HomePod Disables Calendar, Messages, Notes, and Reminder Features When Owner Isn't Home, But Apple Music Account Remains Accessible

[Chupa Chupa]

I disagree. Based on the technology employed, I think it will be a huge "wow" (considering its size).

I'm ordering one. If I don't like the sound, It'll go back within the 14 day period. Easy. If I'm indeed wowed, I'll buy another.

Fair enough. I'm anxious for some true professional and head-to-head reviews. I'm not optimistic it's going to be a huge difference for the money based on Apple's actions here. It's easy for Apple to spread adjectives and fancy graphics on it's web site, but a day before pre-order and no major reviews seems so odd to me. I can't remember any other big or medium size Apple product that was embargoed the day before ordering. I think it will be a nice accessory for Apple Music subscribers. For the rest of us in Apple's walled garden, meh.

 

[citysnaps]

I think with the HomePod, the audio will be exactly what Apple said it will be, "Room filling". And I'm sure it will be comparable to the Google home Max and Sonos. However, I think the real competition will be between the artificial intelligence between the competitors. And I hope Siri delivers in a way that will make the HomePod seamless experience.

HomePod employs similar signal processing techniques implementing adaptive beamforming and dynamic self-equalization found in Bang & Olufsen's BeoLab 90 speaker.

It's just intelligently scaled down, priced right for consumers, and sits on a desk. Most people don't need 8,200 watts of output, and likely don't want to pay $42K for a speaker.

No, obviously it won't sound as good at the B&O. But I'm confident it will beat the pants off any competitor speaker that's similarly sized and priced.

 

[cmaier]

If you're home, did you forget your phone at work?

If you do forget your phone at work or are not in the house, do you want your kids texting your boss via homePod? It's for security. I don't want anyone in my home being able to ask what my schedule is when I'm not there.

and I have a Sonos 3 bout 18 months ago. It only plays music. nothing else.

If you have a sonos plus an iPhone you can use siri (on your phone, without sonos). If you have a home pod plus an iPhone you an use siri (with speaker). I fail to see the improvement.

As for the rest of your response, I don't get your point. I'm not suggesting that HomePod shouldn't require a phone. I'm suggesting that iphone+Homepod doesn't seem to do anything that I can't do with iphone+airport express+speakers or iphone+sonos.

Heck, it can't even tell family members apart. When my wife listens to country music or my kid listens to kidz bop, does that mean my apple music suggestions and daily playlists get messed up because apple thinks I like that stuff?

At least with iPhones+sonos each family member can use their own apple music account.

 

[44267547]

HomePod employs similar signal processing techniques implementing adaptive beamforming and dynamic self-equalization found in Bang & Olufsen's BeoLab 90 speaker.

It's just intelligently scaled down, priced right for consumers, and sits on a desk. Most people don't need 8,200 watts of output, and likely don't want to pay $42K.

No, obviously it won't sound as good at the B&O. But I'm confident it will beat the pants off any competitor that's similarly sized and priced.

I actually don't necessarily think $350 is unreasonable for a speaker that will deliver quality sound and construction. And If it's from Apple, We expect the quality behind the price tag, in which I'm sure it will deliver. I am curious to hear it first hand. More so, also to test Siri and its capabilities. But Nonetheless, I look forward to the initial reviews and hands on experience from users, not just the critics.

Are you preordering one or considering the HomePod purchase at a later date?

 

[confirmed]

I think BachelorPod would be a better name for this. Apple doesn't seem to understand that Homes aren't made up of "owners" and "guests", they're made up of families, roommates, friends. Don't tell me people can still use it when I'm gone if all that really means is that they can get answers to basic trivia questions and mess with my Apple Music favorites.

The Apple TV is another great example. I still believe the lack of multi-user support is the one thing preventing it from being a successful gaming platform. The idea of saved progress and high scores gets destroyed by the lack of multi-user support.

 

[citysnaps]

I actually don't necessarily think $350 is unreasonable for a speaker that will deliver quality sound and construction. And If it's from Apple, We expect the quality behind the price tag, in which I'm sure it will deliver. I am curious to hear it first hand. More so, also to test Siri and its capabilities. But Nonetheless, I look forward to the initial reviews and hands on experience from users, not just the critics.

Are you preordering one or considering the HomePod purchase at a later date?

I'll buy one soon. If I don't like it, it'll go back within the 14 day period.
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I think BachelorPod would be a better name for this. Apple doesn't seem to understand that Homes aren't made up of "owners" and "guests", they're made up of families, roommates, friends. Don't tell me people can still use it when I'm gone if all that really means is that they can get answers to basic trivia questions and mess with my Apple Music favorites.

I suspect anything that involves personal information (calendar appointments, Notes contents, email access, reminders, health info, etc) will be restricted.

And everything else (playing music, asking generic questions about the weather, distance to the moon, the fourth root of 3,111,696 etc) will not be restricted.

As it should be.

Perhaps someday it will handle multiple accounts involving sensitive information. This is the first release, after all.

 

[adamjackson]

If you have a sonos plus an iPhone you can use siri (on your phone, without sonos). If you have a home pod plus an iPhone you an use siri (with speaker). I fail to see the improvement.

As for the rest of your response, I don't get your point. I'm not suggesting that HomePod shouldn't require a phone. I'm suggesting that iphone+Homepod doesn't seem to do anything that I can't do with iphone+airport express+speakers or iphone+sonos.

Heck, it can't even tell family members apart. When my wife listens to country music or my kid listens to kidz bop, does that mean my apple music suggestions and daily playlists get messed up because apple thinks I like that stuff?

At least with iPhones+sonos each family member can use their own apple music account.

Then you're not really seeing the point. I don't know what else I can say. truthfully, I don't care if anyone skips buying one of these. I'm getting one for each room. It's going to compliment my entire HomeKit experience with multi room audio and I can set fire to two echo dots, one echo, two sonos speakers because 1st party integration with the 4 Macs, 4 iPads, 2 iPhones, 2 appleTVs with 3 HomePods is going to be exceptional and will only improve with software updates.

The fact that the person I let into the house via HomeKit and Schlage locks to fix my plumbing can't access to my iCloud calendar on HomePod is a perk. For the same reason his voice won't trigger hey siri on our house iPad that's wall-mounted. Apple takes the security seriously and I appreciate that. Whereas with Alexa, anyone in my house could query my calendar and control devices even if they're only there to fix a leaky faucet.

 

[cmaier]

Then you're not really seeing the point. I don't know what else I can say. truthfully, I don't care if anyone skips buying one of these. I'm getting one for each room. It's going to compliment my entire HomeKit experience with multi room audio and I can set fire to two echo dots, one echo, two sonos speakers because 1st party integration with the 4 Macs, 4 iPads, 2 iPhones, 2 appleTVs with 3 HomePods is going to be exceptional and will only improve with software updates.

The fact that the person I let into the house via HomeKit and Schlage locks to fix my plumbing can't access to my iCloud calendar on HomePod is a perk. For the same reason his voice won't trigger hey siri on our house iPad that's wall-mounted. Apple takes the security seriously and I appreciate that. Whereas with Alexa, anyone in my house could query my calendar and control devices even if they're only there to fix a leaky faucet.

I am not complaining that my family can’t access MY account. I don’t know why you keep going to that. The issue is why can’t they access THEIR accounts. “Seamless integration” would be that if my kid asks Siri to play music it recognizes that it is her, and updates her favorite songs on her own Apple Music account and not mine. And if my wife asks Siri to add something to the shopping list, it adds it to the notes on her own iCloud account.

A speaker that only works for me and not anyone i live with is pretty useless. As far as we know, even if they use it to play music it messes up my Apple Music account.

 

[tdar]

And if they listen to music, presumably that contaminates your listening history and you start getting suggestions for the music your kids listen to, etc.?

Yes another major problem. This product does not solve my problems, it creates more problems to solve.
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I think with the HomePod, the audio will be exactly what Apple said it will be, "Room filling". And I'm sure it will be comparable to the Google home Max and Sonos. However, I think the real competition will be between the artificial intelligence between the competitors. And I hope Siri delivers in a way that will make the HomePod seamless experience.

We already know that's not going to happen. It's not even the "full" siri experience,as limiting as that even is. It's siri for music.

And Speaking of limitations, Let's say you need a new Heat and Air system for your house. Also let's say I can sell you on the many advantages that you get on the top level units from one of the 4 largest brands. Carrier, Trane, Lennox, and Dankin (they sell under the Dankin, Amanna, and Goodman brands). These systems use a special type of thermostat called a communicating controller. They are basically a small computer that hangs on your wall and networks to the computer in your heat and air units. The nicest of them looks like an iPad on your wall but most of them look just like a nice regular thermostat. But here's the thing. All of them have Alexa control. If they don't yet support Google Assistant, you can bet that is coming. When if ever we will see homekit? Limitation.

 

[anson42]

When if ever we will see homekit? Limitation.

I've been asking that question of Nest, same problem. Granted, I'm ok today with two ecosystems, Nest and HomeKit, because it's "early days" but I am looking forward to an integrated one. I will say that HomeKit has been good to work with so far for fairly straightforward lighting automation but then I'm not trying anything crazy complex yet.

 

[dazz87]

This product looks like a total mess........

 

[Bestevaer]

Sound quality is relative to the person listening.

Completely agree. One speaker may sound great for person A. But person B could dislike it.

But, you cannot ignore that a small speaker has less reach then a bigger speaker. A smaller speaker will always sooner reach it max physical capabilities then a bigger speaker.

Which makes bigger speakers (on average) better then smaller speakers. And the homepod is a small speaker... See as an example Sonos. The Sonos 1 is a less capable speaker then the Sonos 5. Not saying the 1 is bad. The 5 is just better. The audio quality is just better...

 

[IxRich]

I'll be giving this a miss. If I can search my local library with Siri using the AppleTV, there should be no reason why HomePod can't do the same thing. I can see they're only locking it down to sell their overpriced music subscription service. I refuse to subscribe to play things I already own.

It's almost as bad as the Apple Watch 3 that gets hobbled when you leave the country you bought it in.

 

[adamjackson]

I am not complaining that my family can’t access MY account. I don’t know why you keep going to that. The issue is why can’t they access THEIR accounts. “Seamless integration” would be that if my kid asks Siri to play music it recognizes that it is her, and updates her favorite songs on her own Apple Music account and not mine. And if my wife asks Siri to add something to the shopping list, it adds it to the notes on her own iCloud account.

A speaker that only works for me and not anyone i live with is pretty useless. As far as we know, even if they use it to play music it messes up my Apple Music account.

They get their own HomePods? I would assume HP v2 would support all family members on a single iCloud family account if not earlier via a software update.

 

[cmaier]

They get their own HomePods? I would assume HP v2 would support all family members on a single iCloud family account if not earlier via a software update.

And that's my point. The device isn't finished. No stereo, no multi-room, no multi-user... Why is Apple in such a rush to release it when the software isn't ready, and, hours before it goes on sale, still not explaining in any detail how it is supposed to all work?

 

[The Game 161]

And that's my point. The device isn't finished. No stereo, no multi-room, no multi-user... Why is Apple in such a rush to release it when the software isn't ready, and, hours before it goes on sale, still not explaining in any detail how it is supposed to all work?

Because people would be kicking off even more seeing as it was suppose to be out in December.

Most of what’s not hear yet only matters if you plan to buy two HomePods

 

[cmaier]

Because people would be kicking off even more seeing as it was suppose to be out in December.

Most of what’s not hear yet only matters if you plan to buy two HomePods

It seems like the unknowns also matter if you plan to buy one homepod and your home has more than one iCloud accountholder, too.

 

[Gaelic83]

Tell me why we need another voice assisted speaker again?

To play music at a very great sound.

 

[cmaier]

To play music at a very great sound.

numerous great-sounding speakers already exist

 

[deanthedev]

numerous great-sounding speakers already exist

None that auto adjust to your room.

 

[Wags]

I did a chat session with Apple on this and they said it uses Bluetooth to communicate with your iPhone ... so when within Bluetooth range it basically does anything the phone can do, include playing music you synced with iTunes (inc iTunes Match), sending and receiving text messages, updating your calendar, etc... when the phone is out of Bluetooth range like you’ve left home then all it can do is play Apple Music via Wi-Fi. I was hoping it would at least be a smart as an Apple TV which let me stream my iTunes match music even without needing my phone to be nearby.

What about family sharing and if everyone home. How interact.

 

[cmaier]

None that auto adjust to your room.

Actually some do. And at $700 for a pair, you can get some pretty nice speakers (none that auto-adjust that I know of at that price, though). That said, auto-adjusting is not all that valuable to most people since people don’t tend to relocate the speakers daily or relocate their walls or furniture daily. When I set up my home theater I adjusted everything once (automatically! My speakers came with a mic which you place in the listening position, then the speakers play a series of tones in order to adjust everything). I haven’t adjusted since.

If the value proposition of HomePod is “you can carry it around from room to room” or something then I would expect it to have a handle and be battery operated, but that doesn’t seem to be what apple is selling it for.
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I did a chat session with Apple on this and they said it uses Bluetooth to communicate with your iPhone ... so when within Bluetooth range it basically does anything the phone can do, include playing music you synced with iTunes (inc iTunes Match), sending and receiving text messages, updating your calendar, etc... when the phone is out of Bluetooth range like you’ve left home then all it can do is play Apple Music via Wi-Fi. I was hoping it would at least be a smart as an Apple TV which let me stream my iTunes match music even without needing my phone to be nearby.

And when three people in your house have iPhones? It only works with one, right?

 

[ani4ani]

If sound quality doesn't matter to you, you don't. To me HomePod's voice features are barely relevant - sound quality is all I care about.

Then stop waiting for HomePod and buy anyone of dozens of really good quality speakers for numbers like this from companies who actually do nothing but design speakers.

 

[cmaier]

It just seems to me that as currently marketed and based on current software, the market for this is people who like better sound, but not TOO much better (otherwise they’d demand at least stereo), who don’t also want speakers for home theater applications (or they’d demand 5.1 at least), who also own iPhones but not TOO many iPhones (since only one person can share iCloud features with the device), who like music but don’t like music too much (since it won’t play music stored on a mac via home sharing), or who use Siri but keep their iphone too far away (but still have an iphone in the house) and who don’t already own apple watches (or they’d always have Siri at hand).

I’m sure it can evolve into something useful, but right now the marketing and software seem pretty muddled.

 

[kruegdude]

Completely agree. One speaker may sound great for person A. But person B could dislike it.

But, you cannot ignore that a small speaker has less reach then a bigger speaker. A smaller speaker will always sooner reach it max physical capabilities then a bigger speaker.

Which makes bigger speakers (on average) better then smaller speakers. And the homepod is a small speaker... See as an example Sonos. The Sonos 1 is a less capable speaker then the Sonos 5. Not saying the 1 is bad. The 5 is just better. The audio quality is just better...

Alas, with my bad hearing and tinnitus, your example of bigger better more expensive speakers make my listening experience no better than a smaller quality output speaker. Maybe louder but I’m not by myself enough to turn up those kinds of volumes. I simply can’t differentiate the quality beyond a certain level.

Also, there’s the matter of enjoying music for the music. I honestly think there a middle ground where I can enjoy music without having a perfect reproduction of the sounds. I enjoy listening to music in my car for instance, or thru headphones or ear buds.