Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Apple Unveils $349 HomePod Smart Speaker to be Available in December
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Never have I been less interested in an Apple product.
All the "utility" and "accuracy" of Siri (ha!), built into a single speaker that can never be upgraded, and tied to a music service Apple couldn't pay me to use.
Will this connect to home sharing and play music from my local iTunes library?
Why didn't they just put a microphone and speaker on the AppleTV?
All the "utility" and "accuracy" of Siri (ha!), built into a single speaker that can never be upgraded, and tied to a music service Apple couldn't pay me to use.
Will this connect to home sharing and play music from my local iTunes library?
Why didn't they just put a microphone and speaker on the AppleTV?
I'll reserve judgement for release & reviews. It better sound pretty good though - I mean "replace my soundbar" good. Honestly I think the privacy features alone are worth talking about. Does anyone honestly trust Amazon or Google more than Apple?
I've been awaiting a smart speaker from Apple for quite some time. But this price point is offputting. I was expecting somewhere around a $200 range, and hopefully we will know more about it as we get closer to the launch. But that is not a friendly starting price point.
Especially compared to the competition where it's $150 less elsewhere. Aesthetically, I was hoping for something more of a metal type of structure as well.
Since iOS 10 my iPhone and iPad no longer both activate to hey Siri, either only one turns on or they both do and one will randomly turn off immediately. I guess there is now iCloud integration?
Guessing you haven't prices things like Sonos.
Wow really Apple!! Google still better hands down.. I hope people are not going to get this just because it's from Apple.
The pitch was typical Apple.
You have x which doesn't do y. You have y which doesn't do x. We waiting to bring you x+y
Only thing is, Phil- with Echo Dot or Google Cast+Google Home - you get the same thing - better price point and you can use pretty much any speaker you want.
I said in other threads that at 199 or even 249 - they would be competitive. But 349? I can't say I'm surprised.. but I think it's overpriced.
You have x which doesn't do y. You have y which doesn't do x. We waiting to bring you x+y
Only thing is, Phil- with Echo Dot or Google Cast+Google Home - you get the same thing - better price point and you can use pretty much any speaker you want.
I said in other threads that at 199 or even 249 - they would be competitive. But 349? I can't say I'm surprised.. but I think it's overpriced.
That's the competition. It needs to be seriously amazing to succeed.
I hope it IS that good.
I secretly suspect it won't be.
Agreed its expensive. But aren't sonos speakers in the same range without the siri capability?
I'll take that bet. This paired with 1 or 3 others will replace all sorts of home theater configurations. The amount of research they've done guarantees this will be a huge hit.
I was playing the Apple drinking game so I was impaired and might have missed it but can it play your local music library?
I can usually make a case with my other half for another piece of new Apple kit, not with this tho. Way way overpriced, doesn't do anything my echo doesn't already do.
I wonder if this'll work as a sound bar for TV's?
I think the $350 price tag is reasonable. I expected them to charge $500.
I think the $350 price tag is reasonable. I expected them to charge $500.
Millions of people are already buying Sonos for approx the same price.
I'll buy if this has roughly the same sound quality.
I'll buy if this has roughly the same sound quality.
Someone wasn't paying attention, watch it again.
So that would be 50 for an echo dot and 100 for a speaker? Still less than half price.