i thought about that during the keynote. I wish there was a battery to take around the house to listen to music. I guess apple wants you to buy one for each room!
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Here's How Apple's New HomePod Speaker and iMac Pro Look in Person
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It has AirPlay 2 integration, so my guess (hopes) are that it will. Apple would be missing the mark if they didn’t allow the AppleTV to stream to it like they do with Bluetooth devices.
This is exactly what I have been waiting for.
I wouldn't call myself an audiophile, but I am a bit of an enthusiast. Audiophiles are usually the dolts who believe magical (and extremely expensive!) speaker wire somehow makes a difference in audio fidelity. That being said, there is a middle ground where you can be dissatisfied with the audio quality (and the drastic overpricing of some brands) of sound bars and 'home theaters in a box,' but also not be willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on audio equipment and speaker wire. I spent around $3k for my 5.1 setup, which would be exorbitant to some, and a chump change setup to others.
Like the iMac Pro, but I'm sure I won't be able to afford it. I still wish that would make a decent Mac without a display. Still I welcome the iMac updates. I think it's clear the Mac mini and Pro are now dead.
Not sure who the speaker will appeal too. I'd suspect most of us already have a decent audio setup and it's probably connected to an Apple TV already. I can do most of what the HomePod does with my current setup.
The iPad's are starting to look like appealing alternative to a MacBook.
Not sure who the speaker will appeal too. I'd suspect most of us already have a decent audio setup and it's probably connected to an Apple TV already. I can do most of what the HomePod does with my current setup.
The iPad's are starting to look like appealing alternative to a MacBook.
I used to have the multiples on my desk for palettes, but after the 30" ACDs came out, and I tried two of those for a while, I got used to one large monitor, and I'm good with that.
I wasn't go to buy an iMac, no matter what they call it, but I don't think it would have killed them to go back to 30", at least as an option. The loaded one will probably cost a small fortune anyway.
Everybody with an iMac in the studio has stacks of books under them, it's a testimony to the versatility of the design, so I always appreciate designs that let you adjust height easily like the NEC I'm using now.
Apple literally told us there’s a new Mac Pro coming next year.
I wish it has some kind of airport express built-in Or even better Wifi Mesh. Then I don't mind buying this can in every single room.
I'm an Apple enthusiast and was ready to buy the Siri speaker that was being rumoured but I winced both when they announced the name and then the design.
I'll defend the price though. This isn't an Echo or Google Home competitor. It's a Sonos competitor. I happily paid nearly $500 for my Harman Kardon speaker and I enjoy every dollar spent on it. Its sound is just as crisp and pure as anything I've heard and I don't doubt that the HomePod will be the same.
But that's the problem. I was looking for Apple's version of the Echo or Google Home. A small and relatively inexpensive Siri interface for home that I can scatter around in different rooms. This is not it. Those willing to spend that much on a speaker already likely have a system.
I'll wait a few generations of this until they produce something beautiful and I may decide to sell my Harman Kardon. In the meantime, I'll have to get by with a wall mounted iPod Air that listens and responds to "Hey Siri" commands to control my home.
I'll defend the price though. This isn't an Echo or Google Home competitor. It's a Sonos competitor. I happily paid nearly $500 for my Harman Kardon speaker and I enjoy every dollar spent on it. Its sound is just as crisp and pure as anything I've heard and I don't doubt that the HomePod will be the same.
But that's the problem. I was looking for Apple's version of the Echo or Google Home. A small and relatively inexpensive Siri interface for home that I can scatter around in different rooms. This is not it. Those willing to spend that much on a speaker already likely have a system.
I'll wait a few generations of this until they produce something beautiful and I may decide to sell my Harman Kardon. In the meantime, I'll have to get by with a wall mounted iPod Air that listens and responds to "Hey Siri" commands to control my home.
The problem is you're comparing a $349 Apple speaker to the $199 Play:1.
The Play:3 is $50 less and boomin Play:5 is only $50 more... and they will no doubt crush it in comparison. I don't mind paying a premium for the Apple integration, but make a real speaker - not a little toy. I'm sure its fine for a kitchen or small bedroom, but I would imagine most arent looking for a Bluetooth size speaker. All they had to do was revamp the B&W A7.
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Why waste the time and money to integrate the Siri soundwave light effects when it won't be visible from most angles? Stupid.
It's not a bad looking design. But I'm immediately turned off by the all-fabric enclosure. Regardless of whether you get black or white, this thing is going to be very hard to clean, and will definitely show dust, even with regular maintenance. I wonder if the enclosure can be completely removed to wash -- that would improve things considerably? I'd prefer something more like the Harman Kardon Aura, which Apple used to carry in their stores. Its amazing actually how similar those products are, from a straight-up sound perspective. The HK reminds me of an early 2000s-looking Apple design.
Ive has worked on this and the creature II line.
I don't know what could be better really. It has 360 degree coverage with 6 tweeters on the bottom part, so round is good for that.
Mainly I think you just want to listen to it, but you do have to look at it I suppose, but what is better? A cube? I don't know.
It has 6 microphones to assess the room sound reflections or whatever audio stuff it does, and that's probably where you can get some nice engineered sound. I have a Bose system and it does some setup tuning with a microphone and I think it does "something" good.
LOL. Man, I remember that product just like it was yesterday!
Wrong... the animations on Apple's site make it clear that even a single unit provides stereo with the tweeters, where the unit uses the tweeters together with the microphones to "learn" how to use the tweeters to provide stereophonic sound to the room via both direct and reflected sound. Since bass isn't well located by human hearing, that's most of what is required for lifelike stereo sound. Clearly, putting two in the room will cause it to optimize differently and provide better stereo separation, probably including the bass speakers also.
That said... I'm too much of a snob to put anything in any way resembling any of the toy garbage being discussed in this thread (Sonos? Please....) in any room where I actually care about listening to music.
That said... I'm too much of a snob to put anything in any way resembling any of the toy garbage being discussed in this thread (Sonos? Please....) in any room where I actually care about listening to music.
A $10 BT speaker is not in the same sub-category as a smart speaker, nor price is the only complain I wrote about the HomePod, but thanks for your reply.
Ehh the Echo doesn't have a screen, nor the echo tap, dot, etc. Only the new more expensive one has a screen, but that is to use it for videochats and web videos.
[doublepost=1496719638][/doublepost]Whilst the iMac Pro looks very tempting... I am more excited about, FINALLY, having a magic keyboard that has the numpad!
Following the WWDC 2017 keynote today in San Jose, Apple invited members of the media for some hands on time with HomePod, its new Siri-enabled smart speaker and hub for controlling HomeKit accessories.
CNET has shared a gallery of HomePod pictures that provides a close-up look at the speaker, which looks somewhat like a smaller Mac Pro covered in a seamless mesh fabric. It'll be available in White and Space Gray.
The top of the HomePod has a glossy finish with Siri colors glowing in the center. Since it's designed for home use, the HomePod doesn't have a battery, so it must be plugged into a wall outlet or other power source at all times.
Meanwhile, Engadget has shared a gallery of iMac Pro pictures that show the all-in-one desktop computer in its stealthy new Space Gray finish, accompanied by a color-matched Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, and Magic Trackpad.
Apple said both the HomePod and iMac Pro will be available in December for $349 and $4,999 respectively.
Article Link: Here's How Apple's New HomePod Speaker and iMac Pro Look in Person
For years, I have had to stay with a wired keyboard because I need the numpad and there has never been that option... Here is hoping they will offer it as a standalone device option!
So as long as sound quality is comparable, this speaker is actually a good deal in comparison, considering inflation and the extra features this one has.