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Apple Explains Why HomePod Was Released Again, Wi-Fi 4 Limitation, and More
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The HomePod mini has the same Bluetooth and Wifi component, its a non answer because its a non issue. If the HomePod mini had connection issues or struggled to have enough bandwidth to play Spacial/Lossless audio, do you think Apple would double down on the issue?
Yes, that too by extension. You’ve seriously never been frustrated with the top left alignment of everything? Am I really the only one annoyed that Apple is the last remaining party to support RCS?
Also I don‘t think that the words “need” and “important” belong in a discussion about HomePods. That’s my overall point. Apparently Apple can only do one thing at a time and this is the thing they chose, of all things.
I don’t have a source. All Feedback goes into the black hole. Who knows. Maybe they have a big list of customer feedback they’re getting to and somehow “new HomePod” really was on top.
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It’s a personal problem, I admit. Just getting tired of every corporation and politician talking like a robot and ignoring all meaningful feedback.
But that’s an impossible goal. What’s wrong with being the best but not perfect? One could argue that the ability to admit and address imperfections would make them MORE perfect.
They could’ve just said that, but that would be Apple acknowledging that they saved money by putting in a less capable chip. Even so, I guess for most users, the S7 chip is good enough, probably for me too as I’m considering my first HomePod (in midnight) to possibly replace one of my Sonos One speakers. I bought it in 2019 and while it has served me well for four years, it might be time to see what Apple can do for me. As invested as I am in Apple’s ecosystem, it would make sense for me to get the HomePod 2. Besides, I do have a thing for light shows.
What I mean is that the default software settings don't broadcast an 802.11b network on routers. I'll take others' word for more information but when I help friends configure settings I've noticed a lot of routers now have a "Compatibility mode" that includes 802.11b and a normal mode that doesn't. I'm just thinking out loud here about how with time this concept will extend to g, n, et cetera.
Do we? Seems much more likely the OG was discontinued because Apple wasn't making their usual profit margins, so they made a new one with a lower production cost (hence fewer tweeters and mics).
Anything you disagree with is spam? Lol.
Try watching the video. They play one after the other and the difference is obvious. The OG sounds much better.
…you’re comparing sound recordings in a YouTube video?
I’m not sure how to even begin on how silly that is. You’re basically at the mercy of how the good the recording microphone is…and that doesn’t even touch on how that video is being delivered to you, or what device you’re listening to the video on. You might as well play samples out of an AM radio, it would be just as valid a way to make a decision.
The interesting thing is Apple's design decision are actually reasonable for the HomePod 2. Instead of marketing fluff that explained really nothing, they could have said:
Why Wifi 4? WiFi 4N bandwidth is 600mps. Even the lowest lossless audio standard Redbook CD bandwithd is only 1.4mbs. Compressed audio is even lower. And 600 mpbs is well able to handle any foreseeable high definition audio formats. Surprising the WiFi 4 handshake protocol is actually faster, which allows us to optimized the total system engery standby requirements without reducing Siri fast response.
Why no BT? The current BT bandwidth standards are not currently capable of supporting even the lowest lossless audio standard Redbook CD. Today it supports compressed audio primarly. That is why almost all audiophile speakers are wired (such as audiophile wired headphone vs wireless BT). Since the HomePod 2 is a high-end home audio quality speaker and almost all of Apple's Music library is lossless format, we want our user to have the best audio experience via WiFi much larger bandwidth.
Why no stereo pairing with older HomePod 2? Stereo speakers and even more so for spatial audio require precise frequreenty matching, sound level matching, speaker temporal response matching and same sound spread characertics. The OG Homepod is an excellent speaker, but the new HomePod 2 has many improvements in the above areas. For the best stereo sound experience, we chose to optimize each stereo speaker pair respectively.
Why Wifi 4? WiFi 4N bandwidth is 600mps. Even the lowest lossless audio standard Redbook CD bandwithd is only 1.4mbs. Compressed audio is even lower. And 600 mpbs is well able to handle any foreseeable high definition audio formats. Surprising the WiFi 4 handshake protocol is actually faster, which allows us to optimized the total system engery standby requirements without reducing Siri fast response.
Why no BT? The current BT bandwidth standards are not currently capable of supporting even the lowest lossless audio standard Redbook CD. Today it supports compressed audio primarly. That is why almost all audiophile speakers are wired (such as audiophile wired headphone vs wireless BT). Since the HomePod 2 is a high-end home audio quality speaker and almost all of Apple's Music library is lossless format, we want our user to have the best audio experience via WiFi much larger bandwidth.
Why no stereo pairing with older HomePod 2? Stereo speakers and even more so for spatial audio require precise frequreenty matching, sound level matching, speaker temporal response matching and same sound spread characertics. The OG Homepod is an excellent speaker, but the new HomePod 2 has many improvements in the above areas. For the best stereo sound experience, we chose to optimize each stereo speaker pair respectively.
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Funny how no-one cared before the announcement because it just worked. Now all the spec-sheet groupies are out in full force complaining even though they would never buy one....Ridiculous to promote a new HomePod version with only 802.11a/b/n in 2023?
I had an original HomePod and at the time was happy to pay the price for such great sounding speaker. Unfortunately a software update bricked it just outside of the two year product warranty and the cost of having apple look at it was more that it would cost to replace (plus they had already discontinued it at that point).
$500 for a speaker that only lasted 2 years is terrible value for money and I can't justify spending that again. I'll buy some good quality wireless speakers and just use a hompod mini for all the home automation stuff.
Seriously, apple needs to be selling this for half the price as an apology to anyone that's bought an apple product in the past 5 years!
$500 for a speaker that only lasted 2 years is terrible value for money and I can't justify spending that again. I'll buy some good quality wireless speakers and just use a hompod mini for all the home automation stuff.
Seriously, apple needs to be selling this for half the price as an apology to anyone that's bought an apple product in the past 5 years!
My OG HomePod still humming along. I was fortunate enough to not jump on that update before Apple pulled it. Very surprised it didn't have a USB cable like the Mini to give users an opportunity to restore/reset like an iPhone.
The response to WiFi 4 is a total non-answer. He basically just regurgitated its feature set.
I would agree, but they stubbornly will not, and its making them look worse time and time again.
I have to admit I had not properly put these two and two together before but when you say it like that it’s hard to argue with.
Honestly either would be fine but to claim it both ways doesn’t make sense.
I guess I never thought of it that way because I never believed it would sound the same in the first place.
Again, did you watch the video? The microphone was as good as it gets and the comparison between the two is crystal clear. All three observers (the two in the video and myself as viewer) could easily hear the reduced sound quality. Sorry but these are a downgrade.
An honest one? Like “we decided to increase our margins by removing mics and tweeters, and downgrading the processor and Wi-Fi.” Of course they will never give that answer.
After the Apple Watch changes to a newer Wifi spec. That is where the SOC comes from. They didn't make this SOC just for the HomePod.
They didn't. those things were part of the iPhone 6 SOC that they used of the OG HomePods. It was a package deal.
Edit: the iPhone SOC had WiFi5, not 6. I just meant that what the OG HP had came with the SOC.
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An S7 is a downgrade over an A8?
I get that Apple has hurt you deeply with the rerelease of a product, but you gotta let it go and let people enjoy things.