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Gurman: Apple Considered a Battery-Powered 'HomePod' Years Ago
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Nah. Not everything needs to be wireless. Like keyboard and mice. Why do they need to be wireless? They don’t go anywhere. Just another thing to charge.
Apple should just license Siri. It’s pretty ridiculous that the only option available to Apple/Siri users is homepod mini. They should have lowered the price of HomePod to $199 and introduced a HomePod Max at $299.
Homepod mini is overpriced for a smart speaker and too low-fi for anyone who wants a decent speaker for music. It’s not a bad value all things considered, but we need a lot more options in this space, not less.
Homepod mini is overpriced for a smart speaker and too low-fi for anyone who wants a decent speaker for music. It’s not a bad value all things considered, but we need a lot more options in this space, not less.
The HomePod mini currently requires at least 18W from the USB C supply to even boot up, so don't hold your breath on a MagSafe option as they seem to max out at 15W.
I just attached a small backup battery that outputs 18W on USB C to the bottom of the HomePod mini so that it looks like a square base for the speaker. Works well and is cheap - make sure your backup battery can support at least 18W and ideally can be charged whilst discharging on USB C.
I just attached a small backup battery that outputs 18W on USB C to the bottom of the HomePod mini so that it looks like a square base for the speaker. Works well and is cheap - make sure your backup battery can support at least 18W and ideally can be charged whilst discharging on USB C.
You’ve described a Sonos Roam, assuming you’re also making it waterproof, adding Bluetooth, and giving it a more functional shape.
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Bluetooth away from home would be great! I’m spending two weeks in a hotel for work and I can’t use the HomePod I brought with me on their network
I suspect it was Apple concluding most people (and that would include myself) did not want a portable speaker.
I wouldn't have purchased one. I do have seven HomePods (5 original, 2 mini), for different rooms and garage in my house. Last thing I'd want to worry about or fuss with is keeping batteries charged.
They're superb speakers (for their price point) and work very well with Apple Music - which I use many hours a day. I could not be happier.
While I would love a portable HomePod mini, too, my guess as to why this never happened is that Apple had to decide if they were making an "always on" speaker that is listening to Siri commands even when not playing content or a battery powered speaker that is only turned on when you want to listen to content.
These are two conflicting design constraints.
These are two conflicting design constraints.
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This has been my complaint since day one. I need a speaker that I can move around, along my laptop. Going to stick with JBL and other brands, then. Would have been nice and convenient to have something from Apple.
JBL Link Portable, not fully waterproof but can be used in moist environments. But only has AirPlay 2 (HomeKit) or bluetooth, no Siri support.
I already have 2 HomePod minis but this idea makes me consider getting more! Ideally it would charge through the air to reduce wire clutter, though.
JBL are not masters of sound quality. No portable speaker from JBL has sounded as good as my HomePod mini, let alone my HomePod.
Those of us who live in small apartments need all the space we can get. Wire clutter takes up limited desk space. I’m considering selling my HomePods in part because they are so large and each require a power cable! Would enjoy a portable, wireless HomePod with many-hour battery life that only needs to charge every few days.
Cool - but chaos for Homekit and smart home functionality.
What happens when you walk away from your network?
Clearly, a Bluetooth battery speaker's a different product.
And the Beats brand suits that use case much better.
What happens when you walk away from your network?
Clearly, a Bluetooth battery speaker's a different product.
And the Beats brand suits that use case much better.
For double the price?
Battery, wireless charging, redesign of materials to be wet proof...
Gurman might as well have written "Apple considered a battery-powered Homepod in the past several years"
Just to keep up with with his ".... In the next several months"-line which was comedy gold.
He'll never get my vote for school president. That's for sure.
The HomePod Mini peaks at a bit over 17 Watts according to third party tests - which means it draws too much to be powered by a MagSafe pack.
It either needs to be USB (which you can do now with a third party battery pack) or a proprietary connector.
I missed this before. I would love to see Apple's car key available as an after market add-on for existing cars.
You know that works right?
In the latest version of Siri, you can turn Airplane mode off as well - since Siri doesn't go out to the internet for basic instructions such as that one.
HomePod also works (with obviously reduced functionality) without an internet connection.
