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Apple Discontinues Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini
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Why not have both wired and wireless for flexibility? I’m definitely in the camp where flexibility is always a larger allure than being “locked” in
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The problem is not the price, people pay a lot of money for Apple products all the time. The problem is the features of the device itself and they are lacking.
This action by Apple is another reason I have concern they cannot be trusted. I do not own a HomePod. I put off purchasing one to see how it played out. It appears that was the correct decision.
When Apple messed up the AppleTV and destroyed the Airport it became clear Apple does not have a coherent strategy in the home entertainment and home automation space. HomeKit is an absolute mess.
Sorry to be so negative here. I am one of those "all in" people with the Apple ecosystem but Apple has made some major mistakes here. I have seen the comments about poor sales. Sometimes, keeping a product that does not sell well actually supports the sale of other products. If HomePod was defective and lacking sales, that would be another story. The purpose of Aperture was not to sell Aperture, it was to sell Macs. Thank goodness there is still someone inside Apple with enough influence to defending Final Cut Pro from the axe or that would be gone too.
Final words for all people out there using Siri. Turn it off. It cannot be trusted and you need to heed this warning. My personal experience is making random disparaging comments in my household about a certain controversial former president. Siri literally admonished me for the comment. Not once, but on at least three occassions. I have turned it off and will never turn it back on.
This action by Apple is another reason I have concern they cannot be trusted. I do not own a HomePod. I put off purchasing one to see how it played out. It appears that was the correct decision.
When Apple messed up the AppleTV and destroyed the Airport it became clear Apple does not have a coherent strategy in the home entertainment and home automation space. HomeKit is an absolute mess.
Sorry to be so negative here. I am one of those "all in" people with the Apple ecosystem but Apple has made some major mistakes here. I have seen the comments about poor sales. Sometimes, keeping a product that does not sell well actually supports the sale of other products. If HomePod was defective and lacking sales, that would be another story. The purpose of Aperture was not to sell Aperture, it was to sell Macs. Thank goodness there is still someone inside Apple with enough influence to defending Final Cut Pro from the axe or that would be gone too.
Final words for all people out there using Siri. Turn it off. It cannot be trusted and you need to heed this warning. My personal experience is making random disparaging comments in my household about a certain controversial former president. Siri literally admonished me for the comment. Not once, but on at least three occassions. I have turned it off and will never turn it back on.
it make sense if you assume that at this point in the product cycle everyone who is going to buy one has bought when, and apple doesn’t think it’s enough sales to warrant updating them
I have a 2013 55in Samsung 3D Smart TV. It is no longer supported by Samsung, ie no more firmware updates. I can probably get it serviced if it breaks for a cost, however, would I really want to. Would probably dispose of it and buy a new 4K model. If it doesn't break, I'll probably get another 10 years out of the tv before I get a new 4K model.
Same situation with the HomePod. If it breaks, I can get it serviced as it's still under AppleCare. After AppleCare, I'm sure Apple will fix it. I expect to get at least another 10 years with the HomePod, it should still continue working with no diminished level of performance.
To put this in some perspective, I know people who have remodeled their kitchens completely twice in 10 years.
We have to face the "music" so to speak, "smart" appliances have a limited lifespan, ie planned obsolescence.
As far as Siri, I have no intention of turning it off. I will admit, that once, I was listening to some youtube video and Siri woke up, it was disconcerting. But the pros outweigh the cons (which is fretting about who is hearing your conversation).
Agree. Have a stereo pair set up with my tv and a mini in the kitchen and the full size homepods are much better (The mini is ok for what it does, but nothing special).
I’m waiting. The touch remote for my 4K Apple TV stopped working and a replacement remote isn‘t much cheaper than a brand new Apple TV. Right now, I’m limping along using my Apple Watch as a remote until the next generation is available, hopefully one that has a physically more robust and better functions remote.
That doesn’t make any sense. Why wouldn’t they just wait one more week and announce the next new thing of their current offering? You know, like they have done for 20+ years.
Face it, they admitted failure quietly on a Friday night and came up with some poor excuse they would now focus on the Mini. How you conclude from that a HomePod 2 is on the horizon is baffling.
You think Apple is going to assign engineers to push updates to a product they don't even sell anymore for ten years? They don't even don't even suport iPhones for ten years.
No logic at all in the conclusion you have jumped to.
I have a few: a Bowers & Wilkins 600 series 5.1 surround system, a Yamaha DSP A2 amplifier (a beast) and 2 Apple Cinema Display HD 30-inch (from 2004, but still "vintage" and absolutely gorgeous). I don't expect my HomePod to last that long, but if this news is true, I consider it a definite mistake!
Siri is highly suspect of snooping since it nags after every Big Sur update to turn it on. Just honor the current setting (disabled) and update the OS.
Thanks, I stand corrected.
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Could happen.
They did push new firmware with security fixas for the 10 year old Airport Expresses. And even added Airplay 2 for the 2nd gen after it was discontinued.
Yeah but the firmware update was pushed about a year after they stopped selling them. Very much doubt they will be getting updates in 2028
EDIT: They did push the update to the older model Airports too (from 2007 ish) but no diminished performance from a Homepod in ten years? Nah.
it doesn’t need updates to continue to function
Did you read the post? I didn't expect Apple to push updates to the HomePod. I expect it to keep on working, as is, without diminished performance.
Not disagreeing - it would, for example, eliminate the need to use an Apple tv as an intermediary for cinema sound... partic if it had hdmi - but my point was that the OG was always pitched as a very good quality Apple wireless speaker and is honest to that idea - even more so than perhaps the mini (more of a google style also ran with inferior sound and still largely the same smart features - so what’s the point in cancelling it)