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HomePod Music Streams Don't Count Toward Apple Music and iTunes Device Limits
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It's a positive. It doesn't change my mind about HomePod. It's not for me. It doesn't check enough boxes to interest me.
I wanted a smart AI speaker that was actually smart and had utility.
Apple has lost it's mojo.
Why do you want to “control” the HomePod from another device?
It doesn’t need controlling. It’s self-sufficient!
I hate talking to things and can never recall the names of my playlists
The HomePod is not cheap but this feature almost makes it a family Apple Music subscriber device even if you are not on the family plan. That is $60 savings per year.
I still have to hear this to consider paying that much for a speaker
I still have to hear this to consider paying that much for a speaker
I wouldn't expect it to count. Before I saw this article I assumed it wouldn't not. The HomePod is a speaker, not a true device that has apps or conventional output ports. Plus if it did count as a device it would make it rather pointless for a family where the 10 device limit is already within reach before adding a few speakers in the house. Frankly, I think the 10 device limit is stupid and an inconvenience to actual paying customers vs those that still "share" from other sources. But it is what it is. No point in adding another level of pain that would only hold back paid Apple Music subscriptions which the content providers get licensing fees and royalties from.
10 was just an example - I think the implication is that you can have as many as you want.
Device limits are arbitrary and ridiculous. Devices don’t count.... or do they? It’s kinda confusing.... but computers do. And if you’re like me with multiple computers you’ve got to pick which machines to work with Apple Music and which don’t get music on them at all. I have 3 machines; 1 iMac and 2 MBP’s that are all used for very different reasons and each of those dualboots into windows for software compatibility purposes. So even though I’ve given Apple more money than others I still can’t use all my devices equally. I don’t expect the opposite.... to be treated better.... equally would be nice!
When I worked at Sony I used to fight against their decisions to limit the amount of PlayStations one could install software onto per account. All the excuses were laughable.
When I worked at Sony I used to fight against their decisions to limit the amount of PlayStations one could install software onto per account. All the excuses were laughable.
I would bet you can do this when it gets updated for AirPlay 2, but it is too early to tell.
I am running Betas on my phone and AppleTV 4s and I can send individual streams to each device from an iPhone. As I said, it is Beta, but I would bet it will carryover to the HomePod eventually.
Serious question, what else do you want it to do that it cant do already? I've only ever come across one command that I used that Alexa was able to answer that Siri could not. I once asked Alexa if a dog could eat squash and somehow she had an answer for that. I know there are a lot of small skills and weird things that you can ask Alexa that Siri can not answer but its not stuff I ever use.
You can't have your data copied to the cloud and used to make Apple more money like you can with the other company's devices.
Generally speaking, the Echo is more open to third party "skills". Many of these skills are cumbersome or hardly worth the time, but some will find one or two that are worthwhile and it will make Alexa work in areas they can't use a HomePod. As I have said before, a Dot is typically around $30. No one says you can't get one to use alongside a HomePod if you need one specific feature.
As someone mentioned, the HomePod came out without access to your Calendar. Personally, I don't want that type of stuff on a device anyone in the home can access, so I will just continue using the iPhone and computer to manage things like that.
It's the reason my wife and I have a family plan in order to allow us to share our iTunes Match music as well as being able to play simultaneously on our respective devices.
Now if only it would allow us to create individualised playlists and music preferences, instead of it all being mixed together, that would be nice. Why the Family Plan does this I have no idea. :-/
Apple Music. Getting there slowly...
Generally they have to do with whatever deal was worked out with the record companies for licensing. It’s a bargaining chip for both sides.
Yeah, just a company littered with failure. They never win at anything they do and only produce junk.
Anyone know if Home Pod will respond to request for specific playlists (even from Apple Music subscribers)? Read somewhere today that it won't, but not sure that's accurate.
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