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HomePod Reviews: Outstanding Sound Quality, but Siri 'Struggles at Smart'
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I think we are in agreement.
Some posters here suggest this is the next iphone success story - IMHO it clearly isn't, it will do okay but will not challenge Amazon or Google.
However the greater problem that this presents for apple is users starting to leave the apple ecosystem. If Homepod isn't improved and expanded with Dot options etc, then people who want this functionality will go to rivals.
I've already broken out of the apple ecosystem and gone with the echo, and on the back of that have dropped apple music for amazon music and have got a fire tv rather than an ATV4...
Unless apple completes its ecosystem, improves its offering and offers more viable price points to entry, I would not be surprised if other previous apple users also start to move away from apple products and services as I have.
This is a big potential problem for apple in future years, as once outside of apple, it will be very difficult to get people back.
So if an update comes later on, both my partner and I cannot ask Homepod to read out our calendars. It could only do that with the one who paired with it?
Right now, yes. If an update does happen that allows multiple users, that’ll obviously change.
I have a Dot that's being used to control the Hue/WeMo/Harmony/Hive heating, and the other day got Homebridge setup on a mac mini server so I now have control of the Harmony and Hive Heating (I think there's a WeMo plugin too) via Siri, so once the HomePod is in place, I shouldn't need the Dot.
Truthfully, I don't need a "Smart" speaker as such - just as long as I can control smart home devices - I really don't use Alexa as the font of all info, and neither will I do the same with Siri.
Hi, I ordered a HomePod over ebay from the United States. Since I live in Europe, I wonder if the cord will be detachable, so I can ad a cord that fits in my wall...
There were discussions about this, some people indicating it might be a "figure 8" cable, just blended into the form of the HomePod. Any news about that, now that many in-depth reviews apeared? I couldn't find any informations, but there must have been one journalist that just HAD to pull out at the cord to see how it is fixed?!
There were discussions about this, some people indicating it might be a "figure 8" cable, just blended into the form of the HomePod. Any news about that, now that many in-depth reviews apeared? I couldn't find any informations, but there must have been one journalist that just HAD to pull out at the cord to see how it is fixed?!
I'm sure the cable is permanently attached, none of the reviews have mentioned it being removable. All other Apple products which have a removable lead come with it packaged separately in the box but that isn't the case with the HomePod.
That too probably. Apple has designed the HomePod to play up their strengths (premium hardware, control of both hardware and software) while downplaying their weaknesses (they take care not to overhype Siri’s capabilities).
It’s not really any different from what the other companies like amazon and google are doing.
I was sure I'd read about power cord being user-replaceable. A quick google found this https://wccftech.com/apples-homepod-will-ship-with-a-2-meter-user-replaceable-power-cable/
(though info from an Apple Support rep... so taken with a pinch of salt).
I saw an unboxing yesterday, and to me it didn't look detachable at all.
Do they suggest that?
I've been reading most of the discussions on here about the HomePod, and I don't recall anyone suggesting that it's going to be a really big hit. The more optimistic opinions seem to be that it will do well enough, given that there are many people within the ecosystem who will be attracted to it, but I don't recall anyone suggesting it will be the next success story, or anything like the iPhone.
Well we all know Siri isn't great, they didn't improve it just for the HomePod release, we'll have to wait at least until iOS 12.
In the meantime great sound quality, but poor Siri interaction. And no voice recognition, that's a huge problem. I'd turn off messages and reminders immediately. Hey Siri works well on the iPhone, why didn't they include the same functionality on the HomePod? They have plenty of mics in there, it should be easier to recognise a voice.
In the meantime great sound quality, but poor Siri interaction. And no voice recognition, that's a huge problem. I'd turn off messages and reminders immediately. Hey Siri works well on the iPhone, why didn't they include the same functionality on the HomePod? They have plenty of mics in there, it should be easier to recognise a voice.
I don't read that as saying that the HomePod will be that big a success. Just pointing out that what people predict before a release, and what actually happens are two totally different things.
I think too many people are seeing this as a true voice assistant like Alexa. It’s a sound system first and that’s what it’s marketed it as.
For basic tasks Siri is fine and the use for the HomePod will be for basic tasks like playing music, podcasts, reminders
For true smart answers Alexa is the go to device but this isn’t what it is.
That's why I said 'if an update comes' ;-)
Granted I could have probably worded that better. What I meant was if in the future an update comes to allow Homepod to read calendars and emails, I can only do this from one paired phone and not two.
How does Alexa work? Can that read anyone's schedule?
Sorry bud, was early
I believe Alexa can read out all appointments and calendars yes.
I hope hope Apple will bring these out with future updates. If it can do so with reminders and texts no reason why calendars won’t be added
Same with multi user support you would hope
Cool. Not that I would envisage using it. We still have a magnetic calendar on our fridge so it's a while off until we trust Siri with it.
If what I've read above about the power lead being fixed I'll be sending mine back anyway. I have a corner in my dining room it's going in, on a shelf and if I have to put the power lead down the front of the shelf that's going to look ugly as hell. I want it hidden like the wires on my TV etc.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Those others lack the Apple logo silly.
Apple knows best. Comply. Resistance is futile.
Absolutely. I’m looking forward to real life tests. I am just incredibly encouraged by every single reviewer’s description of what it feels like to listen to these.
My personal tests won’t even be fair. It is up against a pair of EVENT BAS 20/20 v2 monitors that are as transparent as anything I have ever listened to. I have a hunch they’ll do well however.
Absolutely. Fortunately you can lock that down by role. You won’t be able to switch between accounts, but you can stop anyone else but you/people on your network/people that have access to homekit granularly.
Nothing in their review of HomePod was incorrect so please point where they're wrong rather than posting slander.
Why could they blast them for not having iTunes.. its a closed system that Apple doesn't want other hardware being able to access. They couldn't even if they wanted to.
Premium hardware....how does this explain their new keyboard/keyboard design that's anything BUT premium and their software that is so filled with bugs and security holes that it's drawing comparisons to Microsoft of the 90's-00's?