Apple Discontinues Full-Sized HomePod to Focus on HomePod Mini

[The Game 161]

Even with no updates not like the HomePod will still being useful for music and general airplay music. It will work well for what most will use it for. Mine will go in the gym and be used for that even without updates it will still continue to work fine.

 

[FriendlyMackle]

Until Airplay 2 isn't available in the phones anymore. Thats the importance of the other interfaces. When they say discontinue that doesn't just mean manufacturing, that's going to be software as well. I'm sure the mini and big pods overlap in some areas but I don't expect them to carry on software updating the device for very long. I'm just saying, I wouldn't expect them to keep updating a discontinued device with anything other than security updates. And as their services and Airplay 3 move forward I don't think these HomePods are going to updated and once that happens it remains to be seen whether Apple devices will fall back to airplay 2.

Just to note that Airplay 1 was released in 2010. Airplay 2 was released in 2018. So that's 8 years for the first implementation of the protocol. And Airplay 2 devices will still fall back to Airplay 1 for older devices.

Airplay 1 was also jailbroken within 1-2 years after it's release and the protocol was reverse-engineered and released as a shareware for non-Apple devices.

I think there is enough interest that even if Apple were to (foolishly) abandon HomePod consumers that people will create new solutions to keep this tech alive. At least for a few years.

 

[SirAnthonyHopkins]

Just to note that Airplay 1 was released in 2010. Airplay 2 was released in 2018. So that's 8 years for the first implementation of the protocol. And Airplay 2 devices will still fall back to Airplay 1 for older devices.

Airplay 1 was also jailbroken within 1-2 years after it's release and the protocol was reverse-engineered and released as a shareware for non-Apple devices.

I think there is enough interest that even if Apple were to (foolishly) abandon HomePod consumers that people will create new solutions to keep this tech alive. At least for a few years.

This is definitely true. If Apple does make the mistake of dropping HomePod support and updates too soon – which would be a big PR disaster regardless – there will still be a big community around these who will find new and interesting ways to make them work. No way are the nerds of the world just going to allow these to become expensive paperweights.

And either way, I think Apple will support these fully for at least another few years giving them the same software and security updates as the minis. If I still get updates occasionally for my AirPort Express, they'll keep supporting these.

 

[mrclean303]

It’s just not surprising. The HomePod can’t really compete. We’re a blended household – Apple and Amazon. iPads, MacBooks, iPhones, Apple Watches, three Apple TV’s, and then Alexa all over the house and Sonos on the TVs and outside. Sonos is great because they have Alexa integrated into their kick@$$ speakers, and because, well… Siri sucks. The issue is that we’re wired up with smart devices everywhere. Door locks, Philips Hue bulbs, thermostat, even remote start on the vehicles… asking Siri to perform any of these tasks is excruciating because she lags, and lags, and lags, and usually just can’t figure it out. Alexa is ON IT. First time, every time, and right away. We’ve come to the point where Siri is just never used anymore, because she takes too long and she’s just overall not very helpful.

The point is – Sonos has sound that’s every bit as good, with more speaker options to integrate together, with a *far* superior voice assistant. I guess I see the point of HomePod if you’re looking for great sound from one or two speakers and don’t care about a very capable voice assistant (like if you’re just looking to use Siri to play music, tell you the weather, or the time? Great, because the sound from HomePod really is great). But Sonos offers a MUCH better product if you want great sound, linked together with all sorts of speaker options across your home, with a very capable voice assistant that can actually help you with things.

Poor HomePod. It’s sad because I’m a huge Apple fanboy, but in this case I have to be honest – there are much better options out there to spend your money on.

 

[zhenya]

Just to note that Airplay 1 was released in 2010. Airplay 2 was released in 2018. So that's 8 years for the first implementation of the protocol. And Airplay 2 devices will still fall back to Airplay 1 for older devices.

Airplay 1 was also jailbroken within 1-2 years after it's release and the protocol was reverse-engineered and released as a shareware for non-Apple devices.

I think there is enough interest that even if Apple were to (foolishly) abandon HomePod consumers that people will create new solutions to keep this tech alive. At least for a few years.

AirPlay as a music protocol actually dates back to the release of the Airport Express in 2004. Technically it was called AirTunes until 2010, but for music, the protocol has been in continuous function since 2004.

 

[Uofmtiger]

It’s just not surprising. The HomePod can’t really compete. We’re a blended household – Apple and Amazon. iPads, MacBooks, iPhones, Apple Watches, three Apple TV’s, and then Alexa all over the house and Sonos on the TVs and outside. Sonos is great because they have Alexa integrated into their kick@$$ speakers, and because, well… Siri sucks. The issue is that we’re wired up with smart devices everywhere. Door locks, Philips Hue bulbs, thermostat, even remote start on the vehicles… asking Siri to perform any of these tasks is excruciating because she lags, and lags, and lags, and usually just can’t figure it out. Alexa is ON IT. First time, every time, and right away. We’ve come to the point where Siri is just never used anymore, because she takes too long and she’s just overall not very helpful.

The point is – Sonos has sound that’s every bit as good, with more speaker options to integrate together, with a *far* superior voice assistant. I guess I see the point of HomePod if you’re looking for great sound from one or two speakers and don’t care about a very capable voice assistant (like if you’re just looking to use Siri to play music, tell you the weather, or the time? Great, because the sound from HomePod really is great). But Sonos offers a MUCH better product if you want great sound, linked together with all sorts of speaker options across your home, with a very capable voice assistant that can actually help you with things.

Poor HomePod. It’s sad because I’m a huge Apple fanboy, but in this case I have to be honest – there are much better options out there to spend your money on.

Sonos recently stopped supporting a bunch of products, so this is something that happens with tech. Apple still has the HomePod mini, so they haven’t completely left the market. They just stopped making their $300 model, which is a few years old now.

I am not sure Sonos makes a speaker with the HomePod’s footprint that sounds as good and does 360 sound? That said, selling a $300 (originally $350) speaker that only works with iPhone and Apple Music put the HomePod in a niche category from the start. It is much easier to justify a $100 niche product for most people. The $300 HomePod sounds so much better, though. As I mentioned, mine broke and I have been using the mini, but I don’t use it nearly as much because the sound quality isn’t in the same league.

For me, the big selling point of the HomePod mini is being able to tell it to play music on my main system, which has AirPlay 2. This means I don’t need to touch my iPhone or take the hit to the battery. I just wished it worked with other music services. It is possible that Apple will come out with a new speaker in between the old HomePod and the new, but more support for third party services remains to be seen. Personally, I don’t think they ever gave Sonos a run for their money because of the walled garden they built around the HomePod.

 

[Dorv]

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.

I think the low price on TV+ (and the fact that it's one year trial for new hardware purchasers is still going on five months after it was supposed to end) and the continued high prices on hardware pretty much answers that question

 

[FriendlyMackle]

AirPlay as a music protocol actually dates back to the release of the Airport Express in 2004. Technically it was called AirTunes until 2010, but for music, the protocol has been in continuous function since 2004.

I was aware of that earlier incarnation of AirTunes — but I don't know whether once it became AirPlay it was still compatible with devices going back to 2004. Wifi standards alone have changed so greatly since 2004, I can't imagine any device older than 2009 - 2010 could handle even AirPlay 1. But I don't know that for certain, because I don't have any devices that old anymore! With the exception of an iPod from around 2003...which I haven't used in at least more than a decade.

 

[antwormcity]

Are you implying an even higher price compared to HomePods?

Yes, exactly that, so I predicted on March 13th. Maybe we check the latest rumors now to make it more premium

Apple Adds FaceTime Framework to Apple TV/HomePod Amid Speaker With Screen Rumors

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today revealed that Apple has been developing new speakers that are equipped with "screens and cameras,"...

www.macrumors.com

Looks like this would be a Facebook Portal rival with emphasis on audio (one can hope!). Your iPad and iPhone are not enough for FaceTime, your Echo Show replacement has a strong market for premium buyers.

Way overkill though, I wish they would release a true HomePod replacement as well.

 

[zhenya]

I was aware of that earlier incarnation of AirTunes — but I don't know whether once it became AirPlay it was still compatible with devices going back to 2004. Wifi standards alone have changed so greatly since 2004, I can't imagine any device older than 2009 - 2010 could handle even AirPlay 1. But I don't know that for certain, because I don't have any devices that old anymore! With the exception of an iPod from around 2003...which I haven't used in at least more than a decade.

I still have a few of the original AirPort Express models. They are based on 802.11b wifi which is still perfectly functional.

 

[ericwn]

Yes, exactly that, so I predicted on March 13th. Maybe we check the latest rumors now to make it more premium

Apple Adds FaceTime Framework to Apple TV/HomePod Amid Speaker With Screen Rumors

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today revealed that Apple has been developing new speakers that are equipped with "screens and cameras,"...

www.macrumors.com

Looks like this would be a Facebook Portal rival with emphasis on audio (one can hope!). Your iPad and iPhone are not enough for FaceTime, your Echo Show replacement has a strong market for premium buyers.

Way overkill though, I wish they would release a true HomePod replacement as well.

Apple works on a ton of things all the time but not everything makes the cut . I’m doubtful that we’ll see an Echo like product after having no mainstream success with Homepods or Apple TV’s but we’ll see.

 

[Uofmtiger]

the HomePod didn't need to be killed. it just needed some minor tweaking to make it a good value.


Bluetooth and Aux input. honestly, that simple. make it usable for more than just basic Apple services and it would be competitive with the other speakers.

And a price cut.

But a "smart" speaker that costs leaps and bounds more than it's competition and has a severely crippled featureset in comparison for what basic users use? It's a hard sell

I always wished that was the device they released. If it had Aux or Bluetooth, it could be paired with an Echo Dot which would open it up to a better assistant and more music services. When they allowed Apple Music on the Amazon Echos, they essentially threw in the towel.

I always thought they put this out to fill a niche, so I am surprised they would discontinue it for poor sales. The closed off nature of the device and the price was always going to make it more niche than devices that do a lot more for less money.

Unlike a lot of the other people around here, I really liked its sound quality for that small footprint. I never heard anything that was close to it with this form factor and I have reviewed a lot of Bluetooth speakers. Before mine died, it got used every day and every day I enjoyed hearing it. That being said, paying $350 for something that bricked three years later for no obvious reason left a bad taste in my mouth and I got the cheap mini to replace it. Unfortunately, I can't really get used to the difference in SQ, so we don't listen to it as often. It is more for background music and controlling Airplay 2 devices.

 

[Seanm87]

I’ve noticed these are still in stock. The iMac Pro was sold out fairly quickly when it was discontinued and this is a fraction of the cost of that.

It really has not been popular.

 

[Rob_2811]

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.

Anybody know when this goes on sale?

 

[ericwn]

Anybody know when this goes on sale?

Any moment, on Earth 2. Riding on the enormous success of the first one.

 

[I7guy]

Any moment, on Earth 2. Riding on the enormous success of the first one.

Most companies only dream of a “failure” like HomePod. And then there is apple.

 

[Canyda]

This conversation is the first time I've seen the term "blended household" to refer to technology.

 

[Uofmtiger]

I’ve noticed these are still in stock. The iMac Pro was sold out fairly quickly when it was discontinued and this is a fraction of the cost of that.

It really has not been popular.

They haven’t discounted it since discontinuing it, so it is a hard to be motivated to buy it at this point. It is 3 years old, which means they could release something better for less money or essentially stop support of this in a year or 2. It has some risk associated with it that wasn’t as apparent as it is now.

Despite me unhappiness with the mini’s sound, I would need it to be sold for less money to take the risk on it. I am sure I am not alone. If it dropped to $199, I would be happy take those risks. As it is, I will wait and see.

 

[Apple.Sonos]

Holding out hope that Apple will buy out Sonos.

 

[ericwn]

Holding out hope that Apple will buy out Sonos.

Will Sonos customers benefit from a more closed platform like Apple appreciate? I’m not sure the focus is aligned for these two companies.

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

Holding out hope that Apple will buy out Sonos.

That wouldn’t necessarily be a good move for those people not in the Apple ecosystem and enjoy the Sonos range though. Apple would undoubtedly add restrictions and make it an Apple only product which in turn would restrict the market Sonos currently operates in.

 

[fat jez]

That wouldn’t necessarily be a good move for those people not in the Apple ecosystem and enjoy the Sonos range though. Apple would undoubtedly add restrictions and make it an Apple only product which in turn would restrict the market Sonos currently operates in.

Agreed. Only Siri is lacking from the Sonos eco-system, otherwise support for everything else (and more) is already present.

I don't want to lose features from my stereo pair of Sonos Ones due to an Apple take over.

 

[iGeek2019]

Notice on the Apple Store app they only feature HomePod Mini on the home page-if you wanted to buy HomePod you have to search for it. Get that it’s been discontinued but surely you’d think they’d still have it visible to exhaust all existing inventory?