HomePod Mini Begins Shipping to Customers, First Orders Arrive November 16

[famanoran]

I ordered mine on the 9th and was very disappointed to see this —->

 

[The Man]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this thing plug into a USB wall adapter? What would prevent you from bringing along a USB battery pack and plugging it in there?

Apparently doesn't work. Needs Apple 20W USB C adapter. Also doesn't have Bluetooth (although does have peer to peer WiFi).

 

[Bryanbates27]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this thing plug into a USB wall adapter? What would prevent you from bringing along a USB battery pack and plugging it in there?

It plugs via USB C with an external adapter that’s included (that Apple failed to include with the new iPhones - the irony).

 

[phenste]

Mine shipped! So excited to have a HomePod in the kitchen after having one in my room for years. Really interested to see how the mini sound quality compares to the original. Obviously it won’t be the same, but at 1/3 the price, I wouldn’t expect that. Either way, I’m excited 😌

 

[The Game 161]

I ordered mine on the 9th and was very disappointed to see this —->

That makes no sense if you order one now it says 22nd December delivery...very odd

 

[easy4lif]

Mine shipped nov 17 delivery

 

[ErikGrim]

Pre-ordered 2x white the next day, shipping December 8-16 :/

 

[khunsanook]

Ordered two from Japan Apple Store on 6 November. They were delivered in Tokyo this morning (16 Nov) at 10:00 — cranking them as a stereo pair in the home office and they sound saweeet!

 

[The Man]

It plugs via USB C with an external adapter that’s included (that Apple failed to include with the new iPhones - the irony).

Apple wants new iPhone buyers to also buy the HomePod mini, so you'll get the 20W adapter and a speaker as an extra -- because then the speaker for occasional use would only be $79. Then when you are surprised at the sound of the HomePod mini, you'll actually start using it permanently in your home, and you'll have to buy an extra 20W adapter for your phone. It's a conspiracy! Haha! ;-)

 

[Rainshadow]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this thing plug into a USB wall adapter? What would prevent you from bringing along a USB battery pack and plugging it in there?

Just the fact I have to reach behind my couch and unplug it, then carry around a 3-5 foot wire and then replug it in. Repeat to return it. If you look at it that way, my microwave is portable. Well, yes technically it isn’t hardwired into the wall, but do I want to unplug it and plug it back in again? No.

Again, Apple will sell more this way. But I have a Bose soundlink mini 2 and it has a cradle that charges it and it lasts a few days while I can carry it throughout the house or even on short trips.

 

[Vanilla35]

Nope. Internally, Apple does everything it can to keep your collected data not associated to your account. Unless of course you give them the permission to do otherwise.

You realize google says that same exact thing, right?

Someone else already pointed this out in the quote below.

To be fair, it took a whistleblower to disclose that Apple had a whole floor of human contractors listening to failed Siri interactions voice recordings.

That's why Apple now asks you if you want to share diagnostic voice recordings with them because before they gave you no choice.

That was highly shady and broke my trust with Apple. I take what they say with a grain of salt these days.

Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/08/28/tech/apple-siri-apology/index.html

 

[imola.zhp]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't this thing plug into a USB wall adapter? What would prevent you from bringing along a USB battery pack and plugging it in there?

Yes, it uses a USB-C plug. We have several battery banks but none that have USB-C on them. Depending on where you are wanting to use it, however, I think it needs WiFi to work properly. Perhaps you could use your phone as a hot spot?

Just the fact I have to reach behind my couch and unplug it, then carry around a 3-5 foot wire and then replug it in. Repeat to return it. If you look at it that way, my microwave is portable. Well, yes technically it isn’t hardwired into the wall, but do I want to unplug it and plug it back in again? No.

Again, Apple will sell more this way. But I have a Bose soundlink mini 2 and it has a cradle that charges it and it lasts a few days while I can carry it throughout the house or even on short trips.

Ah, yes, of course. Since it doesn't work for your particular use case, it wont work for anyone else either. I don't quite get the microwave comparison, apples to oranges. Music vs heating food...

One of ours will be in the kitchen which will easily be able to unplug and take it wherever if we get a battery bank that has a USB-C plug.

 

[Rainshadow]

Yes, it uses a USB-C plug. We have several battery banks but none that have USB-C on them. Depending on where you are wanting to use it, however, I think it needs WiFi to work properly. Perhaps you could use your phone as a hot spot?



Ah, yes, of course. Since it doesn't work for your particular use case, it wont work for anyone else either. I don't quite get the microwave comparison, apples to oranges. Music vs heating food...

One of ours will be in the kitchen which will easily be able to unplug and take it wherever if we get a battery bank that has a USB-C plug.

If you read my first post - I agree that they probably did right in the way it was designed to make it cheap and to allow the software to work with intercom and HomeKit (tying it to a particular room). However, the fact you can unplug a device does not make it portable. And that is a nice benefit so you don’t have to buy 8 of them (also another reason for the plugged design).

Plus I never said it wasn’t a good fit for me or others. I bought one. So, you can leave your snarkiness at the door.

If one can’t wish a product to be better or serve MORE people, then why is there even a forum to discuss these things. I understand the trade-offs. My goodness. You act like you designed the thing. 😂