This is just the fate of “smart” devices. When they are deemed obsolete, they truly are, cause customers can’t do **** about it and they can’t be used as a dumb device.
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Apple Discontinues Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini
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What is wrong with Apple's new strategy of discontinuing products but still selling them while stocks last now. So unprofessional and unlike Apple before, when they would immediately stop selling the last iPhone when a new one is announced, regardless of whether if they have still have the last generation iPhone in stock or not.
This continuing to sell even after discontinuation starting with iMac Pro and HomePod is just ridiculous
My iPod HiFi, connected optically to an (also discontinued) AirPort Express, is still doing exactly this 15 years later.
I’m sure the HomePod sounds better, but my setup still beats a lot of similarly sized and fairly expensive speakers.
The problem for me was never the price, but the IO. If there was a way to connect the speakers to - lets say - my PlayStation or other sources via audio-in, I would have bought these in a heartbeat.
You mean the Steve that killed the iPod HiFi (that he clearly loved) when it failed to sell, and never tried a similar product again?
This bums me out. While I've been having problems using the stereo pair of Minis in a small home theater setup (stereo pairing kept dropping), I'd hoped to upgrade to the big ones. The little ones sound damn good for the price, and couldn't wait to hear a HomePod stereo pair. Maybe there's a new model coming later this month?
The mad Apple stans on here will always tell you “you’re using it wrong” rather than just admit that there might be an issue with an Apple product.
Wow, it's all there in black & white. Hey everybody, from now on forget reports from Ming-Chi Kuo - just look out for the @macduke reports!
Mini comparing to full size one is rubbish. I have a pair of regular and minis. Minis are pretty much useless for my liking
I bought my first 2 at regular price as I wanted one for the living room and the bedroom. Then when the stereo pair feature (and the $199 Best Buy sales) became available, I got another for the living room, one for the bathroom and one for my mother's room. I was looking for one for the kitchen - enter the HomePod Mini. My mother does not use technology but she uses Siri regularly to set timers, check the weather, and operate the HomeKit devices. Needless to say I'm a big fan of these and even though the Mini sounds quite stellar even with the lower specs IMO, I very much hope that there is an update in the future to a fuller-sounding model like the original.
oh nooo Apple. PLEASE tell me you’re releasing a larger or revamped HomePod. HPM can’t be your only speaker...
Don't try and put a different twist on what I said, my point stands, people, use privacy as a reason to justify Apple purchases. Never said privacy wasn't a 'thing'.
The Power Mac G4 Cube and iPod HiFi are both products launched under Steve Jobs leadership that failed to sell and were discontinued shortly. iPod HiFi was introduced and sold from February 2006-September 2007. It didn't even last 2 years.
I replied to somebody that said Alexa does almost everything better, by saying those people might be prioritizing privacy. You said people use it to justify their purchase.
I’m not twisting anything. 🤷♂️
What were you trying to say then? How do you know why people buy things?
In other words “you” don’t have a clue and are wrong.
Thays why I wish it had either a line in jack or bluetooth. Suddenly the people laughing at my idea of adding bluetooth when MR posted an article about the OG HomePod being jailbroken don't look so funny anymore. If there's a way to jailbreak it to use the built in Bluetooth, I'll end up going that route in a few years. My ****** Beats Pill (1st gen before apple bought them) has fallen apart but bluetooth still works.
One thing I noticed is when you reset your HomePod it has to connect to Apple's servers during the setup process.. So what happens down the road in 5-7 years when the security certificate expires, Apple doesn't release any update and you can't "activate" your HomePod after doing a reset? Never mind the fact that when you ask Siri anything, she will say "Sorry, I'm having trouble connecting to the internet" What about Apple Music? My 1st gen Apple TV can no longer access MobileMe photos.
Basically these devices can't even do what they were originally advertised to be capable of. At least the original iPhone can do almost everything they said it could do in 2007 AND MORE except access the App Store, YouTube, stocks, and weather. I can still surf the web on my 2007 original iPhone but it's pretty bad. I can still connect to AT&T's network (no data because they've decommissioned the EDGE network) and make a call. My 2007 iPhone can still be used for music, movies, etc.
It's one thing if a device can't gain new features, but it's another if they remove features from a device.
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When Apple drops support and it can no longer connect to any Apple device, these homepods will Be useless since they can’t be repurposed. A8 chip holds it dead in the water. Whoever sells them now I’d argue has the right mind to do so while the price is still high.
I disagree that the AirPods Pro are niche. Apple is selling a ton of them.