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Apple Discontinues Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini

It’s funny i have the mini - and like to buy a HomePod 2 - but Apple discontinued it.

maybe an Apple TV with HomePod funcation comes - would make sense - as you can only connect it to apple tv anyways.
 

Discontinuing HomePod doesn't make sense , think the AirPod Max think would have smaller sales​

 
hagar said:
Apple never gave this thing a proper chance. It’s a failed product design. Had they included Bluetooth and AUX, allowed other streaming services from the start, added API’s for third party apps and even other smart assistants, this thing would have been far more popular.

Amazon would have been first in line to add Alexa to it. But at least Apple would have had a HomeKit hub in every household.

This failure feels like they’re pulling back from the Smart Home space. What’s left is an outdated ATV and a mini speaker I cannot trust to be discontinued as well down the line.
Click to expand...
That to me is the obvious elephant in the room that most homepod fanboys here are missing. This thing was too locked into Siri and apples ecosystem. For those of us who may have liked it, and might have bought it as a general purpose, transportable, quality sound device ... it was just too limited in its use cases and flexibility.
 
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sniffies said:
If they do, they will rename HomePod mini as HomePod
Click to expand...
They probably should. After all, it would not make sense at all not having the bigger HomePod (or any other Apple device for that matter) and just the smaller version hanging around.. pretty crazy.
 
hagar said:
Apple never gave this thing a proper chance. It’s a failed product design. Had they included Bluetooth and AUX, allowed other streaming services from the start, added API’s for third party apps and even other smart assistants, this thing would have been far more popular.

Amazon would have been first in line to add Alexa to it. But at least Apple would have had a HomeKit hub in every household.

This failure feels like they’re pulling back from the Smart Home space. What’s left is an outdated ATV and a mini speaker I cannot trust to be discontinued as well down the line.
Click to expand...

Apple less than half a year ago made a big pitch for the smart home in the live event where the HomePod mini was launched, speakers that have only just come into general availability after being sold out well into this year. They aren't retreating from this space at all but adjusting their strategy to volume and now they have a volume seller in the form of the mini.

The existing HomePod is simply too close to the mini in it's offering to justify updating in its current form which is why they've pulled it, the mini will have taken a large chunk out of sales. Any future large speaker will have to offer something to clearly differentiate it such as stereo sound.

I also don't believe the HomePod has been a failure at all, it's just Apple has changed their approach to the smart home and it no longer clearly fits into this vision. It was never a speaker you would buy for every room.

The Apple TV is due an update and it's delay may be due to this change in strategy with Apple now wanting an more affordable device that will sell in volume, one for every screen in the house, rather than just one in the living room. I fully expect a new Apple TV to come this year.
 
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This is a crying shame.

I have three and two minis and I was considering a fourth to make a further stereo pair. I had hoped for an improved Apple TV (with inputs) capable of 5.1 or even 7.2 to a HomePod family. This, for me, would have been an ideal combo.

Assuming HP has the hardware Apple could have opened up Bluetooth connectivity with a software update making it far more appealing.

I still hope that this announcement is a pre-cursor to HomePod 2 with Bluetooth and line-in connectivity.

I also think that this may be an indication that there might be a retreat from HomeKit. I sincerely hope not.
 
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Let's face it. The current HomePod is just too expensive. 💸 Especially when you can get the Amazon Echo Studio for way less money.

I still think Apple may have a HomePod 2 that won't be so ambitious and would likely cost around US$225.
 
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I have 2 HomePods for speakers in my living room for the TV. They sound amazing, especially as a virtual surround system. But, I do get that they are priced out of range of competitive smart speakers like Echo, and even a Sonos One; Siri compatibility and HomeKit aren't worth the premium.

This does make me suspect that there will be a version of HomePod mini updated to allow for the same virtual surround capabilities at HomePod.
 
Nicole1980 said:
That to me is the obvious elephant in the room that most homepod fanboys here are missing. This thing was too locked into Siri and apples ecosystem. For those of us who may have liked it, and might have bought it as a general purpose, transportable, quality sound device ... it was just too limited in its use cases and flexibility.
Click to expand...
I dunno. (Not sure why people who buy a product have to be fanboys) The mini doesn’t do that job either, btw.
I got a stereo pair as quality wireless speakers that integrate with the Apple ecosystem, and they worked out pretty well. You can often pick them up for around £199 in the UK. I Loved the Apple TV integration, and was hoping iOS 14.5 would open up the walled garden to Spotify, but actually Apple Music has been a godsend through lockdown; can’t see any point in Apple Music once these stop working. I agree that a hdmi connection or stereo input would widen the accessibility, but that kind of defeats the point of it being wireless, no?
The whole eol thing in 3 years is just so lacking in commitment by Apple, and frankly they will have a harder sell persuading me to invest in another big idea another time.
 
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SirAnthonyHopkins said:
People who bought high-end speakers in 2001 may well still be using them, or certainly could. There’s some very good audio equipment in the homepods and it’d be a shame to have to bin that in a few years because Apple stops supporting the SoC that’s tied to it.

at very best we know now that they’ll last for as long as the AirPlay 2 standard is maintained.
Click to expand...
I'm still using a pair of Acoustat Model 3's from the early 80's. If they were good enough for Steve Jobs and many others, they are good enough for me :)
 
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tomtad said:
Apple less than half a year ago made a big pitch for the smart home in the live event where the HomePod mini was launched, speakers that have only just come into general availability after being sold out well into this year. They aren't retreating from this space at all but adjusting their strategy to volume and now they have a volume seller in the form of the mini.

The existing HomePod is simply too close to the mini in it's offering to justify updating in its current form which is why they've pulled it, the mini will have taken a large chunk out of sales. Any future large speaker will have to offer something to clearly differentiate it such as stereo sound.

I also don't believe the HomePod has been a failure at all, it's just Apple has changed their approach to the smart home and it no longer clearly fits into this vision. It was never a speaker you would buy for every room.

The Apple TV is due an update and it's delay may be due to this change in strategy with Apple now wanting an more affordable device that will sell in volume, one for every screen in the house, rather than just one in the living room. I fully expect a new Apple TV to come this year.
Click to expand...

It's simpler than that. Apple will release a much improved and better sounding HomePod 2 (or Max/whatever) on March 23rd. Think about the timing. The first HomePod will likely still be working just fine 10-12 years from now.

I wish I could say the amount of hand-wringing in this thread is astonishing. But people flip-out on the smallest things and always assume the worst. It's like it's in their DNA.
 
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Nicole1980 said:
That to me is the obvious elephant in the room that most homepod fanboys here are missing. This thing was too locked into Siri and apples ecosystem. For those of us who may have liked it, and might have bought it as a general purpose, transportable, quality sound device ... it was just too limited in its use cases and flexibility.
Click to expand...
exactly. all my computer, phone, pad, players are from Apple. Eventhough, I cannot find a place for Homepod. Just because I don‘t use Apple Music at all
 
Why not just lower the price and keep it. They have to be releasing something better.
 
Wolf Of Infinite Loop said:
I'm still using a pair of Acoustat Model 3's from the early 80's. If they were good enough for Steve Jobs and many others, they are good enough for me :)
Click to expand...

SJ also had hearing issues according to at least one biography.

(Edited typo)
 
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I was able to pick up probably the last HomePod yesterday at Best Buy... was holding out for HomePod 2 but if that's a myth then I'm happy I can enjoy HomePod 1 for a while. I already have 2 minis and I like the apple ecosystem/homekit/siri integration of the 2 minis... hopefully the iPhone mini isn't suffering the same fate.
 
citysnaps said:
It's simpler than that. Apple will release a much improved and better sounding HomePod 2 (or Max/whatever) on March 23rd. Think about the timing. The first HomePod will likely still be working just fine 10-12 years from now.

I wish I could say the amount of hand-wringing in this thread is astonishing. But people flip-out on the smallest things and always assume the worst. It's like it's in their DNA.
Click to expand...

If they had a new product in the pocket they’d replace the old one at launch in order to not create any negative impact on their brand.
 
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Romeo_Nightfall said:
It’s funny i have the mini - and like to buy a HomePod 2 - but Apple discontinued it.

maybe an Apple TV with HomePod funcation comes - would make sense - as you can only connect it to apple tv anyways.
Click to expand...

No other streaming box you attach to a tv has speakers. People tend to have an entertainment system in place.
 
I bought a mini to see how it compares to my regular HomePod back in January. I ended up selling my regular size, the mini made more sense for me. But I sold it just under two weeks ago.. if it is indeed discontinued, I could've waited and had my sale price higher! As far as why I went with the mini, I have headphones, monitors available for real lossless hifi, HomePod is better for white noise, siri, casual listening.
 
citysnaps said:
It's simpler than that. Apple will release a much improved and better sounding HomePod 2 (or Max/whatever) on March 23rd. Think about the timing. The first HomePod will likely still be working just fine 10-12 years from now.
Click to expand...

Good luck with this.

Everything about the Friday afternoon bury the bad news PR statement says this is dead.
 
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