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Apple Offering Discounts on HomePod to Apple Music Subscribers
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Mine knows my voice from the hall and when playing music loudly. Guess depends on how quiet your voice is...
Right, you can use your iPhone to play music on the HomePod.
Plus, you can start playing music on your HomePod from the Music app on your phone, then play different audio on your iPhone. For instance, while music is playing on your HomePod, you can play a podcast or a game through your iPhone speaker. I point this out, because with AirPlay 1, all audio from your phone would be sent to the AirPlay speaker, so if you're playing music and a game, the game audio would also come through the speaker (with an annoying delay). AirPlay 2 has some nice, subtle improvements.
Same here, engaging HomePod from a distance, and when playing music loud. Amazing technology.
It's extremely music first. Plays my Apple Music, Airplay from Overcast, basically anything else I want perfectly, and beautifully.
That's my experience as well. An outstanding product and underlying technology.
Resellers can not advertise lower prices than Apple allows. Apple is onboard with this sale price, I guarantee it.
You seem very angry
I agree, the MSRP should be $249, I think they would have sold double the amount of HomePods had that been the set price from the get go. I previously owned a Google Home, the sound was okay. I now own a HomePod and the sound is incredible, however, I am no audiophile, but I do listen to a lot of music - which makes me an expert (obviously).
People are forgetting that literally just a decade ago, music meant still buying CDs at full price, or renting from the public library and waiting weeks.
A decade earlier, it was CD clubs costing $10 or more for each CD, limited choice, cumbersome steps to create a playlist (mix-tape!
), and then taking them around on a Walkman.Yes, Google and Amazon are doing it for less, and Apple Music may not be for everyone.
Apple should open up the HomePod to all/other music sources - this is the major millstone in the use of this great speaker. iTunes.
Because you guarantee doesn't put anymore validity on it your comment.
I really wanted to like this product but the price tag just doesn’t fit. Even by Apple’s standards. Include some more features (though I know they weren’t “trying” to compete with Echo/Google) but until then even at $250 it’s just not worth it. Played around with my friends for awhile and it’s still so, Siri? *shrugs* I’ll either wait for a better firmware update or version 2.0. And for people talking about “better quality” it’s not really the price per se but what you’re actually getting for said price. It definitely needs *more* to justify that price point.
As far as I know you can easily play Spotify etc. through your Homepod with Airplay. I wouldn't know because I have AM, but this argument makes no sense to me! It's even more convenient than a typical bluetooth speaker because it's always on and ready.
The primary competition for HomePod is Sonos, not Echo or Google Home. You could also say that the Google Home Max ($399 MSRP, on sale for $349 currently) is also competition.
Great news here in Ireland. Im a family subscriber and they havent even launched much less get a discount
Hmm, kind of tempting. I bought both of mine for $250 each, I could definitely use a third. HomePod is one of those products that just keeps getting better to me.
I bought a HomePod on Black Friday for $250 and I couldn't be happier with my purchase. The sound quality is out of this world, but I'm someone who puts speaker quality above voice commands -- I rely on the latter for my CarPlay only.
I buy these all day long at $249. The quality of the speaker is great. I also love how well the microphone picks up my voice. It’s hard to find a quality wireless speaker at this price point that also can read me my morning news and weather report.
True - but I was still getting CDs. And SACDs. So was a significant segment of the consumers.
iPod 5 was great around that time. I still use four such iPods at home on docks, from iTunes collections, loaded from CDs.
iTunes Store was the largest vendor is a relative term; doesn't mean zero CD sales from other vendors. Ownership of the music meant something then, not really a thing with the streaming services, paid and free, available now. The major niggle with HomePod seems to be the subscription of Apple Music - I am just pointing out the comparative cost index, not quantifying iTunes' status as a vendor.
Apple Music is a different method - a streaming subscription, actually better than iTunes Store. So are other streaming services like Spotify, Pandora, etc.
It does involve an extra device. I am not contesting your point - but, Apple really wants our business at Apple Music.
Two Echo Plus 2nd gen will blow out your glorified Beats aka HomePod speaker for a lot cheaper don't even bother using Siri because it's useless. It's because you paid $350 on your Beats speaker with Apple logo on it doesn't mean you have a good taste in sound quality. You know you can also output Echo devices to a really good speakers that still cheaper than your HomePod. Don't even mention how much you like your Beats headphone and tell people they have a poor taste in sound quality because you spend another $350, that you just left hanging on your neck for decoration.