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Then you’ve been very lucky. Heck, I have a ziploc bag full right here waiting to go back to the apple store once they reopen here. They wear out at the connector ends, and the plastic sheath comes off, sometimes causing shorts. It always happened to magsafe connectors, and it happens now with their lightning and usb-c cables.

in fact, that’s why the rumors about them offering new cables with a weaved covering are so interesting.
LMAO, luck? After 25 years of using Apple's products and not a single broken cable. That's not called luck. Others just frivolously trash their products. Tried to save some money and bought (what looked to be the best quality) a cable from Monoprice. That crap broke in less than 60 days.
 
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While not detailed in the tech specs, MacRumors can confirm that Apple's new HomePod mini features a non-detachable power cable that ends with a USB-C connector for use with the 20W power adapter included in the box.

homepod-mini-power-cable.jpg

With the switch to USB-C, the HomePod mini could potentially be powered by a wider range of devices and peripherals, ranging from MacBooks to USB-C battery packs with enough wattage, but this will ultimately depend on how much power the HomePod mini draws.

The standard HomePod also has a non-detachable power cable, but it terminates with a plug for direct connection to a wall outlet.

HomePod-power-cable-plug.jpg

The standard HomePod's power cable ends with a plug (via iFixit)

It's worth noting that soon after the original HomePod launched, it was discovered that the power cable can technically be removed if enough force is applied, so time will tell if this is possible with the HomePod mini too. In an internal document obtained by MacRumors in 2018, Apple warned that the HomePod's power cable should not be removed, noting that this could cause damage to the cable or internal components.

Introduced at Apple's event earlier this week, the HomePod mini has a more compact, spherical design, standing just 3.3 inches tall. However, despite being much smaller, Apple says the HomePod mini still delivers "amazing sound" using "computational audio," a feature that is powered by the same S5 chip as in the Apple Watch Series 5.

HomePod mini will be available in white and space gray for $99, with pre-orders set to begin Friday, November 6 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the United Kingdom.

Article Link: HomePod Mini Cable is Non-Detachable, Ends With USB-C Connector for Use With Included 20W Power Adapter
This might be acceptable if the HomePod had a rechargable battery onboard. Apple would have mentioned it if it was the case. The fact that USB-C battery rechargers are affordable makes this a portable-want-be.
 
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I'm not the guy you're replying to but after over 25 years of using Apple products exclusively I had NEVER ONCE had an Apple cable break. Other 3rd party cables, YES, but Apple cables, never.

I have had a couple of older Apple laptop power adapter cables fail in the past, but it was always within an inch or two of the connector due to tons of handling and skin oils disintegrating the jacket. If there were no connector to handle, there would be no issue. There was never an issue at the hardwired power adapter end.

I have a 2017 MBP with an Apple USB-C - USB-C power cable and one end is getting flaky at the laptop connector end with intermittent connection. Compared to USB-A and Lightning connectors, USB-C is not as mechanically robust. Lightening is far superior, in many ways. Other than data rates, of course.

Obviously this would be stupid, but if the power cable were hard-wired into my MBP with decent strain-relief there would be no issue.

That's another reason why I'm Ok with HomePod Mini having a hardwired cable.
 
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Then you’ve been very lucky. Heck, I have a ziploc bag full right here waiting to go back to the apple store once they reopen here. They wear out at the connector ends, and the plastic sheath comes off, sometimes causing shorts. It always happened to magsafe connectors, and it happens now with their lightning and usb-c cables.

in fact, that’s why the rumors about them offering new cables with a weaved covering are so interesting.
yep, interestingly enough my old 30pin cable that came with my video iPod, so ~ 15 years old, still works, but ever since cables from Apple don't last very long
 
Then you’ve been very lucky. Heck, I have a ziploc bag full right here waiting to go back to the apple store once they reopen here. They wear out at the connector ends, and the plastic sheath comes off, sometimes causing shorts. It always happened to magsafe connectors, and it happens now with their lightning and usb-c cables.
I will give you that about Magsafe. It was pure junk, which is why Apple stopped producing them. While mine never got damaged there are tons of them that frayed and burned at the connector. I find comical how people look the other way about the issues with Magsafe and pretend that Apple purposely took the feature away, when the reality is the technology was crap.
 
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Ive read that wrapping cord with tin foil stops animals from chewing
Maybe so, but I’ve never seen tin foil for sale in any store. That stuff is hard to find! All of the foils I see are made of a different metal. 😉
 
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They have been pushing their environmental efforts for more than a decade now, and you still don’t believe they didn’t do it for the environment?

like did you not watch the October keynote, the lady was standing on a rooftop composed of mainly solar panels. And recently Apple has been bragging about switching to recycled metal and more. That’s just a couple things, they have done a lot of things, especially recently that was an effort to be environmental friendly. Take off the conspiracy theory tin foil, it was obviously both.
I do believe they care for the environment. Just don’t believe them this time because it doesn’t make sense.
 
Pretty sure Apple meant you had USB A chargers to use with USB A cables you already accumulated. And the USB C cable is to transition out of that
Also iPhones often replace other iPhones, so you don’t need an additional charger When you upgrade. Not being able to charge your phone whilst the HomePod is plugged in, however could be a problem.
 
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I do believe they care for the environment. Just don’t believe them this time because it doesn’t make sense.


Yeah, it’s pretty silly. USB C to Lightning?! Come on Apple, should’ve gave us USB C adapters and cables at least 3 years before the shift.
 
I hope you realize the contradiction in your own post. There's no way Apple will make any profits if customers buy 3rd party chargers.
If everybody bought third party then yes, they won’t make a profit (still will save some money not providing one, though, which I suspect is the main reason).

But that’s not what’s going to happen: some people will buy from apple, where they’ll make a profit, some from third parties, leaving apple with no gain from that sales, and some people will indeed buy none because have a way of charging the phone already.
 
Let me get this straight, Apple includes a charger with this but not with the expensive iphones. Hmm, I thought Apple was trying to save the environment by not shipping wall chargers since we all have so many of them?
This doesn’t have battery, unlike iPhone. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
I love the excuses of why it should be detachable, the chances of breaking the cord are virtually nil, you'd have to go out of your way to even attempt it.. The only remotely valid excuse is perhaps being able to route the cord through something to install it.. and there are slew of devices where this is true..

If it were detachable, then we'd hear complaints that its coming unplugged in some fashion....
Exactly. My HomePod cable bought when launched still looks quite new.
 
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So, A+ on the suggestion. But I have doubts if that means you're obstructing the interface. Would work better on principle if the volume and visual feedback were placed elsewhere.
pass through the interface onto the iphone screen :D

i can see how it won't with Android or other devices but oh well...people will just have to resort to voice for the interface then.
 
Honestly? Often. I use a wireless bluetooth speaker to listen to some music/podcasts as background while I cook, read, work, do house chores etc.
Apple addressed that need/want during the event: a HomePod mini for every room (or more). The same selling err advantage point as Amazon for the Echo (Dot) and Google for Nest Mini.
 
Apple is known for high quality cables that last the lifetime of the device.

I second this. In terms of cable, stocks cable from Apple are very durable.
/s

I have three stock Type-C cable from 2016-2018 15 inch MBP, and all of them frayed. One of them are too dangerous to use since it now has exposed bare wire. Same case from black Lightning cable comes from my iMac Pro, the outer housing near the connector now has start to develop cracking, leading to another fraying cable.

I replaced with Nomad braided cable, a bit bulky but it was strong as advertised, even my daughter can play rope jump with longer type-c cable (3 meter) without damaging the cable.
 
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