 2, so the SL is great for the kitchen.

I wonder if Apple will go the battery-powered route? Most people have a battery powered speaker already though I suppose, but definitely it’s a wide market.

It’s an interesting approach they have lately - kill off and while stocks last. It makes you think the line is dead, or the name. But who knows.

I also have a Beoplay P2 and it’s a great palm sized speaker. I always thought it would be sweet if there was a screen on the back of it, it’s basically iPod touch size. A next gen iPod touch that was actually a speaker would be cool.

But all the movement is toward voice controlled. I guess it’s one less screen they have to manufacture and they can recoup on the voice tech they’ve already developed.

I actually thought HomePod mini was too mini. Would be nice to actually see a smaller OG HomePod. But then, the Honepod is pretty much a great size.

Shame they cancelled it instead of trying to improve it.

Maybe in the tablet and computer space, even the watch, people are still prepared to pay the Apple tax because the value add is worth it. But with consumer electronics the differentiation is slim, it’s a crowded market out there.

 

[Ethosik]

"Who starred in Knight Rider?"... "The Dark Knight Rises features Christian Bale..."
"Who starred in the TV SERIES Knight Rider?"... "I can't get info about TV programmes on HomePod"

I just did this on my phone and it worked - showed the TV shows Knight Rider. Asked me which one, classic, one from 2008, or Team Knight Rider. Its not a Siri problem, but more like the Homepod doesn't have information on some things maybe.

 

[pauloregan]

Apple needed HomePod to encourage us to sign up to Apple Music. We all bought it and in.

Now we're all subscribing to Apple One as we love their ecosystem, they have callously discontinued the one item that binds their system around our home.

Shows a lack of respect for their regular customers.

 

[nrvna76]

For people saying they stand by Siri, I have to ask, have you ever used an Alexa device? I know it’s blasphemy around here to criticize Apple, but there is simply no denying that Alexa does everything Siri does* and mostly does it way better.

*Except Shazam, because Apple

I think that most who would say this are prioritizing privacy.

 

[Ethosik]

Maybe they plan to add it soon to the mini. Maybe it was a last-stand attempt to see if they could goose sales by differentiating it from the lower cost devices. who knows. It’s a silly thing to get hung up on. And it’s certainly stupid to say “apple is dumb because they are going to stop selling a device that isn’t selling well, even though they just added a feature to it.”

Apple adding features to devices that are end-of-lifed is something we should encourage, not discourage.

I don't think its possible because the big Homepod has directional tweeters that the mini lacks.

 

[Onelifenofear]

Ok no idea what is going on here...

odd they have just added Dolby atmos and surround sound for TVs for the HomePod. And you cannot do this for the mini at all!?!

odd that that have started warming people about disconnecting products - perhaps to give people a chance to buy matching units?

odd to call something the mini last year if they is no “normal” version

Personally I expect something new is coming.

 

[LeeW]

I think that most who would say this are prioritizing privacy.

I think too often that is used simply to justify a purchase.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

The full size HomePod priced at £299 simply isn’t competitive in a market with much cheaper options from Amazon and Google. The Mini at least comes in sensibly on price and people can buy more than one. Not at all surprised it’s being discontinued and to be honest I don’t know anybody personally that owns one?

 

[Ethosik]

Yup... I think the people over in that forum trying to convince themselves that “they aren’t really that heavy“ kind of know it themselves already...

What are you saying? I have used my AirPods Max for 6 consecutive hours a couple of days. I never feel them on my head. They are not that heavy.

 

[TheMacDaddy1]

Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We have two of them and we totally love them. The sound is amazing and we are an Apple Music family sub. The Mini is nice for a night stand or small room, like my office at work but it is not even close to the full size in terms of sound quality. We have one in our basement, sits on the bar near the pool table and anyone can ask Siri to play anything.

Dumb move Apple.

 

[turbineseaplane]

A few things I use on a regular basis:
Sony speakers (24 years)
Denon CD player (23 years)
Cannon scientific calculator (39 years)
Korg guitar tuner (31 years)
General Electric Super Radio 2 (31 years)
USB thumb drive (18 years)
... and many other electric items in use after 20 years like fridge, washing machine, iron, power tools, etc.

But of course none of these require an internet connection and most of these can be opened and repaired.

The key to me, when looking at your list, is that you have a way to use those things still.
None of those things have a modern OS and all have wired connections and repairability (as you mentioned).

(it's stretching a bit to just call anything that uses electricity a "tech" item in the sense we mean here)

If they'd just included an Aux-In with HomePods, we'd be largely all set.

 

[I7guy]

Yes it does. It also sounds like your talking about an iPad not a smart speaker.

A smart speaker that has absolutely no analogue inputs and doesn't even function as a standard bluetooth speaker, if Apple drops support it wont fuction at all.

A phone or an iPad can run on an old version of the OS for as long as the hardware holds up.

You’re correct in what you say, and that’s a big if. Somehow I believe there will be a huge hue and cry if Apple pulls the plug on these devices. Not having active support is not the the same as intentionally pulling the plug so that they become a huge paperweight.

 

[nrvna76]

I think too often that is used simply to justify a purchase.

Doesn’t mean it isn’t a thing. I have reasons for getting Alexa out of my house.

 

[wpalomine]

As a fan of the iPod Hi-Fi, I really wanted to like the HomePod.
I auditioned a pair, but returned it. As a speaker it was just ok.. had a weird sound signature, as a smart device it was marginal at best and pretty weak as a mesh speaker in the first year. Even with its shortcomings i would have kept them if it had an audio input.

Funny reading folks talking using this device for 20 yrs. Without an audio input I find that hard to believe. The question is how long will apple support airplay2. In 20 years, we will have AirPlay18.lol

 

[Fatboy71]

Have you got a HomePod mini? Heard one? If that’s the future of sound then I don’t want any part of it.

I have heard both and they both sound excellent. With the HomePod been the better of the two, naturally due to the difference in speakers between it and the Mini.

 

[Jonathantuba]

I am pleased I bought some HomePod last Black Friday at reduced price. I love them - the sound quality is so good they can satisfy me as a musician. I don’t think they were overpriced at all for such good speakers.

 

[pcd213]

Yeah, no ability to EQ and adapt to preferences and situations is a huge miss.

Its yet another area where the Apple hubris is a massive detractor.

You simply can't have one size fits all for something like this.

Totally agree

 

[turbineseaplane]

You guys think the HomePod mini "sound excellent"?

😬

 

[Fatboy71]

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.

It's going to have a number of years yet worth of software updates. One thing with Apple is they provide lengthy software updates.

 

[mfalcao]

The HomePod has amazing sound quality and beats the Mini by far... Ordered my 6th (and last) one now, before they run out of stock.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's going to have a number of years yet worth of software updates. One thing with Apple is they provide lengthy software updates.

Security Updates ≠ Software Updates

 

[kcmac]

I bought my HomePod on sale for $200. That price seems right. I just wish I would have bought 2. Still sounds way better than the sound bar I had. And the mini just doesn’t have the rich low end of the HomePod. I gotta believe there will be a new max version.

 

[Fatboy71]

I am pleased I bought some HomePod last Black Friday at reduced price. I love them - the sound quality is so good they can satisfy me as a musician. I don’t think they were overpriced at all for such good speakers.

If sound quality is a top priority, then the HomePod is unbeatable to my ears and I agree at it's reduced price I found it decent value for money for the excellent sound quality it offers.

Where the others have the edge is in the voice assistant side. Siri isn't rubbish by any means, it's just not as intelligent as the others.

I was so impressed with my parents HomePod sound quality, I have today ordered a HomePod for myself. It will have software updates for a number of years yet.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It will have software updates for a number of years yet.

You realize you are just saying this out loud and that doesn't make any part of it "true", right?