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Apple Will Repair HomePod Power Cables For $29, But Warns They 'Should Not Be Removed'
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So true! Plus, don't forget about the very real, common use-case of needing to thread a cable through a wiring run... something that can't be done with the 'plug' end.
Pedantically, that's a removable cable. For all practical purposes, that is not a removable cable. If you have to yank on the cord (that is an accurate description btw), that is something that shouldn't be removed. People should be mad Apple didn't use a standard figure-8 cable. That would have solved a couple of issues. 1. It would allow you to shorten/lengthen the cable to fit your environment. 2. It would allow the replacement of the plug end for different regions. 3. Frayed or damaged cable could be easily replaced.
That is a definite no. Think about any TV or desktop computer as easy examples of no. Both have detachable power cords and both need constant and consistent power. Same with gaming consoles. Same with your ATV. Same with... you see where this is going.
I've never heard of a soundbar that has a permanent power cord. Are you sure?
Wait. THIS? Changed your mind. Finding out it can be repaired if it's damaged?! hahahahahaha
Not really? There are lots of good souding speaker out there and priced closer to this?
Already they are back pedaling about faults? I dont care what anyone says or thinks (sound quality, looks etc.)
This product is a big dud and Apple just laid an egg.
This product is a big dud and Apple just laid an egg.
Does it have a 3.5mm phone jack? (ha, just kidding) As to extending the power cord, I assume one could use a regular extension cable with the thing. Reading another iFixit tear down article, Apple obviously doesn't want this thing tampered with in any way. If it has reasonable durability, that's no big deal. Time will tell.
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Eh what! They fixed the power lead in like some cheap Chinese thing? Hahahahahahaha
That’s a genius way to save pennies and milk more money on repairs!
Give me my Echo Dot and something like the B&W Zeppalin any day.
That’s a genius way to save pennies and milk more money on repairs!
Give me my Echo Dot and something like the B&W Zeppalin any day.
AppleCare+ should add up to 3 years warranty, not just 2 years.
How much faith does Apple have on their products?
How much faith does Apple have on their products?
Would have been cool if it was powered by a lightning cable (though not sure what kind of power draw it requires).
The spot I'm planning on sitting mine is less than 1' from an outlet. Hoping the majority of the 6' power corder coiled up isn't too noticeable.
The spot I'm planning on sitting mine is less than 1' from an outlet. Hoping the majority of the 6' power corder coiled up isn't too noticeable.
Good to know that the cord is replaceable. I put mine in a plastic sheath to protect it from two young cats who like to chew things. They've already chewed through a Cat6 Ethernet cable behind my desk, a power cord to a cordless phone, and a couple of proprietary Bose speaker cords which cost a few bucks to replace. Not sure why cords are so tasty to them.
... I put mine in a plastic sheath to protect it from two young cats who like to chew things. They've already chewed through a Cat6 Ethernet cable behind my desk,...
Does that mean it only Cat5 lives left.
Pure speculation: having seen and felt the cable, I think Apple imagines the HomePod will be moved around a lot, and jammed against a wall, so they designed a cable that can handle the torture (even though MacBooks, and iPhones are moved around more, *sighs*). The connector is also small enough that one can say it's the diameter of the cable itself. Which is an Apple obsession @ making things smaller, even though in this case there's more than enough space to use a regular connector. Then, the connector is also strong enough to hold a HomePod even if it falls ... which the HomePod is much heavier than the majority of Apple portable products. A large gauge cable that has a connector almost the same diameter, and is strong enough to support a 5lb or greater fall ... I don't think one really exists aside coaxial (but could be mistaken). But what gives weight to this is, the requirement to do external checks for damage. So they expect many to be dropped.
Ultimately, it's just an overly engineered cable, possibly motivated in part due to proprietary cable sales.
Previously I wondered if Apple would sell cables of various lengths, or if third parties would make such an offering. But the note for employees to not remove the cable, and the HomePod having to be sent in for a cable repair, causes me to think that they will not have such an offering. That's unfortunate, as I know there are many who would want cables of various lengths, or want cables for other regions / countries.
As Steve Jobs would say,
"It's a feature."
That would work, that is if Tim Cook had the power of the Reality Distortion Field.
"It's a feature."
That would work, that is if Tim Cook had the power of the Reality Distortion Field.
Subjectively, yes, and I imagine some people think that Alexa sounds magical. Objectively, no. The audiophile test results confirm that very few things (if any) in the price range can compete. People who think that their cheaper bookshelf speakers sound better, are biased, or listening to music that has very low sub-bass frequencies.
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Maybe Apple will unveil a longer cord on their next HomePod to entice die hard fans to "upgrade" now that their HomePod can reach wherever they want to pull it. Maybe the HomePod 3 will have a coiled cord like the 80's style landline phones so you can use your HomePod in the bedroom, in the kitchen, in the toilet, wherever!
In all seriousness, I think Apple is sick of losing revenue to the third party cable ecosystem (Amazon Basics et al) and some bean counter told Jony Ive to design all cables that can only be replaced by Apple (for their obligatory markup of course).
In all seriousness, I think Apple is sick of losing revenue to the third party cable ecosystem (Amazon Basics et al) and some bean counter told Jony Ive to design all cables that can only be replaced by Apple (for their obligatory markup of course).
Whoever cuts a coaxial cable like that is no pro...Pro tip from the internal Apple memo (only for certified Apple Geniuses):
Why would you want to remove it? I can't find any sane reason to do that. It doesn't have batteries. It doesn't work without a power cable. If you transport it, you want the power cable attached so you cannot lose it.
A fixed cable does seem rather odd for Apple, which AFAIK has no such thing on any other device. Seems much more Apple-ish to be able to hold the device without dealing with wires flailing about.
Probably a matter of ensuring a solid connection on at least one end, audio electronics being the finicky things they often are.
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Au contraire, if I transport it, I want to disconnect anything that can get tangled in other stuff causing the $350 device to crash to the floor, or yank the cable hard enough to damage the connection. Disconnected, I can handle the device with both hands; permanently attached, I have to balance the precision construction in one hand while finagling a long tangly cable. Give me a detachable standard cable that's more convenient & easily replaceable.
Probably a matter of ensuring a solid connection on at least one end, audio electronics being the finicky things they often are.
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Au contraire, if I transport it, I want to disconnect anything that can get tangled in other stuff causing the $350 device to crash to the floor, or yank the cable hard enough to damage the connection. Disconnected, I can handle the device with both hands; permanently attached, I have to balance the precision construction in one hand while finagling a long tangly cable. Give me a detachable standard cable that's more convenient & easily replaceable.
Don't worry, someone will come up with some stupid and ridiculous reason.
People were complaining they were going to fray the cable. Apparently people frag their TV, refrigerator, microwave, and dish washer power cables all the time and they frequently need to be replaced.
Now that we know the cable can in fact be replaced, people will just find something else to nitpick and complain about.