We need a HomePod ultra , instant buy.
I’ s would buy 2 for stereo and would sell my hometheater set up in an instant.
I’ s would buy 2 for stereo and would sell my hometheater set up in an instant.
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Gurman: Apple Not Working on New HomePod Mini
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Thing is, Apple doesn’t WANT everyone in their ecosystem, just the ones that have money to spend. And even the plastic laptops were too expensive for folks way back when.
I agree that it would technically be better, and that's why I pointed out the latency in my post, too.
However, I don't see it particularly as a "hardware limitation"... Sure, it'd be nice, but necessary? No. The latency is not a big enough issue to warrant using once of their latest SOC's in the HomePod line, as they would definitely drive up the cost.
Opinions on how "greedy" Apple may or may not be with their pricing aside, they're a business and a business that is doing very well. So putting more expensive hardware in the HomePods and driving their cost up for what really is a "nice to have" as opposed to a "must have".
And the only latency I experience is getting the stream "going" when it first starts. AirPlay has to buffer a little and it delay's starting a second or two. After that, everything is flawless, and I've been surprised how well AirPlay handles this initial buffering, as I never have video and audio mismatched. The only issue I have is the occasional stuttering, which I am confident they could deal with in software.
So while I agree with you completely that it would be nice to have all the latest tech in the HomePods, I don't think it makes sense for them from a need vs cost perspective.
Basically, I see the HomePods as appliances, not in the same category as my computer or iPhone or iPad. Like my dishwasher, if it does what it needs to do, I don't care WHAT is inside. I just want as low a price as possible. (And I'm confident they could deal with its issues in software since bandwidth isn't an issue. If I have to wait one or two seconds when I first start playing something for it to buffer, that's so much of a first world problem that I can't even consider it a problem. Not even sure 6 or 6E (which they're only JUST putting in their top of the line equipment, I don't want to pay for that on a HomePod!) would change the buffering situation.)
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I'm obviously an Apple fan and the design is great, but Siri has fallen so far behind Alexa it's not even funny. I'm seriously concerned about her future. Amazon has already won the assistant wars. They seem to be on track to win the home automation war too. What's holding Apple back? Is it the focus on privacy?
Amazon is selling Echo speakers at much lower price, with an expectation that users will buy more from Amazon, and that it can monetize at the expense of user privacy. Those expectations failed to materialize and the division is costing Amazon $10 billion in losses each year.
The home pod / AirPod max strategy has always been a strange one to me … I own most of those products and they are to me excellent in their sonic approach. I never understood why they didn’t show it properly on Apple stores in a booth so you can hear it as it should, I never understood why it’s has taken ages to update to stereo pair and then to Atmos / aTV pairing . Why they would hide some features to be revealed ages later … saying that it took a long time to get copy / paste on iPhone …
Didn't they say this about the bigger Homepod when the mini was launched and the original was discontinued? And look what just came out, an "updated" Homepod. I'm sure the updates are almost entirely to make the product more profitable without taking away from the sound quality but who's to say there won't be an update for the mini a few years from now?
We recently switched to the Ecobee thermostat. It works with Siri and it also has inexpensive remote temperature sensors you can place around the house.
That’s great to hear. Bought my first HomePod mini after reading this. 
So basically Apple is unable to figure out what can be removed from the current mini without rendering it completely useless.
Your home theatre must be really bad if you’d replace it with two HomePods…
HomePod mini should cost $49 at most. The audio quality is only marginally better than an Amazon echo, and it’s far more dumb.
How is Gurman still relevant? Like Kuo, he just saying his thoughts not doesnt have single reliable source. Success around 50%. Sure now there isnt reason to update mini to new model.
But I dont believe apple isnt working on full tv-audio solution, like Sonos, Bose, Sony where new homepods will be part of the settings ( Soundbar + apple tv integrated, subwoofer and homepods for living room)
But I dont believe apple isnt working on full tv-audio solution, like Sonos, Bose, Sony where new homepods will be part of the settings ( Soundbar + apple tv integrated, subwoofer and homepods for living room)
Not long ago there was a HomePod with an integrated display close to release ... It was rehashed HomePod after alll ... the rumor circus.
I believe many rumours aren't based on actual inside information but what people think it might be the case considering the companies historical behaviour and what they think how products might involve. Some predictions are incredible obvious, others are rehashed versions of competitors products.
I believe many rumours aren't based on actual inside information but what people think it might be the case considering the companies historical behaviour and what they think how products might involve. Some predictions are incredible obvious, others are rehashed versions of competitors products.
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Why not? Why should Apple, a > 2 Trillion Dollars computer and software company, not be able to develop a Voice assistant as good as Amazon or Google? I honestly don't get your argument.
I’ve already answered that
They don’t give anywhere near the amount of data to get those facts and answers like google does. Google gets a ton of data by listening in and getting answers people want with their searches. With limited data coming in the least they can answer those questions.
Question is what do people use their smart home devices more for? Asking questions like who was the president in 2001? Or controlling your lights, blinds, timers, playing music, podcasts and alarms? It’s the latter
As I said we would all want Siri to be smarter but reality is that is simply not the HomePod usage case and never will be
LMAO ...
Strange stategy ... let's yet again mention Mark Gurman ... this time on what Apple is NOT working on!
Like serious why do we need to quote anything on products NOT being released? How does this fit into Macrumors as well. Like Rumor is based on speculation of something happening or going on, NOT on what is NOT happening or going on, right?
I don't think this has anything to do with people expecting every product to be updated on a yearly basis. But people don't tend to spend 100 USD+ on products without longevity in mind. There are no official statements from Apple on how long one should expect each product to be supported. Apple has a good track record when it comes to software support for most products. But still.
Some people might notice that the new HomePod features the Apple S7 SIP, while the HomePod mini features the Apple S5 SIP and they don't know what this might entail in the long run. Might this result in the HomePod mini suddenly not gaining access to a new version of audioOS in the near future? No one knows. But the HomePod mini is going to be three years old this year, so it makes sense for people to feel some uncertainty on the topic.
Instead of investing a lot of money into purchasing multiple HomePod minis today, many people would prefer to wait for the new version so they can feel comfortable it will be fully supported for years to come instead of being replaced one year later and being dropped dead in the water after just a few years.
Judging by Apple TV and tvOS, and audioOS on the OG HomePod it doesn't look like Apple will be dropping support for any of these products any time soon. But you never know, as there are no official statements or anything on the topic it would always be safer to wait for the update of the product and purchase it will it's rather new. The prices on these products seldomly drop so there is really no benefit of purchasing a product years down the line either.
Some people might notice that the new HomePod features the Apple S7 SIP, while the HomePod mini features the Apple S5 SIP and they don't know what this might entail in the long run. Might this result in the HomePod mini suddenly not gaining access to a new version of audioOS in the near future? No one knows. But the HomePod mini is going to be three years old this year, so it makes sense for people to feel some uncertainty on the topic.
Instead of investing a lot of money into purchasing multiple HomePod minis today, many people would prefer to wait for the new version so they can feel comfortable it will be fully supported for years to come instead of being replaced one year later and being dropped dead in the water after just a few years.
Judging by Apple TV and tvOS, and audioOS on the OG HomePod it doesn't look like Apple will be dropping support for any of these products any time soon. But you never know, as there are no official statements or anything on the topic it would always be safer to wait for the update of the product and purchase it will it's rather new. The prices on these products seldomly drop so there is really no benefit of purchasing a product years down the line either.