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Gurman: Apple Still Working on Combined HomePod and Apple TV With FaceTime Camera
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Siri is subpar at best.
Such an odd combination, unless it is modular or already in a soundbar format. The camera has to be positioned to see you, preferably right next to/underneath the TV, otherwise the other party will be looking at the side of your head. If it is "individual HomePod" style you would want two, to have better stereo separation, but then you have redundant cameras at inconvenient angles (Although...in that case you could probably get some kind of 3D video call representation for future AR products..) And finally, you need to connect to your TV and power.
This is definitely something I could see Apple doing, because they want to be the only thing connected to your TV and if you have a stereo receiver, then this thing will be very inconvenient.
This is definitely something I could see Apple doing, because they want to be the only thing connected to your TV and if you have a stereo receiver, then this thing will be very inconvenient.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Logically, if it has FaceTime but doesn't have an immediate proximity screen, what is the person on the other end seeing? Eyes looking at the TV instead of the person. Think about anything you have that has FaceTime now. Key to a good experience is camera and screen as close together as possible. Now imagine pulling that camera off of your current device and putting it somewhere else. Move it even a few inches away and what the person on the other end sees if you not looking back at them. For instance, airplay your phone video to your TV right now. Start FaceTime call but look at your TV screen instead of phone. What does your recipient see?
If you lack the imagination to know, take a selfie... but instead of the usual kind where you look at the lens, hold iDevice a little left, right, above or below your Mac screen, look at the Mac screen instead of iDevice (Mac filling in for your TV in this example) and shoot the image. Now look very tangibly at what the person on the other end would see. Even if you position the camera only a few inches above, below, left or right of the screen, THAT will always look like THAT.
Merging FaceTime camera physically into AppleTV + HomePod means that the ONLY place you could put this "Frankenstein" is directly in front of TV, as close as possible to the screen. Where is the camera? If top of Frankenstein, you must put this HomePod at the bottom of your TV screen. If much below that, you'll appear to be looking over their head instead of at them.
If HomePod form factor, putting Frankenstein down there would likely block a chunk of the TV screen. For example, if you put a HomePod under the TV, you probably create a bottom faux-notch that is the HomePod blocking a chunk of the bottom of the screen. You can't tuck it behind, else you block the FaceTime camera. You can't put it on a shelf several inches below (to not have a faux notch). Else, it looks like you are looking over their head.
But wait, some people put their soundbars ABOVE the TV when both are mounted on the wall. OK, so will the FaceTime camera be built into the very BOTTOM of the device to get it as close to the screen as possible in that scenario? Else, to the person on the other end, it will look like you are looking down at their belly instead of at them because camera is too far above screen.
But wait, some people mount the soundbar UNDER the TV on the wall. So that could eliminate the faux notch by careful positioning but then the camera needs to be on the TOP of the device to get it as close to the screen as possible for these people.
See the challenges here? Is a singular solution mounting Frankenstein upside down in some instances to get camera closest to screen (perhaps putting the Apple logo or controls upside down too). Are there 2 units developed with camera on top and camera on bottom?
If this is a real product dev desire at Apple, it seems the ideal would be to revive a USB port on the AppleTV- fully functional this time- so that those who want a FaceTime camera on their TV can do it with a separate, smallish camera (AppleTV "dongle") mounted wherever they like around their TV. Think original iSight camera. A relatively tiny camera won't need the bulk of a speaker/soundbar + AppleTV to potentially get in the way. Then put your AppleTV and optional speaker wherever you like.
OR, do this in software whereby a person can prop their iDevice up against the TV with camera facing forward for a temporary, iDevice-sized notch but camera in the right general spot to make it work pretty well.
Similarly, those who desire HomePod speaker sound very close to their AppleTV can plug one into that USB jack much like soundbar people plug an HDMI cable into a HDMI ARC jack to take over TV sound. Or simply do the same as typical soundbar with HDMI pass through. That flexibility to add that level of sound WHEREVER a user wants to place their AppleTV seems better than pressing for it to be in a single, relatively precise location to maximize FaceTime too.
Else, you have a Frankenstein device with all kinds of challenges unless you happen to have a situation that will allow you to position it exactly where the designer thinks EVERYONE should position it.
I think the idea of FaceTime on big screen TV is a great idea. But it can be managed much better than building a Frankenstein device as described here.
If you lack the imagination to know, take a selfie... but instead of the usual kind where you look at the lens, hold iDevice a little left, right, above or below your Mac screen, look at the Mac screen instead of iDevice (Mac filling in for your TV in this example) and shoot the image. Now look very tangibly at what the person on the other end would see. Even if you position the camera only a few inches above, below, left or right of the screen, THAT will always look like THAT.
Merging FaceTime camera physically into AppleTV + HomePod means that the ONLY place you could put this "Frankenstein" is directly in front of TV, as close as possible to the screen. Where is the camera? If top of Frankenstein, you must put this HomePod at the bottom of your TV screen. If much below that, you'll appear to be looking over their head instead of at them.
If HomePod form factor, putting Frankenstein down there would likely block a chunk of the TV screen. For example, if you put a HomePod under the TV, you probably create a bottom faux-notch that is the HomePod blocking a chunk of the bottom of the screen. You can't tuck it behind, else you block the FaceTime camera. You can't put it on a shelf several inches below (to not have a faux notch). Else, it looks like you are looking over their head.
But wait, some people put their soundbars ABOVE the TV when both are mounted on the wall. OK, so will the FaceTime camera be built into the very BOTTOM of the device to get it as close to the screen as possible in that scenario? Else, to the person on the other end, it will look like you are looking down at their belly instead of at them because camera is too far above screen.
But wait, some people mount the soundbar UNDER the TV on the wall. So that could eliminate the faux notch by careful positioning but then the camera needs to be on the TOP of the device to get it as close to the screen as possible for these people.
See the challenges here? Is a singular solution mounting Frankenstein upside down in some instances to get camera closest to screen (perhaps putting the Apple logo or controls upside down too). Are there 2 units developed with camera on top and camera on bottom?
If this is a real product dev desire at Apple, it seems the ideal would be to revive a USB port on the AppleTV- fully functional this time- so that those who want a FaceTime camera on their TV can do it with a separate, smallish camera (AppleTV "dongle") mounted wherever they like around their TV. Think original iSight camera. A relatively tiny camera won't need the bulk of a speaker/soundbar + AppleTV to potentially get in the way. Then put your AppleTV and optional speaker wherever you like.
OR, do this in software whereby a person can prop their iDevice up against the TV with camera facing forward for a temporary, iDevice-sized notch but camera in the right general spot to make it work pretty well.
Similarly, those who desire HomePod speaker sound very close to their AppleTV can plug one into that USB jack much like soundbar people plug an HDMI cable into a HDMI ARC jack to take over TV sound. Or simply do the same as typical soundbar with HDMI pass through. That flexibility to add that level of sound WHEREVER a user wants to place their AppleTV seems better than pressing for it to be in a single, relatively precise location to maximize FaceTime too.
Else, you have a Frankenstein device with all kinds of challenges unless you happen to have a situation that will allow you to position it exactly where the designer thinks EVERYONE should position it.
I think the idea of FaceTime on big screen TV is a great idea. But it can be managed much better than building a Frankenstein device as described here.
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Use it often on my watch and appleTV and it works great! Use sometimes on Mac, iPhone, and iPad and it works great.
I mean, I think there's a germ of a good idea in some kind of Apple TV/Homepod/Facetime combination, but having done a lot of family video chats during COVID lockdowns, I agree with you that this will only work if Apple makes it so it can be set up with a wide variety of TV/equipment placement options. I can't tell you how awkward it is when someone sets up their laptop on a coffee table 5 feet from the couch to fit everyone in and you can barely see them, barely hear them, and it looks like a group hostage video.
Putting this even FARTHER away (because how many people have their 65-inch TV five feet from their couch?) would require really good microphones that can pick up on who is talking and not on background noise, a video camera that would have to have face tracking technology to identify who is speaking and zoom in on them, etc., etc. I know that such tech exists, so it's all possible, but the implementation details on this will be key.
Now, if Apple could also leverage this as an in-home security/monitoring device so you can check up on your home during the day when you're at work...
Keep telling yourself it works great, it’s insane how “stupid” Siri is. And she exists since The iPhone 4s?!
It’s fine for simple stuff like “what’s The weather” and “turn off the light in the bathroom”. But it just doesn’t understand context.
The most anoying thing about siri is the moment she get’s an update.. Suddenly some commands that used to work stop working.
Goodluck figuring out what it is Siri wants you to say to get what you want.
I can’t really say whether Siri is any good or not as I don’t really use it all that much. Like others, I bought a bunch of hockey puck Echo Dots when Amazon was selling them like popcorn. Just about every room in my house has an Echo, but I really only use them for a few things. I have them turn lights off and on. I set timers. I may ask about the score of a MLB game. I use them as calculators more often than I care to admit. They’re fine for these kinds of things.
Since getting an Apple Watch I find myself using Siri a lot more, but for basically the same things as my Echos. And its fine. It does everything I need it to do just fine. At this point, voice assistants aren’t really features as much as they are just extras. They’re basically like the free Apple Apps like Numbers for most people: I don’t buy any Apple product because I need Numbers, but Numbers is nice to have the few times I need it. I suspect most people feel the same as I do. I won’t buy an Apple speaker to get Siri, but I‘ll buy one because it’s a great speaker.
Since getting an Apple Watch I find myself using Siri a lot more, but for basically the same things as my Echos. And its fine. It does everything I need it to do just fine. At this point, voice assistants aren’t really features as much as they are just extras. They’re basically like the free Apple Apps like Numbers for most people: I don’t buy any Apple product because I need Numbers, but Numbers is nice to have the few times I need it. I suspect most people feel the same as I do. I won’t buy an Apple speaker to get Siri, but I‘ll buy one because it’s a great speaker.
If it can double as a digital picture frame, I'll get one for my mom and dad.
Otherwise I can't see a point to it that other products don't already fill.
Otherwise I can't see a point to it that other products don't already fill.
Please no. Just bring back a powerful speaker (HomePod) with a near same design for keeping costs low, an updated “A” series chip, and no camera. Have it come in at $150 and drop the HomePod mini to $75. They would both sell like hotcakes.
I got 3 homepods(bought the latest one used)
APPLE CMON GIVE US A BOOMING VERSION BRO
APPLE CMON GIVE US A BOOMING VERSION BRO
Why on Seth would you want a camera on your speaker ? Totally impractical just look where your speaker is sitting at the moment and think I’ll need to sit in front for FaceTime etc , Siri is a joke I’m comparison to google or Alexa , apple need to fix what they have instead of comping out with more junk
Apple is still working on a new HomePod product that combines a speaker, Apple TV functions, and a FaceTime camera, according to reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman.
In the Q&A section of his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said he "absolutely" thinks that a new HomePod is coming that will likely be "at the center of Apple's approach" to the home.
Gurman first suggested last year that Apple was working on a combined Apple TV with HomePod speaker that has a camera for video calls through a connected television set. In April 2021, Gurman said the device's other capabilities would include standard Apple TV box functions like watching video and gaming plus smart speaker uses such as playing music and using Apple's Siri digital assistant.
At the time of the original report, the product was said to be in the early stages, and that Apple could choose not to launch the product or change key features. However, based on Gurman's latest reading of the situation, Apple's original plans are still firmly in place.
Apple discontinued its original high-end HomePod in March 2021, which left many wondering if the company was working on a successor. The HomePod mini, a smaller version of the HomePod which launched in 2020, has been much more popular thanks to its lower price, so it wouldn't be surprising if Apple eventually launched another version of the HomePod mini down the line with new features, as Gurman suggests. But what a device would look like that combines a HomePod, Apple TV, and FaceTime camera still remains unclear.
Article Link: Gurman: Apple Still Working on Combined HomePod and Apple TV With FaceTime Camera
I think this has been abundantly clear. Gurman keeps tossing out brands like Facetime, HomePod, Apple TV but just K.I.S.S (Keep It Simple Stupid)
It's a conferencing soundbar with integrated Apple TV. When Apple rolled out Shareplay, Center stage and new screen sharing API it became clear to many with functioning brains that Apple wants in on an easy to use Zoom like experiences for families. People are no longer afraid of cameras connected to their TV.
Yes it'll be 299 and up and people that want the functionality will buy it because it will do so much more than a simple streamer.
It's a conferencing soundbar with integrated Apple TV. When Apple rolled out Shareplay, Center stage and new screen sharing API it became clear to many with functioning brains that Apple wants in on an easy to use Zoom like experiences for families. People are no longer afraid of cameras connected to their TV.
Yes it'll be 299 and up and people that want the functionality will buy it because it will do so much more than a simple streamer.
Funny how people's opinion on the HomePod diverge. I'm a big Apple fan - yet the HomePod purchase (two of them no less) is the only Apple purchase I ever regretted. I initially used the two as a sort of sound bar to my Samsung TV. But it had some odd limitations I can't remember (like you couldn't AirPlay to the Apple TV at the same time as using those speakers). Later, I got an LG OLED TV that had Apple TV build-in and also had better built-in speakers, so my main use case for the HomePods ceased. Now they're just sitting around for the occasional Siri request. And even with that use case, it's not always what I want - e.g. I'd be asking my phone's Siri something and, from the other room, HomePod's Siri would get activated instead. Definitely not worth the ~$720 I spent.
Now back to Gurman's product prediction: I sure hope not! As I mentioned above, my LG already has Apple TV box's main function built in - the streaming service. I recently gave my Apple TV 4k to my sister because it was just collecting dust on the shelf. Not many people I know bought that device for its gaming and the other functions - like viewing your Photo library can easily be done via AirPlay/phone-or-ipad).
The future HomePod I would buy? HomePods that have mesh wifi built into them! Think about it - it would make perfect sense in an Apple home: HomePod is already an Apple HomeKit base. It would also be useful to have a Siri speaker in multiple rooms in your home. Well, the same would be the case for a mesh wifi-routing system. Apple discontinued its Airport Extreme and time capsules a few years ago - but it should bring those functions back - inside HomePod minis! I think Apple fans would appreciate a privacy-respecting Apple wifi router.
You do realise that you can use eArc with HomePods and the new Apple TV4K right? The HomePods will basically stream all audio without latency from any device as long as they are routed through the AppleTV. This is something which is a game changer for some people, because it opens up the HomePods in a big way, and makes them far more functional.
If it does not interoperate with other standard audio devices using some combination of usb, analog, or digital audio, then no go for me. I'm not getting more locked into Apple's single use ecosystem.
Why would I buy an AppleTV when the choice is already on my existing TV.
Who is Apple competing against?
I once used my MacBook for consulting in an SAP environment and took a tremendous about of flack for using a toy computer. I think all of this lazy approach to Apple TV and HomePod is just that, toys. Toys that will be eventually discontinued just like the original HomePod. I would have bought the original HomePod but it had no way to interface to any of my existing audio equipment.
If Apple wants to compete with, for example, Sonos, then they better get serious, because I would use Sonos or one of their competitors every time over Apple products that are not engineered to be in a system and that will be dropped if they don't take over the world in 12 months.
Why would I buy an AppleTV when the choice is already on my existing TV.
Who is Apple competing against?
I once used my MacBook for consulting in an SAP environment and took a tremendous about of flack for using a toy computer. I think all of this lazy approach to Apple TV and HomePod is just that, toys. Toys that will be eventually discontinued just like the original HomePod. I would have bought the original HomePod but it had no way to interface to any of my existing audio equipment.
If Apple wants to compete with, for example, Sonos, then they better get serious, because I would use Sonos or one of their competitors every time over Apple products that are not engineered to be in a system and that will be dropped if they don't take over the world in 12 months.
This seems like a product that wouldn't fit in well. For example, I have my own sound system; I don't want my Apple TV to have a built in speaker, nor do I have use for a camera on it. I literally have no place I can use such a product.
Just keep the ATV a seperate product. If Apple wants to make a soundbar, fine. But it should be an independent product.
Just keep the ATV a seperate product. If Apple wants to make a soundbar, fine. But it should be an independent product.
I have two and they are still getting updates, if it is the software side you are concerned about. I am willing to venture that they run the same build as the HP Mini does.
So an Atmos soundbar with integrated ATV called the Apple iBar or Homebar then?
I like being able to move a phone call to my Home Pod today. I would like to be able to FaceTime via an Apple TV type device using my TV as well. Give this TV appliance WebKit and the ability to run Safari, and my list would be complete!
There are times I like to share a website with others, and today I end up mirroring my iPad, but being able to do it natively would be sweet.
There are times I like to share a website with others, and today I end up mirroring my iPad, but being able to do it natively would be sweet.