Since this has a USB C cord, could one (or two) of these serve as a direct computer speaker for my MacBook Pro?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
HomePod Mini Cable is Non-Detachable, Ends With USB-C Connector for Use With Included 20W Power Adapter
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
What better way to get a customer to buy a whole new unit when you can make the simplest component prone to fail.
Google Mini has managed with a separate cable without being cost prohibitive. Let's not pretend it's about cost to the consumer here.
Do you have a confidential source that was involved in the design and/or economics of this device, or are you just talking ****?
Comparing two different devices from two different companies with different designs and different cost margins... where could the mathematical error possibly happen?
Why are you people pretending the cable is going to break? It’s supposed to be placed in a static location like any other Appliance.
And google mini is a different product. If they want to add a separate cable, and reduce reliability, that's their business. And probably what you should purchase.
Again... it's about Apple getting below the $100 threshold to lure loads of customers, while keeping their costs down to maintain their expected margins. That's how business works.
[automerge]1603064357[/automerge]
It so funny people latching on to that!
But what if an alien comes down and cuts the cable? Thanks a lot Tim!!!!
I would normally suggest purchasing AppleCare, but I believe there's a specific disclaimer for alien mischief.
USB-C can provide both power and audio, hence my question. Audio via Bluetooth or Airplay would almost certainly not work for computer audio due to latency.
I think your question is well understood. The issue is that, as far as Apple has led us to believe, the HomePod Mini isn't going to be programmed/built to accept audio via its cable. It's probably going to be looking for power there and nothing else. If you could just plug this into a laptop and rock out, with no wireless protocol required - that would indeed be an interesting - but unlikely - easter egg.
As far as latency, that sounds like a specific need. I watch content on my iPhone and MBP and listen to it via Bluetooth all the time with no perceived latency. If you're wanting to use the HomePod Mini as a wireless speaker while you run music recording/production software, that is a whole other thing.
Ah yes....I hear you....so true....I am also in trouble....I have SEVEN...they just can’t damn resist...think cables are mice tales.
As has been said and shown, the Homepod cable is detachable. We’ll have to wait and see about the Mini.
Why wouldn’t Apple just say so? No idea. I suppose if they said the power cable plugs into the Homepod then the EU would fine them another billion for not using an IEC connector...
Why wouldn’t Apple just say so? No idea. I suppose if they said the power cable plugs into the Homepod then the EU would fine them another billion for not using an IEC connector...
Seems like a lost opportunity in Apple for standardization to not have this simply use a detachable USB-C cable.
I guess they could streamline their supply chain, with ubc-c connectors which they anyway use alreayd on ipad and macs (possibly future phones) and similarily to the cables themselves. I'd expect a couple of cents to be saved in that area, while also in the future cables and charges can be omited (as people have these already) for an extra dime to be saved.
I guess they could streamline their supply chain, with ubc-c connectors which they anyway use alreayd on ipad and macs (possibly future phones) and similarily to the cables themselves. I'd expect a couple of cents to be saved in that area, while also in the future cables and charges can be omited (as people have these already) for an extra dime to be saved.
Cables break because we are constantly plugging and unplugging them, day after day, for years.
A device that sits on a shelf, rarely moving and rarely being plugged and unplugged, is not going to have problems with it’s cable.
Insurance is a waste of money on any item you can afford to replace. On average, they make more money from insurance sales than they spend on repairs and replacements. The only time you should purchase insurance is if the consequences of not having insurance will cause serious financial hardship, like health insurance or car insurance. Insurance on TVs, cell phones, speakers, etc is all a win for Apple and a loss for the average consumer.
They missed the mark! The cable should not have be hard wired. People want different lengths of cabe as the AC outlet is not aways nearby. I would have at least put a USB-C connection on the mini.
If I was Apple I would have embraced the Power over Ethernet standard (PoE) which would allow someone to use any length of cable and if the home is wired with a PoE then I could use any network wall plate or use a simple power brick.
At least they used a USB plug for the power brick! Now I'll need to see who makes a USB-C to Ethernet adapter so I can use my PoE services in my home.
If I was Apple I would have embraced the Power over Ethernet standard (PoE) which would allow someone to use any length of cable and if the home is wired with a PoE then I could use any network wall plate or use a simple power brick.
At least they used a USB plug for the power brick! Now I'll need to see who makes a USB-C to Ethernet adapter so I can use my PoE services in my home.
A person buying a new iPhone is highly likely to have had a phone before and can use that charger for that new phone. When buying a HomePod the user not only needs an additional dedicated charger, but needs one that is 20w presumably to power it, where is with iPhones, you can use older lower watts and just want charge as fast. So HomePods certainly need the power block included, where is with phones more people than not, do not need one and it will get wasted. And with the phone, Apple is charging your for that charger one way or another, so I personally would like to pay less for an iphone than I would otherwise rather than having to pay for charger I already have.
We do not. Notably, if we will get a new HomePod with the U1 Proximity chip. Unfortunately I think we won't any time soon. I think they probably arent selling enough at the price point, and are going to focus on the mini's instead, and not discontinue the large ones, but kind of let them sit other than software updates. And then if the mini's became a big success they may end up focusing on the large ones again after they get customers hooked. But while being a native apple ecosphere product has it's benefits and great sound quality, it comes doing to the intelligence, and Siri is still lacking in its inability to do the basics, and so often you ask it to do something and you never know if it will do it right away, or if it will say its thinking and eventually say it cant do it at this time, and thus you could have just done it the manual way much faster. So while Apple I'm sure it constantly improving siri, for people to give it a real second chance, there will have to be an annoucement of some major improvement to it, and that has yet to come. In the meantime Google's is far more robust with providing advanced info, and Amazon is far better at doing the basics better. Improvements to AI and neural engines will presumably help, but where Amazon and Google care less about privacy they seem to be able to provide more helpful products in that respect than Apple who has to be restrained by putting privacy first.
Reliable at what, pulling the unit off the shelf when the cable is tugged? Making you spend more money to replace the whole unit when the cable is damaged by kids/dogs/cats? The benefits far outweigh the costs to supplying it with a detachable cable.
Let's pretend it's not an issue. What about wanting a longer or shorter cord for tidiness?
