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HomePod is Now Widely Available at Apple Stores
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Yeah, by race track I was referring to NASCAR. NASCAR is 100% manual and Formula 1 which is technically "semi-auto" but still requires drivers to shift -- similar to a BMW M's dual-clutch or Porsche PDK.
Since it is a February launch, it won’t be a big seller at first. My guess is that it will be similar to the rollout of the Watch (except with much better availability) in that Apple will use the coming months to gauge use patterns, sales, etc. and then “relaunch” for the 2018 holiday season in a bigger way.
You can't have it both ways. Either the HomePod is a remarkable piece of tech that can automatically configure itself based on the room it's in and where it is in the room its in and then powerfully fill that room with crystal clear audio OR it's just a regular mid-level speaker that vastly depends on the room, what's in the room, and where the speaker is in the room but with slick marketing and web page.
Apple is clearly suggesting the HomePod's placement versatility is what it says it is by having customer's review them in the wide-open store rather than creating a cordoned off listening area, a feat you'd never see in any "old school" audio store. So again, if the HomePod's sound good in the store under those conditions then it should sound great in a private home. If it's one the weak side, well Apple thought too much of it's new speaker.
This is not a criticism of the HomePod, just the reality of how Apple is selling them. It is the one that doesn't think they require a private listening area to be presented in their best light.
You're right. I already know I don't need one so I am skipping HomePod for now.
Just got home with mine a little bit ago. Holy cow, this thing sounds freakin good. There are so many songs I cant wait to listen to on it!
Yea, that's why I don't place much reliability in those journalists Apple choses for a private, embargoed showing of the soon-to-ship units. They know quite well if they publish a critical (or even lukewarm) review, they'll be blacklisted from further exclusives and/or keynote invites.
I got mine around noon today and my experience this far has been very similar to the review you linked to. No way in H is this speaker better than $1K speakers I have. But it is very handy and certainly sufficient for anything short of critical listening.
I think The HomePod will not nearly be as a big launch as the Apple Watch was, because the Apple Watch was heavily touted during a September Keynote, lots of marketing went into the Apple Watch and how it could be beneficial to one's lifestyle, not to mention, an accessory directly related to the iPhone. The HomePod was very discreet in releasing details all the way up to the last minute, which may or may not have benefited it.
However, the Apple Watch being a niche category as it is, has grown in popularity since it's launch almost 3 years ago. I see the HomePod being similar in that fashion, where It will continue to grow in the smart speaker era, but the price point being somewhat more expensive.
What makes you say this?
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Or they did a good job in production estimates.
I had to bite on this, because of those early reviews. And I would say that particular review is pretty accurate, but so are the others. If you are comparing a HomePod to Sonos or similar sets of smart speakers, the HomePod is very strong. I tried Sonos, didn't like how empty their speakers sounded, and got my own small speakers hooked up to an AirPort express and was happier, and this thing still pulls ahead. For a nightstand or the like, this is probably one of the best wireless speaker options out there in terms of audio quality, which the linked review points out.
But will it keep up with my nice 5 1/4" active speakers that I use at the computer? Nope, nope, nope-ity, nope. But those were 500$/pair, and there's plenty in the 300-400$ range that would also give the HomePod a hard time.
I hope not, this is really as about as good as the sound from something like this is going to get. Going smaller will not end well.
EDIT: With the time I've had with it so far, I do like it for what it is: A good speaker that doesn't sound so much worse than my critical listening setups that I'd want to chuck it immediately. That said, I think I need to do some more A/B listening, as it is a little boomy compared to the monitors I listen to. If you like Beats headphones it is fine, but I tend to appreciate detail over accurate bass if I can't have both. So either I'm hearing "corrected" bass that my other small speakers can't reproduce (even the 5 1/4"), or it's over-boosting the bass. Not sure which yet.
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I would prefer to try and tackle Siri honesty, with the tap's you could otherwise do to shift back in a song.
"unnamed" sources doesn't spark my attention. Either it's secret, or few other websites mentioning this.. I'll go with the later.
"unnamed" sources doesn't spark my attention. Either it's secret, or few other websites mentioning this.. I'll go with the later.
While I certainly agree in regards to the unknown source; given the smaller options offered by others in the space, Apple's arm might be twisted here. Either way, I'll probably get the HomePod this weekend.
It's not that cut and dried.
HomePod can dynamically equalize to its environment, mitigate/remove echo, etc. It cannot, though, remove the dozens of people all talking at once creating an extremely noisy environment typically found in Apple Stores, making a very poor listening environment.
For example...
This morning I picked up my HomePod at the nearby Apple Store. There were a few devices on tables playing music. The background noise from the dozens of people made it impossible to evaluate audio quality. I tried.
Right now as I type this I'm listening to some tracks by Prince and Dubdiver. With only 20 minutes of listening, so far, it sounds great! It will take more time to better evaluate.
My family room where it's setup is not the best environment. It's 15' wide by 19' long. With a ceiling that starts at 14' high and runs up to 24' along the length.
For me, the HomePod seems to be a gorgeous, expensive paperweight with a cool startup sound.
It refuses to connect to my WiFi network (Luma mesh WiFi using WPA2-PSK security) saying “WiFi network incompatibke.” Everything else in the world connects to my network just fine, including my iPhone and iPad.
So far it’s a giant fail and neither Apple nor Luma has been able to help. I guess it’s going back and I’ll spend my $350 elsewhere. Color me annoyed and disappointed.
It refuses to connect to my WiFi network (Luma mesh WiFi using WPA2-PSK security) saying “WiFi network incompatibke.” Everything else in the world connects to my network just fine, including my iPhone and iPad.
So far it’s a giant fail and neither Apple nor Luma has been able to help. I guess it’s going back and I’ll spend my $350 elsewhere. Color me annoyed and disappointed.
Sorry to hear that. My experience was different.
Mine automatically set itself up in about a minute or so.
I believe I was the first person to walk up and purchase one at Bay Street in Emeryville,CA. When I first turned it on I was floored by that deep bass sound that seemed to reverberate throughout my entire body. Still much more music to listen to but I will definitely be buying another one once the updates are released.
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I had no problems walking in and buying mine.
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I had no problems walking in and buying mine.
Some fancy technology that's supposed to make your very expensive little mono speaker sound better in all rooms and room sizes. Audiophiles use real three-way stereo cabinet speakers with 12" woofers that fill the room with sound and do not need heavy processing of the audio signal.
But that's silicon valley - have to disrupt everything.
Yeah... Next thing you know they'll make telephones that don't need to plug into a wall jack with a cable.
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"It’s meant to be a speaker for those who don’t care that much about sound, or a standalone device for those who do care about audio quality, but want something small and unobtrusive for a specific room."
It's funny how all the HomePod cheerleaders suggested it was kind of the "superman" of small speakers a few weeks ago and now somehow the Apple sales table must be kryptonite. I mean you not only say but BOLD your faulty rationale:
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But isn't this very similar to say, a cocktail party with 30- 50 people chatting about, not really listening to the music, but still the music is setting the mood? I mean, sure the room probably isn't as big as an Apple showroom. And fewer people. But really, proportionally per sq ft., it's probably the same. So basically you are saying the HomePod sounds great if you are home alone or only with a small group playing Pictionary? Again, you can't have it both ways. Either HomePods beam forming is really something special or it's hocus pocus. Pick one and stick with that story.
Look, apparently Apple does think it's "cut and dried" because it put its new high profile speaker in possiblly the worst location to audition a speaker. That's ballsy. Now maybe you could make an excuse that Apple doesn't have the kind of money to carve out a proper listening area but whatever excuse you want to present, Apple put the HomePod where it put the HomePod because that's where it thought it would get positive impressions.