They're definitely pushing it for the sound value. They understand that Echo, although a great product, is lack lustre what it comes to sound (I've owned one for a year, and always felt like something was missing - plus no Apple Music support). They understand that people really like the sound quality of Sonos and multi-room set up ability. They're going for all three of those markets. Great AI (arguable) and best in class sound (we'll see).
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Apple Unveils $349 HomePod Smart Speaker to be Available in December
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They're definitely pushing it for the sound value. They understand that Echo, although a great product, is lack lustre what it comes to sound (I've owned one for a year, and always felt like something was missing - plus no Apple Music support). They understand that people really like the sound quality of Sonos and multi-room set up ability. They're going for all three of those markets. Great AI (arguable) and best in class sound (we'll see).
Aaaah yes, because Apple has been known to be the low priced option in which market ever? Maybe the original home computer market in the '80s but that's about it.
The Mac was never the cheapest home computer. The iPod was never the cheapest MP3 player. The iPhone was never the cheapest smartphone. The iPad was never the cheapest tablet. The Apple Watch was never the cheapest smartwatch.
yeah, all of them are gonna jump on board with a $350 speaker. people who would buy this already own sonos and wouldn't buy this to begin with. just bc u have apple music doesn't mean you are gonna drop major dollars for a little speaker. My point is they are limiting this to apple music only. Good luck!
Apple missed. I don't think they have a clue about the "home" market. I don't know if it's their incomes or lifestyles or both but they just have not made good decisions on the home since their first idea of using the iMac as a hub for music and photos.
Since then they have screwed up iPhoto and iTunes. They missed the idea of connecting your cell phone address book to land line (Ooma) and have now misfired on HomeKit integration.
The entry into the market should have been Apple TV, not "music." Most people already have enough speakers or they are doing other things while music is playing and are not looking for audio perfection.
Echo works great. Love that I can change the activate word to "computer." With no echo phone, having a separate system for home is probably best at this point.
Since then they have screwed up iPhoto and iTunes. They missed the idea of connecting your cell phone address book to land line (Ooma) and have now misfired on HomeKit integration.
The entry into the market should have been Apple TV, not "music." Most people already have enough speakers or they are doing other things while music is playing and are not looking for audio perfection.
Echo works great. Love that I can change the activate word to "computer." With no echo phone, having a separate system for home is probably best at this point.
Quick everyone tweet Amazon to take advantage of MusicKit and add Apple music functionality to the Echo so we can all save $220 
Just curious, if one cares so much about sound quality how many audiophile speakers does one have in their home? The price might be why they don't but all Audiophiles do. This speaker is for the masses but unlike the Audiophile the masses do not have that kind of disposable income for speaker enjoyment with so many other options out there. I think this will be the Apple TV in terms of its success and the initial Applemania wears off, IMO.
I'm flabbergasted. People think $350 for speakers is "off-putting". Without having listened to the things.
What third world country do you come from that you can't afford $350 for a speaker? Let me put that simply: Anybody who has bought a new iPhone, or a top-of-the-range Samsung phone or something close to add, has the disposable income for this. So you are seriously telling us that you can't pay $350 for speakers? If you don't want to spend that money, fine with me, but you are saying you can't afford it?
You really made my day here. Of course on MacRumors the most important thing is that Amazon is selling something for £50. And you can put that Amazon thing on a glass table and then it gets even louder.
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Exactly. It's sad so many here are missing that point.
If you want a cheap voice assistant, buy the Echo. That's great. It'll do what you want. Awesome. Apple isn't trying to compete directly with them. Amazon already has you covered there, why get into a battle for the best cheap voice assistant.
Now, if you want a voice assistant with awesome audio quality, that's a niche that's not filled yet and that's exactly where Apple is coming in. They take the +27 million Apple Music subscribers and give them a device that can allow them to make even better use of the service.
I think many people are missing the point. IF (and thats a big if), the sound is as good as they claim, lets say a B&W A7 (> 700 USD), well then Apple might be on to something. If it sounds like a Bose Soundlink, well huh...
Would be interested to know if it can be used a Roon endpoint?
The combo with SIRI sounds great (if it works). They did explained how they are securing it. Im not a fan at all of TV's with camera's, TV's with Mic's, etc. But lets wait and see...?
If you want to compare, you should compare on Audio and then make a judgement. Shooting from the hip and say its its all sh*t just because of the price? Well, that says more about you then about Apple TBH.
Would be interested to know if it can be used a Roon endpoint?
The combo with SIRI sounds great (if it works). They did explained how they are securing it. Im not a fan at all of TV's with camera's, TV's with Mic's, etc. But lets wait and see...?
If you want to compare, you should compare on Audio and then make a judgement. Shooting from the hip and say its its all sh*t just because of the price? Well, that says more about you then about Apple TBH.
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I'd buy this in a heartbeat... but can't since it won't be launching in Canada, not even in December (US, UK and Australia)...
Then again we can't buy the Echo here either...
I think it's because they only support English right now and they probably can't sell it in Canada until it is bilingual. Francophones screwing us again, even though 86% of Canadians have working knowledge of English while only 30% have a working knowledge of French.
Then again we can't buy the Echo here either...
I think it's because they only support English right now and they probably can't sell it in Canada until it is bilingual. Francophones screwing us again, even though 86% of Canadians have working knowledge of English while only 30% have a working knowledge of French.
There are already people claiming it has garbage audio quality, without ever hearing it. It's pretty silly.
Cheapest Sonos starts at $199 and quickly climb to $500 or more when you get to the size and sound the HomePod makes. That's what Apple is going after with the the HomePod. A great speaker that also has a voice assistant.
If you want to buy a speaker just to ask questions seriously get a Google Home. Google's voice assistant is way ahead of Siri.
a voice assistant that doesn't work, nice lol
man the marketing team works wonders...they got you hook line a sinker! if it's just an AWESOME speaker why mention any home automation? like many have said before they are behind and just trying not to admit it...so here focus on this new nice shiny AWESOME speaker, while we try to developed home automation with siri and play catch up...calling his BS is not crying, just the truth
I'm sure it's a great product but this BS about a tiny little 7 inch speaker being able to handle music like huge cabinet speakers with subwoofers that are bigger than the Homepod ALONE... is just that... BS.
Modern wifi has a much higher throughput than your CD player. By that I mean I think is capable of moving many MANY times more data per second. If you play the right files, it will sounds BETTER than your cds. That's reliant on the files being played to be of high enough quality, of course.
First (superficial) impression was that it looks like a Mac Pro in fish-net stockings.
Could be a nice product. Won't know until December...
Could be a nice product. Won't know until December...
Siri voice recognition is as good as Newton writing recognition.
Smart speakers cost 60$ and decent wifi speakers 200$.
Amazon Echo is available outside english speaking countries since the end of 2016. Home Pod rolls out in December in the US and will probably hit foreign markets just after they will have apple pay introduced. Maybe 2018, maybe 2020.
Right now, Apple is full of Bozos.
Steve would have never allowed this.
Smart speakers cost 60$ and decent wifi speakers 200$.
Amazon Echo is available outside english speaking countries since the end of 2016. Home Pod rolls out in December in the US and will probably hit foreign markets just after they will have apple pay introduced. Maybe 2018, maybe 2020.
Right now, Apple is full of Bozos.
Steve would have never allowed this.
they can't really tout home automation bc homekit is still sitting idle. So they spin it as a high quality speaker with bonus siri!