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Apple Unveils $349 HomePod Smart Speaker to be Available in December
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That must be why Apple chose it for the AirPods, and latest Beats headphone additions.
Seriously though ... so much for this speaker being used at a party by anyone who doesn't have an AirPlay compatible device. It's really a short-sighted move for universal compatibility. If Apple intended this as a halo device to attract outsiders into Apple's ecosystem, they just alienated a sizable group.
Actually no, I believe AirPlay uses Bluetooth to connect, then stream via wifi. So this is interesting situation which Apple will have to resolve.
The wink either means you agree with me or you really don't know the difference, which is fairly obvious. Bluetooth is passable on headphones but in room filling sound, it's not a viable solution.That must be why Apple chose it for the AirPods, and latest Beats headphone additions.
By not including a bad technology? Wi-Fi is superior in every way.
Either way, AirPlay 1 is terrible and way too taxing on the casting device. Google Cast nailed it the first time. Bluetooth and Airplay are both garbage.
No way.
But SONOS does wonders with 6" and a clever design. Apple has had time to perfect (if I recall correctly T Cook said it's been 3 years in the making when interviewed).
Wasn't that $399?
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Why are people complaining about the price of the HomePod?
The iPod Hi-Fi was $350 (what's that today, > $400?). I don't think it sold well. I never bought one as it was too big, sort of an eyesore.
The HomePod will work out if the sound is good, because you can connect several in a mesh network, and in particular if Apple have improved SIRI to the point where is really useful in a home environment (they wouldn't release the HomePod otherwise).
Why December though? On time for the holiday shopping season and to built up hype, but thats seems awfully far off even by Apple standards, no?
Does anyone have the updated list of domains Siri is capable of working with now? I read her voice is much much improved.
[doublepost=1496855671][/doublepost]The lack of Bluetooth connectivity has some people all worked up.
People criticize SONOS for the same.
But in reality, not only did these companies looked at it and rejected it but the way they have you use their product, you won't need Bluetooth.
If you want a Bluetooth speakers, I have a Apple exclusive Bronze JAWBONE Jambox in brand new condition for sale.
Does it use Mesh Networking? I didn't hear that.
At that price point, I hope they are including some advanced functionality as unannounced surprises.
For example, can it stream audio to (better quality) airplay speakers? Does it hear you reliably when doing so? Better yet, can it work *together* with airplay speakers to create an even better music experience in the room?
Will I able to yell at it from downstairs to get my lights on?
What if commands are played through videos? Or spoken by people outside the house (through he windows)? Does it have voice-recognition of individuals as a security feature?
For example, can it stream audio to (better quality) airplay speakers? Does it hear you reliably when doing so? Better yet, can it work *together* with airplay speakers to create an even better music experience in the room?
Will I able to yell at it from downstairs to get my lights on?
What if commands are played through videos? Or spoken by people outside the house (through he windows)? Does it have voice-recognition of individuals as a security feature?
Nope. It was $349.
"The iPod Hi-Fi retailed at the Apple Store for US$349 until its discontinuation on September 5, 2007."
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IPod_Hi-Fi
I wonder why Apple chose to tip their hand now with such an announcement, when it won't be available until December. Will all of that time be used just to update Siri? Are they trying to keep people from buying a competing solution until they can get this out?
With tvOS 11 we can now use AirPods the way we can with macOS and iOS. So connecting to a HomePod will likely be just as seamless. I'd be happy to replace my soundbar with a Home Pod. And eventually, multiple HomePods.
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It will kill millions of potential echo sales for the holidays.
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Yes.
It will kill millions of potential echo sales for the holidays.
I picked Bose SoundTouch over Sonos a couple years ago...it was a horrible decision. I like the audio quality better on the Bose, but the ecosystem is lame (and not improving over time). After hearing early "first listen" reviews of the HomePod, I'm pretty excited that just about everyone has said it sound better than the Sonos Play3. I really hope that's true, and I hope Apple expands the line to larger speakers like the Sonos and Bose lines. If the focus was really on audio quality and combining multi-room audio solutions with smarter speakers, then expanding the line makes sense.
They compared to the Sonos Play:3, but remember the 3 is the oldest Sonos device. I just doubt Apple tries to consume all the market in which Sonos participates. An Apple Soundbar? Maybe? Surrounds? Expandability?
Sorry, I completely disagree. The imperfections of BT are most glaringly obvious in the isolated discrete environment of headphones. imperfections are much less obvious in a large room environment, where position, reflections and environment further distort the audio for the listener, especially on speaker like this which is unlikely to have the kind of precision a high end audiophile system would. BT is BT regardless of the reproduction medium. If it bothers a listener, it's going to bother them regardless what the end source is. Limiting such a device to WiFi is not a consumer friendly move, especially for a company which otherwise embraces it on every other product they make, regardless of an individual's particular issues with BT sound quality. I'm still not convinced that this device won't have BT, especially since AiPlay currently relies on BT LE to listen and wake the Apple TV and other devices to hand-off to wifi, unless AirPlay 2 relies on some kind of low power wifi protocol, as it's unlikely Apple is willing to risk it's environmentally green status by unnecessarily sucking down power to keep wifi awake and listening when not in use.
So is this a Google Home with a better speaker? I personally don't care for Amazon Echo/Alexa since most of my life is in Google services; Maps, Waze, Gmail, Google Search, Drive, Photos, etc. However ironically enough, slowly but surely less and less Android. If you asked me 3-4 years ago if I'd ever fully go Apple I'd laugh at you. Seems like Apple (at least IMO) has been making more and more strides to make Android lovers feel at home on iPhone.
So from my standpoint I think Apple is doing good. More and more "Android-like" features are now appearing on iPhone.
Anyway besides the point, I don't wanna get going on another subject.
Is the Google Home and HomePod the same item just different platform? Like a Softball and Baseball? Same concept, different execution?
So from my standpoint I think Apple is doing good. More and more "Android-like" features are now appearing on iPhone.
Anyway besides the point, I don't wanna get going on another subject.
Is the Google Home and HomePod the same item just different platform? Like a Softball and Baseball? Same concept, different execution?
I actually don't want an Apple soundbar, but I do want a Play 5 size speaker. I currently have a Soundtouch 30 that'd I'd love to replace with a HomePod product, but if the current one is designed to compete with the Play 3 size speaker, this won't cut it.
Absurd price for something that does't really do much, if anything, better than the competition.
You'd have to be insane to buy it.
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Yeah, what I really want on the beach while I'm relaxing is some antisocial idiot with a speaker within earshot.
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Like most things Apple do these days, it's just an after-thought and the hope of announcing it early is a sad attempt to try and convince people not to by alternate products until Apple get their arse in gear and have the HomePod in the stores.
Such is the panic at Apple, they were forced to announce that a new Mac Pro will be coming late this year or 2018 & the iMac Pro won't be ready until December either. Even then the iMac Pro is a niche product that may appeal to select numbers of a niche audience.
You'd have to be insane to buy it.
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Yeah, what I really want on the beach while I'm relaxing is some antisocial idiot with a speaker within earshot.
[doublepost=1497987955][/doublepost]
Like most things Apple do these days, it's just an after-thought and the hope of announcing it early is a sad attempt to try and convince people not to by alternate products until Apple get their arse in gear and have the HomePod in the stores.
Such is the panic at Apple, they were forced to announce that a new Mac Pro will be coming late this year or 2018 & the iMac Pro won't be ready until December either. Even then the iMac Pro is a niche product that may appeal to select numbers of a niche audience.
I’m not too excited about this , but I hope Apple proves me wrong near the release date. I tried searching but couldn’t find anything about how weatehrproof or water resistant it may be