I think so: it's a little stiffer than pure plastic, but it'll bend over to the width of a thumb.
Edit: This what you mean?
Last edited:
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HomePod HomePod first impressions
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I think so: it's a little stiffer than pure plastic, but it'll bend over to the width of a thumb.
Edit: This what you mean?
ErikGrim
macrumors 604
Here’s a 100 song playlist (minus whatever Apple couldn’t match) specifically curated to show off your HomePod. It’s heavily weighted towards showing off a wide soundstage and I’ve selected the order for musical flow. And yes, it contains perennial reference track Hotel California (Live). https://itunes.apple.com/au/playlist/homepod/pl.u-m22Jt4LVX3
Some of my first impressions:
Sound is good, music easily fills my bedroom.
Very responsive Siri, another ratchet up from Apple Watch gen 3 Siri (which itself was quite an improvement).
Hearing me talk over playing music, when I myself can barely hear what I'm saying, is HomePod's best party trick.
Instructing it to "hey siri pause" or "hey siri stop" is close to lag free.
Takes a little bit getting used to interacting with Apple Music purely through voice, as I'm normally used to seeing an interface.
Ability to home in on exactly the right track in the 40 million song catalogue is quite impressive. Don't think I've had a misplay in the 20 or so I've tried so far.
Siri seems to have been tweaked for "hey siri what's playing?" queries -- quite informative (though the phonetic pronunciation of some things is amusing)
Podcasts:
Podcast support, even without actually using Apple Podcasts on an iPhone, seems quite good. For example, I'm an Overcast user and have ZERO podcasts loaded in the purple Apple app, but this works:
"hey siri play the latest episode of accidental tech podcast"
-> "Okay. Here's the newest episode of Accidental Tech Podcast - Two Hundred Sixty - The TOO-DOY-IST Problem."
(Really can't knock Siri's pronunciation on that one!)
Still testing how accurate "hey siri skip back 30 seconds" is.
Failed the test of "hey siri skip the next Casper mattress ad, they don't sell them here" 😉
News localisation:
By default, in response to "hey siri what's the news?" ABC News (that's Australian Broadcasting Corporation, our public broadcaster) is played. Siri also gives the choice of the Seven Network (commercial) and SBS (public/commercial hybrid, quite well respected).
General knowledge:
Wikipedia seems the default source for "who is?" type queries. For example, "hey siri who is the queen of england?" will give what sounds like the first sentence from Wikipedia. Siri then asks, "That was from Wikipedia. Do you want me to keep reading?"
At this point, you can just say, "yes." It's quite natural, and equally as good as Alexa for such queries.
Home automation:
Just as fast as Alexa at all the basics such as turning on a Philips Hue light.
Very fast response to "hey siri are the bedroom lights on?"
Also from "hey siri what is the temperature in the bedroom?" (querying a Philips Hue Motion Sensor, which many people don't realise has a thermometer built in)
Going to try more when it's dark (most of my HomeKit devices are lights at this stage, partly because Australia is SO INCREDIBLY BADLY SERVED BY HOMEKIT SUPPORT, can't even buy a basic HomeKit-enabled power switch here).
Other:
The AppleID team don’t appear to be aware a product called “HomePod” has launched. Just got an email starting:
“Your Apple ID was used to sign in to iCloud on .”
Sound is good, music easily fills my bedroom.
Very responsive Siri, another ratchet up from Apple Watch gen 3 Siri (which itself was quite an improvement).
Hearing me talk over playing music, when I myself can barely hear what I'm saying, is HomePod's best party trick.
Instructing it to "hey siri pause" or "hey siri stop" is close to lag free.
Takes a little bit getting used to interacting with Apple Music purely through voice, as I'm normally used to seeing an interface.
Ability to home in on exactly the right track in the 40 million song catalogue is quite impressive. Don't think I've had a misplay in the 20 or so I've tried so far.
Siri seems to have been tweaked for "hey siri what's playing?" queries -- quite informative (though the phonetic pronunciation of some things is amusing)
Podcasts:
Podcast support, even without actually using Apple Podcasts on an iPhone, seems quite good. For example, I'm an Overcast user and have ZERO podcasts loaded in the purple Apple app, but this works:
"hey siri play the latest episode of accidental tech podcast"
-> "Okay. Here's the newest episode of Accidental Tech Podcast - Two Hundred Sixty - The TOO-DOY-IST Problem."
(Really can't knock Siri's pronunciation on that one!)
Still testing how accurate "hey siri skip back 30 seconds" is.
Failed the test of "hey siri skip the next Casper mattress ad, they don't sell them here" 😉
News localisation:
By default, in response to "hey siri what's the news?" ABC News (that's Australian Broadcasting Corporation, our public broadcaster) is played. Siri also gives the choice of the Seven Network (commercial) and SBS (public/commercial hybrid, quite well respected).
General knowledge:
Wikipedia seems the default source for "who is?" type queries. For example, "hey siri who is the queen of england?" will give what sounds like the first sentence from Wikipedia. Siri then asks, "That was from Wikipedia. Do you want me to keep reading?"
At this point, you can just say, "yes." It's quite natural, and equally as good as Alexa for such queries.
Home automation:
Just as fast as Alexa at all the basics such as turning on a Philips Hue light.
Very fast response to "hey siri are the bedroom lights on?"
Also from "hey siri what is the temperature in the bedroom?" (querying a Philips Hue Motion Sensor, which many people don't realise has a thermometer built in)
Going to try more when it's dark (most of my HomeKit devices are lights at this stage, partly because Australia is SO INCREDIBLY BADLY SERVED BY HOMEKIT SUPPORT, can't even buy a basic HomeKit-enabled power switch here).
Other:
The AppleID team don’t appear to be aware a product called “HomePod” has launched. Just got an email starting:
“Your Apple ID was used to sign in to iCloud on .”
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ErikGrim
macrumors 604
This is the greatest post in MR history.
[doublepost=1518153587][/doublepost]
You can though. Belkin single plug. $99 dollarydoos. I got two.
Interesting, do you have a link?
You don’t mean the Belkin WeMo Switch do you (which was recently made HomeKit aware with the new Bridge).
Then, care for a game of knifey-spooney?!
ErikGrim
macrumors 604
Just noticed you said switch. I read that as plug. https://www.apple.com/au/shop/produ...c9bca16235ea6afe7d9485844c291e78072179ffc2155
Guess that’s a bootable offense.
Good to hear that the microphone setup in the HomePod seems to pick your voice up easily. I was worrying that I have to yell to use Siri with it.
Now fingers crossed that they add multi-lingual query support, at the very least for music playback, in non-english languages. Otherwise the HomePod will be useless for me if it only plays german song titles via Siri.
Now fingers crossed that they add multi-lingual query support, at the very least for music playback, in non-english languages. Otherwise the HomePod will be useless for me if it only plays german song titles via Siri.
(Bart has been forgiven, but we might need to have a word about Bender taking down our giant kangaroo, and of course Australia Man is still a slave.)
Ah, my hopes are dashed again. I already have that one, the Eve Energy.
It’s okay, and sort of works as advertised, but the trouble with all the Elgato Eve products is they use Bluetooth, which seems much slower to respond than WiFi.
(The Eve Motion Sensor is particularly bad: as a lot of the Apple Store reviews hint, you can enter a room, get what you want, and leave again before the sensor even turns on.)
The WeMo Switch uses WiFi and is virtually instant, but of course wasn’t HomeKit compatible until January 2018 when they announced the Bridge at CES.
I rushed to buy it from Amazon and it’s good, but now the problem is that Belkin WeMo is virtually extinct in Australia. You simply can’t buy them from the shops and the few on eBay are going for more than RRP for used ones.
(Kirk yelling, camera zooms out to space) HOMEKIT!!!!!!
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It's good, thank you for sharing it. I added it to my Apple Music playlists and summoning it via,
"hey siri play erikgrim's playlist" works every time. She even says your name right.
"hey siri skip to next track" let me page thru' your selection and check out the range, which is quite pleasing and, as you claim, shows off a wide soundstage.
ErikGrim said:
Streaming royalties on that, and Bohemian Rhapsody, over the next few days, must be through the roof!
So, about 50 cents for the artists then. (Not that they're around to care.)
Is anybody having issues sending messages or accessing notes and reminders using HomePod? I selected yes to “personal requests” on set up and even confirmed it is on in the Home app. I have authentication set to “never”. However every time I ask to send a message it tells me authentication is required and nothing happens.
Off out to local Apple Store to collect in a few minutes - it'll feel like the longest drive back in the car!!
Do you also have:
Settings > Privacy > Location Services > Share My Location
turned ON on the iOS device used to set up the HomePod? I'm not sure what the default is, but mine was off and Siri grumbled about it.
Yes this is set to on and set to “this device” as per their troubleshooting guide. I also have them on same wifi network and same Apple ID. I have tried factory reset also.
I wonder if it’s the ios 9.3 beta I’m currently testing??
bartelby
macrumors Core
Siri on my phone has serious issues when I ask for Einsturzende Neubauten (amazon echo has no such trouble). Until they sort language issues the HomePod is a no go for me.
johnyslats
macrumors 68020
BillGates1969
macrumors 68020
LOL that just made me spit out my coffee. Quality!
[doublepost=1518171858][/doublepost]
I use a Raspberry Pi running 24-7 and a program called HomeBridge.
Now nearly everything now is HomeKit enabled - Nest, Belkin, TPLink, Netatmo, Sonoff plugs etc. Really recommend - not too difficult to set up and 'just works' once done. Feel free to PM me for further details if you want.
firewire9000
macrumors 6502a
Is Chromecast Audio + Spotify the same as HomePod + Apple Music? I’m referring to the way you control the music. With the Chromecast I open Spotify in my iPhone, select the source and play music. I can navigate through the library in my iPhone to change the song or skip it in the lockscreen. Is with HomePod the same? Open the Music app, navigate through the library and play a song? I’ve already seen that you can skip a song in the lockscreen.
ErikGrim
macrumors 604
Wow. I am so pleased that works and that you liked the list. I’ve been using it and man do those toms kick in hotel california. It’s insane what this thing can put out.
Has anyone found functionality to integrate a playlist into a Home.app scene? E.g. when using Good Morning, turn on my lights, increase the heating and play Favourites mix playlist
First impressions are much like many already posted:
- solid build
- nice size
- great braided power cord
- simple setup
- sounds good
- Siri very responsive and other iOS devices nearby not triggered/defer to HP
- Streams easily via AirPlay from phone or Mac, though volume controls and levels seem a little inconsistent (device + HP or HP only)
Need much more time with it to judge the sound quality. I listen to a wide variety of music, including lots of bass-heavy dance music. First slow, but bassy track I played (albeit a youtube track of questionable quality, as not on Apple Music) was Solange 'Losing You' Cyril Hahn Remix. This has a solid bassline. HP delivers on reproducing it, but not as tight as it can be on a bigger speaker, and sounds tuned to deliver slightly overdone bass for its size (Beats influence?). Speaker is also in a compromised location so there is some clear sweet-spotting for that bass, but no speaker would avoid that. Main thing is it can get the gist of that bassline (and get it well) and not sound like its falling apart (dynamically and literally) as with most other wireless speakers.
Listening to some drum and bass - typically lots of bass and high frequency - the range is very impressive. Never heard anything like it for the size, and have heard a few high end 'proper' HiFi speakers back in the day that wouldn't go near the level of bass response. It's definitely tuned for the lower end, with a very slight hint the processing is writing cheques that the 4" woofer and enclosure can't quite cash. But still sounds good. There are always tracks that will show up anything that isn't a studio monitor or nightclub bass-bin!
- solid build
- nice size
- great braided power cord
- simple setup
- sounds good
- Siri very responsive and other iOS devices nearby not triggered/defer to HP
- Streams easily via AirPlay from phone or Mac, though volume controls and levels seem a little inconsistent (device + HP or HP only)
Need much more time with it to judge the sound quality. I listen to a wide variety of music, including lots of bass-heavy dance music. First slow, but bassy track I played (albeit a youtube track of questionable quality, as not on Apple Music) was Solange 'Losing You' Cyril Hahn Remix. This has a solid bassline. HP delivers on reproducing it, but not as tight as it can be on a bigger speaker, and sounds tuned to deliver slightly overdone bass for its size (Beats influence?). Speaker is also in a compromised location so there is some clear sweet-spotting for that bass, but no speaker would avoid that. Main thing is it can get the gist of that bassline (and get it well) and not sound like its falling apart (dynamically and literally) as with most other wireless speakers.
Listening to some drum and bass - typically lots of bass and high frequency - the range is very impressive. Never heard anything like it for the size, and have heard a few high end 'proper' HiFi speakers back in the day that wouldn't go near the level of bass response. It's definitely tuned for the lower end, with a very slight hint the processing is writing cheques that the 4" woofer and enclosure can't quite cash. But still sounds good. There are always tracks that will show up anything that isn't a studio monitor or nightclub bass-bin!