AirPods are bluetooth, HomePod is WiFi - there's a lot of processing going on between sending the audio over wifi and the HomePod receiving it, decoding it, and playing it. Apple TV/iPhone/etc all have software to synchronize the audio with the video, macOS does not - for the most part. If you've ever tried to use an AirPlay speaker with a Mac in the past you'd know what I am talking about.
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First HomePod Pre-Order Customers Get Charged as Speakers Prepare for Shipment
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This is the first launch that ummm not excited for. It’s not that I’m not looking forward to getting one, I have one on order. I’m just not convinced that I need one and I’m hoping that I’ll be blown away by it and be glad I purchased it
If that device and app support airplay. The verge article did say you can't bluetooth to the homepod.
My Denon receiver supports bluetooth, airplay and spotify connect. Still can't see a need for this.
Isn't the big deal about Amazon Echo that you can order your Amazon.com stuff via voice? W/o that, what is the point of the Google/Apple speakers? I mean everyone has an Amazon retail account these days.
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I think people who are already invested in Echo/Sonos will continue with that. But people like me who have never bought a 'smart speaker' are interested in the HomePod. I know it will do Apple Music well at the very least. Still trying to figure out other use cases to justify the purchase price.
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I think people who are already invested in Echo/Sonos will continue with that. But people like me who have never bought a 'smart speaker' are interested in the HomePod. I know it will do Apple Music well at the very least. Still trying to figure out other use cases to justify the purchase price.
Easy example of better value: higher resale prices on Apple products. Easy example of better technology: the A series processors. As far as the HomePod goes, I think the amount of technology Apple is including vs. competitors in the same price range is quite good. There are definitely some unique features in that category with the audio beam forming, circular tweeter/microphone array, and auto adjustments for sound quality within a given space.
There is soooo much more to the echo than ordering stuff. It's wide open so it can interface with everything. All my smart home stuff. None of which works with homekit. I can use alexa to play whatever music I want, voice command, to my stereo. And TV via plex.
I have controlled Philips Hue bulbs with HomeKit, so what do you mean? Also MyQ integrates with HomeKit as well.
Siri is much more accurate than Alexa, for me. Alexa requires such exact phrasing to get things right, and has very little flexibility.
Ordering things on Amazon via the Echo is usually an exercise in frustration.
Pre-ordered, looking forward to testing. I'm curious to see how AirPlay 2 and multiple speaker set-up works out for whole home audio. I like my pro audio speaker set-up I have now...but HomePods sound like they'll be fairly capable. The technology packed inside is what interests me; omnidirectional audio and being able to know where to send audio to is amazing itself.
I wouldnt be too disappointed actually, helluva deal at that price!
I wouldnt be too disappointed actually, helluva deal at that price!
I wonder if it works well for the people who use the Amazon Dash buttons. Personally I like to sometimes add multiple items to my cart, review it and then submit the order. So that use case is hardly essential for me. I guess music + light control would be my 2 main cases. Gonna wait for reviews on both.
You'll have to wait for later this year for that feature. I was looking forward to that too but I guess it'll help me by spreading out the cost. For now, I can use this to replace my JBL L8 (one of the best AirPlay speakers out there IMO), but it's bulky and like every other speaker out there, placement is important and audio quality isn't consistent as I move about my place.
With HomePod, I'm expecting the same audio quality whether I'm in the kitchen or sitting in front of the TV. If Apple can deliver that experience, I would say that's magical.
That's great if you have supported products. But so very few are supported. Rather than replacing bulbs, which is significantly more expensive, I went with smart switches that control many lights. Those, my cameras, thermostat and smart smoke/c02 alarm are not supported by homekit. Nor are the smart locks, doorbells and garage opener i'm looking at.
Probably the most controversial speaker ever.
So many people getting bent out of shape because they think everyone else should care about and agree with their opinion of this speaker.
I think people's jimmies are rustled with early reviewer saying the sound on HomePod 'slaughters' $1000 speakers. That's just hyperbole.
You'll have to wait for two speakers yes - but Apple TV is supported out of the box.
I had the same issue.
I first called the credit card-issuing bank, who said the failure was not a fraud-check block (like some large / unusual pattern transactions lead to).
They advised trying the payment again, manually entering the card details instead of using Apple Pay.
The Apple order page allowed me to do this, but the payment was still not authorised.
I then tried the option of using a different payment method. This also failed, with a totally different credit card immediately not being authorised.
So at this point I guessed it was not likely a payment problem, but an Apple / Apple Pay problem, and contacted Apple.
When I described the problem, they said that the re-attempt can fail and is a known issue. They said that their website doesn't properly clear the previous payment details, leading to the re-attempt / alternative payment method to appear to fail. Apple stated that they are able to put the payment through using their systems. True to their word, after giving my original payment details and Apple applying them to my order manually, the payment went through OK.
Just describing my experience in the hope that it will help someone in a similar situation. Re-ordering may not be necessary - a call to Apple may be all that's required. (Could be particularly useful on a future product order where a re-order might lead to being put to the back of a long queue.)
Yep, saw that the first time. Not ideal. I have to run this on a computer correct? Does that have to be a mac? Also, why would I need this when I already have a multitude of devices that can do this without the hassle?
By smaller most people just mean cheaper with worse sound quality. I wouldn't mind a mini for bathrooms and the kitchen - spending $350 for a speaker in each bathroom is a bit excessive.
The problem is people will buy the mini and use it as their main HomePod and be disappointed in the sound quality. Apple may never make one, but I hope they do.