Apple Shares New Video on Getting the Most From HomePod

[csurfr]

I think I need to hand in my Apple Aficionado Card...

I had no idea that you could 3D Touch on the “now playing” in control center, select the HomePod and skip through the songs it was playing, even if you requested them via “hey Siri”.

I knew all about the 3D Touch and what not. Just not that I’d be able to control all aspects of the music being played. Thought that would only work if it was being sent via AirPlay TO the HomePod.

Quite handy.

 

[citysnaps]

I appreciate that Control Center, remote controlling the HomePod tip, as that was not obvious. They should have put some remote control features within the Home app. But glad to know either way, it was getting frustrating asking Siri to play things, and then looking at my phone to see "oh yeah", and then having verbally to ask Siri who was playing.

Also, if you tap the track that's playing on in the Control Center, it'll take you to the Apple Music app, and show the HomePod's track at the bottom of the Apple Music screen, like a normally playing track (but indicating that it's playing on HomePod). They should have just enabled the ability to see the current track from the HomePod, in Apple Music from the door. It's clear it has that functionality, having to hunt for HomePod playback controls on iOS shouldn't be necessary.

I also like using my iPhone's Control Center for HomePod control.

Even better would be a small remote, say for $29, that would just offer basic functions; volume up/down, play/pause, next track, etc. Kind of like the remotes that came with the Mac Mini.

 

[Fozziebear71]

Yeah. Whatever. Apple had their chance and we'll all assess the value fo their offering independently and not their propaganda.

I get the distinct impression you’re not an Apple fan? LOL!

Whatever, they’ll sale millions of them regardless and many people will enjoy their purchases.

 

[citysnaps]

I get the distinct impression you’re not an Apple fan? LOL!

Whatever, they’ll sale millions of them regardless and many people will enjoy their purchases.

No doubt.

After having mine for a week and still stoked using it, I'm planning on purchasing two more. One for the garage where my shop is. And another for the master bedroom.

Have a feeling my wife wants one for her studio, too.

 

[csurfr]

No doubt.

After having mine for a week and still stoked using it, I'm planning on purchasing two more. One for the garage where my shop is. And another for the master bedroom.

Have a feeling my wife wants one for her studio, too.

You are a very lucky person. I’m trying to convince my gf that I need another for the living room. The reply is “it’s your money”, but I think we can all read between the lines there...

 

[Fozziebear71]

No doubt.

After having mine for a week and still stoked using it, I'm planning on purchasing two more. One for the garage where my shop is. And another for the master bedroom.

Have a feeling my wife wants one for her studio, too.

I was going to buy two as soon as they became available but once they announced that the ability to sync multiple Homepods would be added later I decide to wait. I will eventually have them all over my house. I am one who actually likes being in Apples walled garden.

 

[DakotaGuy]

The point was that HomePod and Sonos Ones are in the same ball park in that regard. If sound quality is the concern then bookshelves and a sub are the way to go. If it’s the smarts that someone is after, then HomePod is what may be best in many cases.

Why not get good sound quality and much better “smarts” with the Google Home Max? It just seems like a better product because one speaker will give you good quality sound, a lot more on-board streaming options, and a best in class voice assistant. Apple is marketing the HomePod as a music speaker (with limited assistant functionality) so is the idea to add another speaker from Google or Amazon as your home assistant? I don’t get it I guess.

 

[csurfr]

I was going to buy two as soon as they became available but once they announced that the ability to sync multiple Homepods would be added later I decide to wait. I will eventually have them all over my house. I am one who actually likes being in Apples walled garden.

I completely agree with you! For the most part (save a few bugs here and there) all of my devices work perfectly, and I’m fortunate enough to have the newest versions of them, so maybe that makes a difference? I don’t have any problems with iOS 11 on my X, iPad Pro, or High Sierra on multiple Macs.

Planned obsolescence or not, it’s all working perfectly fine here.
[doublepost=1518832321][/doublepost]

Why not get good sound quality and much better “smarts” with the Google Home Max......”

This is completely off topic, and will probably get deleted by the mods. I wanted to give you a thumbs up for Clarus. I haven’t seen that Dogcow in years. Well done!

 

[Williesleg]

Complete with advertising Audiophile quality (laughable).

Omitting the fact you need a coaster.

Nah, you need an iPad under it. Or an iDoily?

 

[bxs]

Am I the only one who found this video to be odd? Like they cobbled it together last minute? It doesn’t feel like it has the quality or smoothness of a normal video. I even noticed the HomePod shake when they ended the call. His voice is anything but soothing, the ‘party music’ screams “avoid this party at all costs”, and he didn’t pronounce “control” clearly. Weird.

Did not find it odd at all and maybe it was I was playing the video on my beastie iMac Pro.

However, with my HomePod some 15 feet away as I played the video my HomePod went kind of crazy and wonky when it tried responding to all the "Hey Siri..." being played out of the video... It was hilarious to me.

 

[vipergts2207]

Why not get good sound quality and much better “smarts” with the Google Home Max? It just seems like a better product because one speaker will give you good quality sound, a lot more on-board streaming options, and a best in class voice assistant. Apple is marketing the HomePod as a music speaker (with limited assistant functionality) so is the idea to add another speaker from Google or Amazon as your home assistant? I don’t get it I guess.

How does a google home max help someone in the Apple ecosystem? I guess perhaps if the only thing you want ‘smarts’ for is to ask inane questions. If you use HomeKit, the max makes no sense. As far as sound quality goes, the max also goes into the same box as HomePod and Sonos.

 

[Lab4Us]

Box it back up, return it and use the money to get a Sonos. That is how you get the most out of it.

You have that backwards. Already boxed up a Sonos Play:1 and a Sonos Play:3 and they’ve been replaced with Homepods. Dependinding on how a stereo pair sounds for home theater, the Sonos Playbase and Sub could get boxed up as well! So nice to not have to bring up the Sonos app, wait for it to connect, scroll through services and and pick a song or album to listen.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Why not get good sound quality and much better “smarts” with the Google Home Max? It just seems like a better product because one speaker will give you good quality sound, a lot more on-board streaming options, and a best in class voice assistant. Apple is marketing the HomePod as a music speaker (with limited assistant functionality) so is the idea to add another speaker from Google or Amazon as your home assistant? I don’t get it I guess.

Google uses your information as a seperate revenue source

Home doesn’t work with Apple Music

Home doesn’t work with podcast app

Home doesn’t work with AirPlay and probably won’t ever work with Airplay 2

The Max is too big (and ugly) for many of the places people put HomePods

The Max doesn’t have 360 sound

The Max won’t get AirPlay 2 Control

 

[CharlesShaw]

I appreciate that Control Center, remote controlling the HomePod tip, as that was not obvious. They should have put some remote control features within the Home app.

Agreed. I'm MUCH happier with my HomePod after seeing that in the video.

 

[Arran]

I think I need to hand in my Apple Aficionado Card...

I had no idea that you could 3D Touch on the “now playing” in control center, select the HomePod and skip through the songs it was playing, even if you requested them via “hey Siri”.

I knew all about the 3D Touch and what not. Just not that I’d be able to control all aspects of the music being played. Thought that would only work if it was being sent via AirPlay TO the HomePod.

Quite handy.

I had no idea either. Just tried it.

Thanks!

 

[partydorm]

How I miss the good old Apple, good QC, simple and ease of use.

 

[CharlesShaw]

How I miss the good old Apple, good QC, simple and ease of use.

And no smartphone apps allowing everyone an instant and equal voice on everything under the sun.

 

[artfossil]

How I miss the good old Apple, good QC, simple and ease of use.

“The past isn’t dead. It’s not even past.”
—William Faulkner

 

[makingdots]

Box it back up, return it and use the money to get a Sonos. That is how you get the most out of it.

Nah. It's a good apple product. You guys are just hardcore salty Sonos fanboys evangelizing/preaching their preferred product like you are offering heaven or second life. (or maybe you guys are just sockpuppets of Sonos to make some online noise)

 

[lsutigerfan1976]

So tell me, will a Sonos speaker act as a HomeKit hub?

I have a set of Sonos One speakers. And I can do a lot with it. Just what is it that I cannot do with it, that I can do with a HomePod?

I can change the temp in my house, use it to activate the lights. Control my fire tv. A bunch of home automated stuff. I could probably do more with a Sonos One, and Alexa right now. Than what you can do with a HomePod.

 

[FelixDerKater]

Does packing it up and returning it to the store count as getting the most out of it?

 

[iAVERY]

The video forgot to include how nice it is for anybody to be able to access the owner's iMessage, calendar, etc.

HomePod doesn’t even support iCal. Smh. But I get your point

 

[vipergts2207]

I have a set of Sonos One speakers. And I can do a lot with it. Just what is it that I cannot do with it, that I can do with a HomePod?

I can change the temp in my house, use it to activate the lights. Control my fire tv. A bunch of home automated stuff. I could probably do more with a Sonos One, and Alexa right now. Than what you can do with a HomePod.

If you use Alexa, great use Sonos. If you're going to use HomeKit, then HomePod is the way to go.

 

[jcshas]

I’m still dumbfounded HomePod can’t make phone calls. This product fails on so many levels. Mine is going back to Apple.

 

[cknibbs]

How does a google home max help someone in the Apple ecosystem? I guess perhaps if the only thing you want ‘smarts’ for is to ask inane questions. If you use HomeKit, the max makes no sense. As far as sound quality goes, the max also goes into the same box as HomePod and Sonos.

I feel like people just don’t get it? A home max or a echo dot + speaker or a Sonos One don’t offer the same experience a HomePod offers. They both have lacklustre iOS integration. They don’t work with HomeKit, iOS reminders, Apple Music (and I’m sorry but as much as someone argues that Sonos works with Apple Music it really doesn’t in the sense that I can’t use voice commands to pull music from my library). The HomePod has something all three of those devices don’t have, and it’s that it exists inside Apples ecosystem. If I was choosing between the home max and the HomePod it’s an obvious choice. The HomePod is cheaper and plays better in the Apple ecosystem.