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Apple Explains Why HomePod Was Released Again, Wi-Fi 4 Limitation, and More
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Nobody, they’ve just struck deals to put Google’s app on their phones which the nontechnical (but still somehow technical enough to know of, let alone have an opinion on, RCS) confuse (purposely) with “supported by carrier X.
The RCS thread has great technical detail on this if you can wade through the endless nonsense from those who have (again, purposely) misunderstood the topic.
Sure, You could buy 2 HomePods and 2 HomePod minis for much less than a surround sound setup. But then you would have 4 inappropriate speakers sounding less than ideal when you actually want a surround sound setup. Then folks like many of those here now would sound off about Apple making lousy sound.
Hopefully Apple is smart enough not "to enable the software to have left, right, left rear and right rear" as you request - - unless they really go after the concept and make it work really well, including adding a mandatory subwoofer. Personally I do like your idea, subject to the above caveats.
I have 8 HomePod mini across 3 locations for HomeKit purposes. SIRI is unreliable; I also have google and Amazon devices in case my HomePods go offline because of a bad update.
For music, go with KEF or Sonos.. I just put KEF into a room connected via eARC to my TV, enjoying Sirius XM, TV; etc, with full airplay support.. not that AirPlay is reliable either
For music, go with KEF or Sonos.. I just put KEF into a room connected via eARC to my TV, enjoying Sirius XM, TV; etc, with full airplay support.. not that AirPlay is reliable either
I do not know a single person who uses it. My iOS friends use iMessage/Messages
and those on Android use either WhatsApp, Signal and/or Telegram. The last thing any of my Android friends would do is trust Google for messaging. Their track record is unimpressive.
Everyone. Literally everyone but Apple. Granted it’s not a big list.
There is only one other phone vendor that counts. But all the network operators support it. It’s long past time for SMS to die.
Yeah it’s mostly Google calling the shots now because Apple put their fingers in their ears and said iMessage is all anyone needs.
I pre ordered this (arriving today), based on many techies assumptions that sound wise it won't be worse than the original, Brian Tongue did a full review & comparison yesterday, it is clear that the original is better sound wise. Apple cheaped out again and mine will be going back 😏
Apple's VP of hardware engineering Matthew Costello and product marketing employee Alice Chan recently spoke with Men's Journal and TechCrunch about the new second-generation HomePod in wide-ranging interviews about the smart speaker.
Apple discontinued the original full-size HomePod in March 2021 after multiple reports indicated that sales of the speaker were lackluster, but Chan told Men's Journal that Apple has since "heard more interest than ever for the acoustics of a richer larger speaker," leading the company to release another larger HomePod.
The new HomePod looks virtually identical to the original, although it is 0.2 inches shorter and has a larger edge-to-edge LED touchscreen on top. Costello told TechCrunch that Apple's teams "really love" this shape and form for the full-size HomePod and "were able to create a wonderful system within that structure."
Costello explained why the new HomePod is limited to the older Wi-Fi 4 standard, compared to Wi-Fi 6 on other modern Apple devices:He also elaborated on the inability to pair a new HomePod with an original HomePod:Apple told both media publications that the HomePod mini is "popular," but did not provide any additional details or comment on the future of the smaller speaker.
In his interview with Men's Journal, Costello provides additional details about the new HomePod's hardware and technologies, including the four-inch high-excursion woofer, tweeters, beamforming microphones, room-sensing capabilities, and more.
The new HomePod is available to pre-order for $299 and launches this Friday in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the U.K., Japan, Australia, and select other countries. Check out our HomePod review roundup for a hands-on look at the speaker, which many reviewers found to have largely the same sound quality as the original.
Article Link: Apple Explains Why HomePod Was Released Again, Wi-Fi 4 Limitation, and More
Because Brian Tongue review comparison came out yesterday and even over YouTube, it is clear it's not as good as the original sound wise, even Amazon Echo sounded better 😏
It doesn't, audio quality worse than original, see Brian Tongue review/comparison
I see the RCS bit struck a nerve with a few people. It doesn’t just affect Android users. It affects anyone who has to contact Android users and I don’t believe the vast majority of iPhone users are so snobby as to refuse to text anyone who uses Android. I want to think that most iPhone users aren’t lazy teenagers, but adults with jobs who have to talk to other adults.
Do you really want to live in a world where Apple has utter and complete control of all text messaging? SMS isn’t perfect but do you want iMessage to be the only way? Isn’t it good for there to be one viable alternative if for no other reason than to keep Apple from becoming even more stagnant?
I did wonder this. I doubt Apple fixed all the issues, such as...
Sound level fluctuations between the two HomePods in stereo pair
Intermittent ability to control volume using iPhone
Sound glitch approx 12 seconds into every song
Top panel getting roasting hot
Failure to buffer songs so they play smoothly
Siri
The rest of the world, outside the US, has already picked their apps that most messaging goes through.
Presonus Eris E3.5/E4.5 with bluetooth. $150-$180 a pair. They Sound way way better and they have way better stereo imaging than Homepods. They may not look as fancy but in terms of sound they blow the homepod right out of the water. They should have come up with a Homepod with stereo capability. They make you spend allot of money just for one speaker that plays back in mono. Who wants to hear their music in mono for $300 that you can’t even plug anything to it?
It's literally not mono. I can't believe we are even having this conversation again.
I am aware of the sordid history of text messaging. There is no single international standard. iMessage and various Facebook messengers come the closest, if you don’t count email.
It’s all a big mess. My only point is that RCS seems like an improvement to one of the best of bad options, and at this point Apple has heard the message loud and clear yet claims to not hear it, but they do claim to hear people clamoring for a new big HomePod. That may well be true but the wording is interesting.
They used the exact same phrasing in both instances (Tim Cook “Isn’t hearing from customers”) and it’s very clear that every word in these public interviews is carefully scripted.
Besides, my main complaint is about the top left centered locked Home Screen grid. I’ve yet to hear anyone seriously tell me I’m wrong about that one.
Good to see HomePod back. Apple will definitely be praising and promoting the new HomePod.
I misread the earlier post.
It is true that the OG HomePod had Wi-Fi 5 because it used the A8 SOC.
This new HomePod uses the S7 Watch battery which uses Wi-Fi 4.
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