HomePod May Support Multiple User Accounts and HomeKit Scenes That Mute Siri

[farewelwilliams]

That's an answer to a question he didn't ask.

He's already got a decent hi-fi system and wants to add the Siri functionality from the HomePod to it, Echo Dot style. Your Apple Watch isn't much good (even if it was somehow connected to your hi-fi) if other family members want to use it while you are away from home.

Sorry, I probably didn't answer it directly. His question was "but what about those of us who don't need Apple's "premium" speaker system?". My answer was that Apple isn't going to make one because for the reasons I gave. And Apple pictures each person in the family having an Apple Watch, so there's still no reason to get a Siri dot.

[doublepost=1516652289][/doublepost]

I have a pair of studio monitors at home that sound far better than the Apple HomePod. I don't need to listen to it to know that. Physics doesn't allow a speaker that big to have a proper range. The problem is they don't have a smart assistant like Siri or bluetooth connectivity. I think the point 'farewelwilliams' was making is that a dot allows people to decouple the smart assistant from the speaker giving you the best of both worlds.

I like the idea of a HomePod but for that kind of money you can buy yourself some really nice bookshelf speakers and an Amazon Dot and end up with far superior sound. For those of us in the Apple ecosystem it would be nice to have a more integrated product but I'm not willing to sacrifice sound quality for it.

If you already have a hifi system, then you can grab an airport express and airplay from the Apple Watch?
[doublepost=1516652379][/doublepost]

While I appreciate not everyone will have this, but I guarantee you and Jony Ive that my $5k+ Bowers & Wilkins speakers and Yamaha amp will sound infinitely better than some SoundPod speakers.

I'm not sure how to respond to this. Were you expecting a $350 speaker to sound better than a $5k setup?
[doublepost=1516652555][/doublepost]

I agree, but I also think that the success of small bluetooth speakers indicates that most people don't care about sound quality. Not everyone wants to shell out so much for a speaker and Apple proved this with the failure of the iPod Hifi, which was also $350.

For the bluetooth speaker crowd, who just want a smart speaker that is capable of playing music, a stripped-down "dot" like product would be very compelling.

Regardless, I hope that the combination of Siri and premium sound quality is compelling enough to make this a success.

Yeah, there's definitely a large market for super cheap smart speakers. I don't know anyone personally that doesn't own a at least 1 echo speaker (whether it's the dot or the tall one).

But it's kind of like asking Apple to make a netbook before the iPad came out. From Apple's perspective, they're not really in the business to sell cheap products that aren't very good.
[doublepost=1516652735][/doublepost]

The only problem I have with this is, Siri on the wrist only activates when I turn my wrist and the screen turns on. While this works for a lot of scenarios, times where I'm carrying something (laundry, etc) and can't turn my wrist make a scenario for a Dot-like device perfect. Otherwise I totally agree, I love having Siri on my wrist since it goes everywhere with me.

oh interesting, i didn't know that. no wonder "hey siri" on the Apple Watch wasn't working for me at certain times. good to know!

maybe series 4 will be super power efficient enough have always on siri.

 

[friedmud]

putting on my "jony ive" thinking cap:

if your apple watch is more than capable of doing what an Echo Dot or a "Siri Dot" could do (because of the fact that it's always with you, it has a button to activate, and it has a touchscreen), why would you want to use a smart home speaker to use Siri?

your apple watch however doesn't play music outloud. so that's where Apple figured it can contribute. let a speaker do exactly what it should do and be really good at it: playing audio. making a Siri dot compromises on its number 1 task, so it has no reason to be.

I'm hoping that the Apple TV can be used as an "Echo Dot". It's already hooked up to my home theater system... I just need the Homepod to coordinate sending audio to it so that they are both in sync.

 

[ignatius345]

putting on my "jony ive" thinking cap:

if your apple watch is more than capable of doing what an Echo Dot or a "Siri Dot" could do (because of the fact that it's always with you, it has a button to activate, and it has a touchscreen), why would you want to use a smart home speaker to use Siri?

your apple watch however doesn't play music outloud. so that's where Apple figured it can contribute. let a speaker do exactly what it should do and be really good at it: playing audio. making a Siri dot compromises on its number 1 task, so it has no reason to be.

Sounds about right. I keep an iPad Mini in the kitchen set to AirPlay to a pair of nice bookshelf speakers (which are plugged in to an AirPort Express) -- if I wanted to I could turn on the "hey Siri" thing. So, no real use here for HomePod when it comes out (or for an Apple Watch, for that matter).

Also, all of the is totally moot unless they start seriously picking up the quality of Siri responses to things. 90% of the time I end up just swearing at my phone when I try to use it to add a reminder or something and it misinterprets common words, or picks some obscure super unlikely option instead of what I said.

 

[Uofmtiger]

Sounds about right. I keep an iPad Mini in the kitchen set to AirPlay to a pair of nice bookshelf speakers (which are plugged in to an AirPort Express) -- if I wanted to I could turn on the "hey Siri" thing. So, no real use here for HomePod when it comes out (or for an Apple Watch, for that matter).

Also, all of the is totally moot unless they start seriously picking up the quality of Siri responses to things. 90% of the time I end up just swearing at my phone when I try to use it to add a reminder or something and it misinterprets common words, or picks some obscure super unlikely option instead of what I said.

The reason is that it will have more microphones which makes it easier for it to understand a request when you aren't standing right next to it. It also plays music without always turning on a stereo in a separate room.

I guess I am lucky, Siri works fine for my typical use case.

 

[JTR555]

I hate to disappoint you but without a drastically improved Siri, this device is just going to be an overpriced (yet well designed) standalone speaker.

One of the features with Echo and Echo Dots That sold us was the ability to set it up as a whole home intercom system, something that is cost prohibitive with HomePod.

 

[JRobinsonJr]

Not really. It isn't meant to be a switching receiver. There are tons of speakers sold that don't have multiple inputs for connecting devices directly. This one will at least be able to receive an audio stream from Apple TVs and iOS devices via Airplay, though. That puts it in a better position than a lot of "stand alone" speakers already out on the market.

Very true, and good points. HOWEVER, the reality is that many people DO have multiple inputs that will never support AirPlay. So... other than maintaining multiple systems, how exactly could the HomePod become the primary speaker system?

 

[ersan191]

I'm hoping that the Apple TV can be used as an "Echo Dot". It's already hooked up to my home theater system... I just need the Homepod to coordinate sending audio to it so that they are both in sync.

Of course it can... This is literally the entire point of Airplay 2
[doublepost=1516662077][/doublepost]

Sounds about right. I keep an iPad Mini in the kitchen set to AirPlay to a pair of nice bookshelf speakers (which are plugged in to an AirPort Express) -- if I wanted to I could turn on the "hey Siri" thing. So, no real use here for HomePod when it comes out (or for an Apple Watch, for that matter).

Also, all of the is totally moot unless they start seriously picking up the quality of Siri responses to things. 90% of the time I end up just swearing at my phone when I try to use it to add a reminder or something and it misinterprets common words, or picks some obscure super unlikely option instead of what I said.

You're complaining about Siri not understanding you and then trash talking the one device that is supposed to make Siri understand you better with its significantly improved microphones.

Your phone and your iPad are not designed to pick up your voice and understand you clearly from across the room, that's the whole point of the HomePod, Echo, and Google Home lines.

 

[jeffhayford]

They never disappoint when they are taking so much time to get something right.

Missing /s at the end.

 

[Sevendaymelee]

In all my life I've never been so lazy as to need to call out to a robot slave to do my menial tasks. That isn't going to change with the release of HomePod.

 

[fairuz]

Looks like way too much complexity to bother with, especially with HomeKit involved. I really don't get it. I'd much rather just chill at home and not worry about this stuff. Even Apple TV, a more mature product, takes so many steps to set up properly. Like why do I need to set up Home Sharing in an account just for the remote?
[doublepost=1516668916][/doublepost]

Hopefully they'll wrap an Airport inside it so if you have multiple, it will form a nice mesh network like "Google WiFi"

With regular Airport devices and other wifi APs, I've been fighting this battle for years in a large house and haven't seen it work well. Wifi standards lack proper support for multiple access points, and the hacks commonly employed to get around that don't work well in practice.

 

[ersan191]

Looks like way too much complexity to bother with, especially with HomeKit involved. I really don't get it. I'd much rather just chill at home and not worry about this stuff. Even Apple TV, a more mature product, takes so many steps to set up properly. Like why do I need to set up Home Sharing in an account just for the remote?
[doublepost=1516668916][/doublepost]
With regular Airport devices and other wifi APs, I've been fighting this battle for years in a large house and haven't seen it work well. Wifi standards lack proper support for multiple access points, and the hacks commonly employed to get around that don't work well in practice.

1. You haven’t needed to enable home sharing since the new remote app came out in 2016

2. 802.11s is the WiFi standard for mesh networking and it works perfectly fine. You need to buy hardware which specifically supports mesh networking.

You’ve got some seriously out of date information my dude...

 

[lfhlaw]

In all my life I've never been so lazy as to need to call out to a robot slave to do my menial tasks. That isn't going to change with the release of HomePod.

Yea. I may be older, but I'm not sure how much more efficient a homepod, echo would make me. I just don't see the usage.
When I see the Echo in people's houses I ask them what they do. They ask it for the weather or time they say lol.

 

[Sevendaymelee]

Yea. I may be older, but I'm not sure how much more efficient a homepod, echo would make me. I just don't see the usage.
When I see the Echo in people's houses I ask them what they do. They ask it for the weather or time they say lol.

Isn't it humorous? I wear an analog wrist watch and when people ask me why, in 2018, I do so, I tell them that it's actually still much faster and more efficient than looking at a smartphone. When they doubt me, I challenge them. I tell them to put the phone in their handbag, pocket or wherever they keep it and then see who can more easily check the time. Who do you think wins that battle 10/10 times? lol

 

[Glassed Silver]

Can't wait, I'm sure it's gonna be amazing!
They have to do something special when joining the smart speaker game so late and they know that. They never disappoint when they are taking so much time to get something right.

Yes, I too try to forget iWork and FCP's rewrites, the new Mac Pro, first gen new MacBook, Mobile Me and Apple Maps.

And that's just from the top of my head.

Glassed Silver:ios

 

[otternonsense]

This is the vector art Apple is going for!? Wow. I've seen better graphics on a 2011 Delta Lloyd powerpoint.

 

[beanbaguk]

Sorry, I probably didn't answer it directly. His question was "but what about those of us who don't need Apple's "premium" speaker system?". My answer was that Apple isn't going to make one because for the reasons I gave. And Apple pictures each person in the family having an Apple Watch, so there's still no reason to get a Siri dot.

He didn't say he already owns a decent hi-fi system, unless I'm missing something?
[doublepost=1516652289][/doublepost]

If you already have a hifi system, then you can grab an airport express and airplay from the Apple Watch?
[doublepost=1516652379][/doublepost]

I'm not sure how to respond to this. Were you expecting a $350 speaker to sound better than a $5k setup?
[doublepost=1516652555][/doublepost]

Yeah, there's definitely a large market for super cheap smart speakers. I don't know anyone personally that doesn't own a at least 1 echo speaker (whether it's the dot or the tall one).

But it's kind of like asking Apple to make a netbook before the iPad came out. From Apple's perspective, they're not really in the business to sell cheap products that aren't very good.
[doublepost=1516652735][/doublepost]

oh interesting, i didn't know that. no wonder "hey siri" on the Apple Watch wasn't working for me at certain times. good to know!

maybe series 4 will be super power efficient enough have always on siri.

What I mentioned isn’t complex or hard to understand.

This may help.... “Think Different”

 

[farewelwilliams]

What I mentioned isn’t complex or hard to understand.

This may help.... “Think Different”

I never said it was complex or hard to understand. I just didn't know how to respond. Did you think I would disagree that a $5k setup would sound better than a $350 speaker? That's like saying "My $90k Tesla Model S is so much faster than a $6k tiny smart car, why would I buy a tiny smart car?".

The statement you said was so trivial that I wasn't sure how to respond.

 

[steeevo]

That's an answer to a question he didn't ask.

He's already got a decent hi-fi system and wants to add the Siri functionality from the HomePod to it, Echo Dot style. Your Apple Watch isn't much good (even if it was somehow connected to your hi-fi)

I use my apple watch to start my hifi system, it is an airplay enabled amp with q acoustics 5.1 surround sound and I lift my arm anywhere from my garden to upstairs and ask siri to play music and then from my wrist choose what airplay speaker to play too. Works flawlessly

 

[OllyW]

I use my apple watch to start my hifi system, it is an airplay enabled amp with q acoustics 5.1 surround sound and I lift my arm anywhere from my garden to upstairs and ask siri to play music and then from my wrist choose what airplay speaker to play too. Works flawlessly

How does it work for the rest of your family when you are out the house?

 

[beanbaguk]

I never said it was complex or hard to understand. I just didn't know how to respond. Did you think I would disagree that a $5k setup would sound better than a $350 speaker? That's like saying "My $90k Tesla Model S is so much faster than a $6k tiny smart car, why would I buy a tiny smart car?".

The statement you said was so trivial that I wasn't sure how to respond.

You are completely missing the point. I'll explain it step-by-step for you.

• I like the product.
• I find it frustrating Apple are creating a version with built-in speakers.
• I have suggested I would like Apple to create a version without speakers like the Amazon Echo Dot.
• I suggested this because people like myself don't want to use some mediocre non-stereo bluetooth speaker system when we have already invested 1000's on HiFi audio equipment.
• Finally and in conclusion; I am very well aware my audio system sounds better than the HomePod and I'm not comparing the two. I'm merely suggesting I don't want a speaker version and would like to settle with a small, compact "dot" version.

That was exhausting.

 

[Jsameds]

OK, despite the fact that is was meant to come out of two speakers in the first place.

Irrelevant, because it still sounds better.

My Blu-Rays look better on my 4K screen despite the fact they were meant to be displayed on a 1080p display.

 

[WatchFromAfar]

Irrelevant, because it still sounds better.

My Blu-Rays look better on my 4K screen despite the fact they were meant to be displayed on a 1080p display.

Nonsense, things can never be better than what they were originally conceived to be. Hey when they "upscale" your blu-rays to 8K are you gonna be happy? What about when they "upscale" your blu-rays to 16k still living the dream? Or perhaps you finally got a TV that presents 1080p footage that you can appropriate.

 

[beanbaguk]

Nonsense, things can never be better than what they were originally conceived to be. Hey when they "upscale" your blu-rays to 8K are you gonna be happy? What about when they "upscale" your blu-rays to 16k still living the dream? Or perhaps you finally got a TV that presents 1080p footage that you can appropriate.

https://www.cnet.com/news/can-4k-tvs-make-1080p-look-better/

A little research and knowledge goes a long way. Point is depending on the post image processing, it can improve picture quality, but it's all down to the hardware.

 

[Dave245]

Breaking news from Mark Gurman: Pre-orders this Friday according to Gurman

 

[justinthesommer]

Anyone know if it supports phone calls and texts?