Details on HomePod's Setup Process Surface in Newest iOS 11 Developer Beta [Updated]

[Evangelion]

Still no info how it works with more than one user? I mean, it's a device meant for home, homes often have several people living in it. So, I can tell it to play one of my plays lists, can other in my family do that? And no, don't tell me about AirPlay.

This device really need to support more than one user seamlessly, in order to truly be a device for homes.

 

[spherox]

Pick Siri's gender? My Siri is gender fluid

 

[wigby]

I'm not missing the point. The Article actually mentions It will be compatible through other iOS devices. I'm just exercising the option that you can likely can control your music through your Apple Watch with the HomePod based off the Wi-Fi capabilities, if someone chooses too (And if it's entirely possible). It's merely more of an ecosystem connection to your other iOS devices. But I certainly understand that is primarily going to used based off voice commands and the built in display as well.

Options are fine but I don't see that as a selling point. We already know that HomePod does not connect using bluetooth so trying to explain to users that it does not work like all of their other bluetooth speakers but does work when using Airplay 2 from their iOS device in another room just invites confusion.

 

[44267547]

Options are fine but I don't see that as a selling point. We already know that HomePod does not connect using bluetooth so trying to explain to users that it does not work like all of their other bluetooth speakers but does work when using Airplay 2 from their iOS device in another room just invites confusion.

It doesn't need to be a selling point. But it's also another capability paired with the HomePod. Just as the iPad will be another connection as well. The Apple Watch works alternatively over Wi-Fi and it does not need a direct Bluetooth connection as long as it recognizes the Wi-Fi address the iPhone uses. Again, it's all speculation until we know the full capabilities of the HomePod, but it sounds like it's going to be tethered throughout.

 

[DaveWotzit]

Disappointing that it won't sync with macs or Apple TV.

Any hints that in the future it will allow some version of surround sound, distributing the sounds from an apple TV?

 

[JRobinsonJr]

If those are your thoughts then you've missed the point of HomePod. I feel the scenario described won't be a common one, but I just provided a solution.

Hmmm... Virtually every household with more than one  user will experience this scenario. We *ALL* want to have access to a common device (TV, HomePod... or even Alexa) and have access to MY PERSONAL data such as calendar entries, messages, etc. Media is just the most obvious use case.
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That’s the only part of the article I disagree with. I seriously doubt this will be a limited launche because on the hardware side the device is ready right now. It’s the software they’re still working on. There is absolutely o reason for Apple to have shortage on this device at launch unless it’s a world wide launch like they do with some of their other devices.
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Any reason you and your wife not using family share? Also on Apple TV it’s very easy to switch accounts, you don’t even have to type your account info in after the first time. Just go to the settings and switch it. Fast switching has been there a very long time now.

True, but what many of us are actually wanting is to have multiple concurrent logins where the Movies, Music, etc. that show up as available are an aggregation of each users purchases. For example, I buy movie’s 1 and 2, and my girlfriend buys movies 3 and 4. In what universe does it make sense for me to manually switch between the two accounts in order to see all four movies? I’m thinking... NONE! What I expect to see is a list of movies 1, 2, 3 and 4.... and it doesn’t matter where it comes from. Very similar to how the TV app aggregates titles from multiple services.

 

[Rogifan]

Priced at $199 I would buy two of these. Priced as it is at $349 and I fear this will be another iPod HiFi failure.

Priced at $199 and they’d never be in stock. Look at AirPods.

 

[ectospheno]

Using iOS 11 I have access to all of my girlfriends playlists through Apple Music that I can add to my library and vice versa. If you don't use Apple Music then it looks like you will be doing Airplay till further notice, which is a shame.

It isn't about access, it is about my wife's crap music being used to recommend music for me. Why you keep mentioning family sharing is beyond me as that is not the issue at all. It is the same reason Netflix eventually added a prompt for who is watching. Until then every time I went to watch it was an endless stream of cartoon and british television recommendations which wasn't suitable for me at all.

A homepod without the ability to quickly switch between users is a show stopper.

 

[DNichter]

Because AI power assistants are the new frontier in computing interaction. Amazon wants you to get everything from the Echo ecosystem. From your news to food to music to texting or video calling friends to controlling everything on your house. And they are close to achieving this.

It is now or never for Apple and Google. And with Amazon Echo Dots running $49 to $0 depending on the deal, Apple and Google are worried. Google just announced a new low end Home device to try to compete. And Apple is very late to the party.

I am not sure that matters so much as most people who are in the Apple ecosystem will go for the HomePod if they indeed do want a home speaker with a virtual assistant. Either way, I doubt Apple cares if they are late to the party, they'll be the ones that end up making money on their product.
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What is the reason for not releasing along side iPhone 8?

Who knows? You should email Tim Cook.

 

[Evangelion]

Disappointing that it won't sync with macs or Apple TV.

Any hints that in the future it will allow some version of surround sound, distributing the sounds from an apple TV?

I think it can't be set up with a mac or appletv, but it should still work with them just five.

 

[RickInHouston]

So -

Do you think apple has a group of people that actually try to figure out how to make a product lock you in more to the ecosystem?

You would think, plug a USB drive full of music to a mac and link it to this and your done. But instead apple turns around and says you only use cloud storage? Is that right?

I'm not comfortable with this, at all. But, then again, that's just me.

 

[Mtmspa]

Still no info how it works with more than one user? I mean, it's a device meant for home, homes often have several people living in it. So, I can tell it to play one of my plays lists, can other in my family do that? And no, don't tell me about AirPlay.

This device really need to support more than one user seamlessly, in order to truly be a device for homes.

More info will be available when the device ships. No reason to get worked up now. Geez

 

[WatchFromAfar]

So -

Do you think apple has a group of people that actually try to figure out how to make a product lock you in more to the ecosystem?
.

Yes they do, the Product and Services departments.

 

[coolfactor]

Not a fan of the soft grey buttons. Looks weak. I like clean, well-defined "buttons", not touch-sensitive regions.

 

[Princejb134]

I have almost one terabyte of music in my itunes library (located on an external hd connected to one usb-3 port of my Macbook pro). I never intent to use apple music or any kind of streaming service. I also have never used Siri on any of my devices (of which I have a few) because, so far, Siri is totally useless in my country (not to mention the problems due to my horrible English pronunciation). Are you telling me I will not be able to use this thing? Will Apple ignore all users with similar needs? I just can't believe it.

Don't worry. I'm not planning to buy either until they fix these issues

 

[profets]

This is how I picture Guilherme Rambo making his way through the HomePod firmware this past month

 

[NecroKill]

I am not sure that matters so much as most people who are in the Apple ecosystem will go for the HomePod if they indeed do want a home speaker with a virtual assistant. Either way, I doubt Apple cares if they are late to the party, they'll be the ones that end up making money on their product.
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Who knows? You should email Tim Cook.

You think he will tell me?

 

[Evangelion]

So -

Do you think apple has a group of people that actually try to figure out how to make a product lock you in more to the ecosystem?

You would think, plug a USB drive full of music to a mac and link it to this and your done. But instead apple turns around and says you only use cloud storage? Is that right?

I'm not comfortable with this, at all. But, then again, that's just me.

You can use it with airplay just fine, with local media.

 

[2268473]

I have almost one terabyte of music in my itunes library (located on an external hd connected to one usb-3 port of my Macbook pro). I never intent to use apple music or any kind of streaming service. I also have never used Siri on any of my devices (of which I have a few) because, so far, Siri is totally useless in my country (not to mention the problems due to my horrible English pronunciation). Are you telling me I will not be able to use this thing? Will Apple ignore all users with similar needs? I just can't believe it.

Sorry to break the bad news but the HomePod also doesn’t have a CD player or the ability to play vinyls. Sorry about that.

 

[3rdiguy]

Wonder if it will support multiple iCloud accounts. Seems a waste if for only one in a household

 

[2268473]

So -

Do you think apple has a group of people that actually try to figure out how to make a product lock you in more to the ecosystem?

You would think, plug a USB drive full of music to a mac and link it to this and your done. But instead apple turns around and says you only use cloud storage? Is that right?

I'm not comfortable with this, at all. But, then again, that's just me.

I’m sure AirPlay will work fine from your iTunes. But the future of music - and perhaps the majority of the market’s current trend - is streaming.

 

[JMacIV]

It isn't about access, it is about my wife's crap music being used to recommend music for me. Why you keep mentioning family sharing is beyond me as that is not the issue at all. It is the same reason Netflix eventually added a prompt for who is watching. Until then every time I went to watch it was an endless stream of cartoon and british television recommendations which wasn't suitable for me at all.

A homepod without the ability to quickly switch between users is a show stopper.

I would imagine that there will be a set up process for the HomePod like on the iPhone, where you teach it how to recognize your voice for "Hey Siri".

Then you would repeat that process for each of the iCloud accounts on your iCloud family share. Once it has been taught how everyone says "Hey Siri", it will use that to distinguish which person/account is stating the command and then offer the solution to that command (music, calendar, etc) based on that user and their preferences.

For all we know, since we have already done the "Hey Siri" process on our phones, the HomePod may be able to access that data and skip that part of setup. If that were the case, once it was paired to an iCloud family share plan, it would be able to distinguish the users out of the box.

 

[mceolsen]

I use family sharing. Not sure how that solves the issue of having only 1 active library. If I open music on ATV it's my library.

Ahh I see, yeah, still only 1 active at a time.

 

[fokmik]

Still no info how it works with more than one user? I mean, it's a device meant for home, homes often have several people living in it. So, I can tell it to play one of my plays lists, can other in my family do that? And no, don't tell me about AirPlay.

This device really need to support more than one user seamlessly, in order to truly be a device for homes.

You have "updated" to article with the customization. So yes,everybody with an apple id will can

 

[ke-iron]

Hmmm... Virtually every household with more than one  user will experience this scenario. We *ALL* want to have access to a common device (TV, HomePod... or even Alexa) and have access to MY PERSONAL data such as calendar entries, messages, etc. Media is just the most obvious use case.
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True, but what many of us are actually wanting is to have multiple concurrent logins where the Movies, Music, etc. that show up as available are an aggregation of each users purchases. For example, I buy movie’s 1 and 2, and my girlfriend buys movies 3 and 4. In what universe does it make sense for me to manually switch between the two accounts in order to see all four movies? I’m thinking... NONE! What I expect to see is a list of movies 1, 2, 3 and 4.... and it doesn’t matter where it comes from. Very similar to how the TV app aggregates titles from multiple services.

You don’t have to switch accounts to see the other users purchases. It’s in movies under family. Apple could make it just a little better by just showing the other user purchases as yours but then you’d have people complain, they don’t want to see other family member purchases. That’s why they have it separated under the family tab in the movie and tv shows app. I sometimes switch accounts if I want to buy something, even though if I purchase using my girlfriends account my card still gets charged, but I want the purchase to be mine and not hers. Another reason I switch accounts is for the tv app on Apple TV, it syncs what shows I’m watching.