Attached power cable (from the company that brought you MagSafe) and no mechanism to attached ethernet. Ugh!
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 Will Repair HomePod Power Cables For $29, But Warns They 'Should Not Be Removed'
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The electrical in the Apple TV and the HomePod have different components that functions/powers each device in different ways. There are some videos on the internet of users showing the how the plug looks like in the HomePod, which looks different from the ones you find on the Apple TV.
Is it more expensive? Doesn't look like it to me.
https://store.google.com/us/config/...uTzFexuXWy9dDYIl74qtI4x6cqrzDWKhoCguMQAvD_BwE
[doublepost=1518459386][/doublepost]
Yes. Repair revenue.
Something like the AppleTV, or the Airport's which the international standardized IEC 2 prong plug works great for those devices. You aren't moving them around. Standardizing saves Apple sourcing and design money. And since you aren't moving around these types of devices, you set them up, and pretty much leave them there, they aren't going to be damaged. So saving money on the initial manufacture is important.
But the HomePod music player, is going to get moved from room to room, maybe you pack it up and take it over to a friend/family's home. Maybe you want to take it camping and plug into inverter in your RV. It's more mobile, more changes for the cable to break. Not be able to substitute an off the shelf IEC 2prong, and thus funnel more money into Apple repair coffers.
So Apple wants the cable to break so you’ll have to spend $29 (or more to get it replaced). Because that’s how you get loyal customers to keep buying your products. Do people realize how ridiculous they sound?
Apple's continual obsession with THIN and PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.
That means, nothing user serviceable. It's Timmy's secret plan to flood landfills across the world.
But do not worry. The HomePod's SIRI is still 2.3% more accurate than a coin toss!
Shhhhh! Please, don’t tell my 8 year old iMac running the latest macOS that. Or my ancient 3rd gen iPod.
Not killed apple, but killed their revenue stream for repairs and warranty claim deductibles
But you don’t need to complain about it, it runs Siri which is bad enough and beyond controlling Apple Music, it’s useless. How will it present its web searches to you which is all it invariably does?
[doublepost=1518465686][/doublepost]
Yeap, an Apple designed proprietary power lead connector which will void the warranty if you remove it yourself. And you have to send your HomePod to Apple for a ‘technician’ to do this for you...
As an avid Mac hardware buyer with two cats (one of which is crazy about chewing white cords) I would prefer to see all cords be removable. Most expensive Two apple drives cables, one thunderbolt display cable, numerous ear phones, countless other cables.
I'm disappointed they didn't do some basic logical things here.
1. Make the power cable removable. So if you want a longer or shorter power cable... no problem.
2. Make the thing rechargeable. At $349, more than twice the price of competitors... this thing should have an included rechargeable Li battery so you could take it to the beach or the backyard if you desire.
3. Integration with third party apps such as Spotify, etc. Hate to keep bringing up price, but if you're gonna charge a premium, it should be premium. Not closed off to Apple only software.
4. Siri. Well... it sucks. This isn't the fault of the HomePod. It sucks in general. But it really shines how bad it sucks when it can't get half the questions you ask it correct. It can't call Uber. It can't order a pizza. It's just really behind the competition.
1. Make the power cable removable. So if you want a longer or shorter power cable... no problem.
2. Make the thing rechargeable. At $349, more than twice the price of competitors... this thing should have an included rechargeable Li battery so you could take it to the beach or the backyard if you desire.
3. Integration with third party apps such as Spotify, etc. Hate to keep bringing up price, but if you're gonna charge a premium, it should be premium. Not closed off to Apple only software.
4. Siri. Well... it sucks. This isn't the fault of the HomePod. It sucks in general. But it really shines how bad it sucks when it can't get half the questions you ask it correct. It can't call Uber. It can't order a pizza. It's just really behind the competition.
I would have liked a removable cable so i could feed it through an opening for a slicker look- much like in their demo setups pre-sale. Yes, I know that would require drilling a hole in furniture, but I have the skills to build a top to my liking and replace it if/when i move/replace a device.
Apple's continual obsession with THIN and PLANNED OBSOLESCENCE.
That means, nothing user serviceable. It's Timmy's secret plan to flood landfills across the world.
But do not worry. The HomePod's SIRI is still 2.3% more accurate than a coin toss!
My Switch isn't user serviceable or my partners Michael Kors watch or my Landrover car or my washing machine or my Humax freesat recorder or my....
I saw the video, and given the amount of effort required to pop that out, I think I'll just consider it non-removable and not play with it.
I'm sure that with enough force, you can rip the power cord off of anything, but why would you? Sounds like a "Hold my beer..." thing.
Your viewpoints are myopic and not well thought out, it has nothing to do with what you’re speaking of at all. You’re only thinking of the user. Apple likely made the cable removable, NOT just for the user, but for the sake of repairs. Since the power cable needs to vary by region, this type of semi-replaceable cable makes it easy for Apple to switch out parts late in the production process, just prior to distribution. Apple could even send refurbished HomePods to different regions with a quick switch of the cable.
(Reviving an old thread.)
Just tried to call for a cable repair and current phone rep said no repair options, full price replacement only... Didn't seem very knowledgable and suggested trying a Apple Store.
Just tried to call for a cable repair and current phone rep said no repair options, full price replacement only... Didn't seem very knowledgable and suggested trying a Apple Store.
Looking at soundbars available at Amazon, most of the cheaper ones (< $100) seem to come with rechargeable batteries, using mini-USB ports for charging. The more expensive ones come with removable power cords. Amazon Echo speakers have removable power cords.
[doublepost=1558451664][/doublepost]
Agreed - just have to wonder why Apple designed it for difficulty in removing it. Since it appears to have a dual female connector (rather than just being soldered to the device), how hard would it have been to make the hole slightly larger so that yanking the cable wouldn't be necessary for disconnecting? Odd.
It definitely doesn't just "pop out" -- I've had mine for ages and put it thru the ringer. Never had any problem like that.