I generally like the bass response, but I live in an apartment with poor noise insulation, so it will be a welcome choice. I’ve heard it removes the real low bottom end, so stops the walls from shaking.
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HomePod Now Sold Out on Apple's US Online Store
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Bummed Canada never saw the $200 sale prices; would have definitely picked up another pair at that price.
Glad I got one while I could. Most satisfying audio purchase I've made in quite a while. A HUGE upgrade from my previous streaming speaker, and in a whole other league from the HomePod Mini. I would really welcome Apple embracing this particular market segment, even if it doesn't move millions of units.
My hope is it’s discontinued with an alternate plan in the future. But I’m the same guy sitting around waiting for a new Apple router. Lol
Check eBay. Look for individual sellers. They’re not going for ridiculous prices… yet.
I think the HomePod was their SPEAKER strategy. And the market said we want a simple assistant with a speaker. So they made that instead. Personally I think there was room for both, but they probably didn’t move enough units of the HomePod relative to other accessories so it was cancelled.
I get what you're saying, but what you're describing isn't a strategy. It's a product absent of a clear strategy. A strategy is never just one product, but a vision of a new product line.
I just don't see that there ever was one with Apple, and it's hugely disappointing.
I feel there's so much potential for Apple there, to make their speakers wifi extenders, homeOS control centers, etc.
Yeah, I wanted a pair of the HomePods for awhile and kept on thinking that Best Buy would have them back down to $200. They never went back down to that price, and I've kicked myself ever since for not buying them on the last sale they had (granted, it wasn't in my budget at the time of that last sale). Sad to see them go away; I have to think with everything they are doing with the new AppleTV that they have a plan for a new version of them, but that's likely wishful thinking.
I think there is a next-generation HomePod coming — even if it's more of an Apple TV/HomePod combo, or something akin to a Home Hub. However, I also suspect that may be years away. After all, just look how long it took to get the second-gen Apple TV 4K. These products aren't a priority for Apple.
As for the original HomePod, if you're willing to go with a unit that's not new-in-box you might have some luck shopping around at local retailers that used to sell them. Stores that have display models are happily selling them off now, and if you think about it, a HomePod set up as a display unit mostly just sits there collecting dust, so many of them are probably still in pretty great condition.
I agree. I was interpreting speaker in the literal sense, but agree there’s a huge opportunity for them for a suite of products in the category and high end audio as a focus should be one of multiple products not the only product.
Same here. The underlying signal processing technology that Apple spent a lot of time/$ on that drives HomePod's great sound, though a bit costly, is too good to shutter going forward. There'll be future HomePod-like products.
Apple might be abandoning the higher quality speaker market just like they abandoned the router market. I'm still using an Apple AirPort Extreme and it's great but it's the last of its kind.
I'd like Apple to continue to build on what they learned from the HomePod and create an even better HomePod with better sound but there are no clear signs at this point that they will. They might just leave it to Sonos and a few other companies.
I'd like Apple to continue to build on what they learned from the HomePod and create an even better HomePod with better sound but there are no clear signs at this point that they will. They might just leave it to Sonos and a few other companies.
If they are going to price it around $350, they are going to have to give it more flexibility if they want it to be more than a niche product. Amazon allows for multiple music services (including Apple Music) along with Bluetooth in and out, so people that want this flexibility will look elsewhere. I personally like the Homepod, but I fit the niche they are selling to.
