It worked with me. I only subscribed to Apple music after I got my first homepod.
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Well because they don't like it/see the value in it that means that nobody else does and surely nobody else will buy it.
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HomePod Sales May Be Closer to 1-1.5 Million Than 3 Million Since the Speaker Launched
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I bought my HomePod for the audio (I'm not an audiophile) and I could not be happier with it. I have a large room and it. fill it with sound. I may buy another one for stereo. I occasionally use Siri, for timers, checking weather, and turning lights on/off. Would have loved to use Siri for music as well, but for the foreseeable future I'm sticking with Spotify.
They were already years behind the competition though so I think this is why people are so disappointed. Apple had plenty of time to make sure this thing was killer, and they still just completely missed the mark.
The HomePod is starting at a different place to the echo and the google home. The HomePod is a music speaker which has a voice assistant. The main focus being as a music playback device. The echo and google home are assistants first and can also play music. They all excel in their primary areas.
It's a very limited music playback device though due to the lack of compatibility with other products and services.
Hello, I would like to buy this $350 surveillance device to install in my home. Thank you.
I am really not sure how people are thinking now days, especially with the outbreaks in media about people who got in trouble to their data leaking out. This thing is made of software, which has bugs and is hackable, and can and will malfunction.
I am really not sure how people are thinking now days, especially with the outbreaks in media about people who got in trouble to their data leaking out. This thing is made of software, which has bugs and is hackable, and can and will malfunction.
Sounds like this is by design.
The target market for the HomePod is basically iPhone users using Apple Music.
While you do have a point that the HomePod doesn’t support other music streaming services or smart assistants, I would argue that the inverse is also true. That other smart speakers do not support Apple Music.
Between CarPlay, Airpods, Apple Watch, Apple TV and now homepods, there is a very strong incentive to get Apple Music if you want to get the most out of your Apple hardware. At the same time, Apple Music makes it even more tempting to purchase additional Apple hardware over the competition because that’s what will integrate best with Apple Music.
In short, the HomePod does exactly what it was intended to do - offer hardware compelling enough to convince some Spotify users to switch, while at the same time locking its users further into the Apple ecosystem.
That's what I like about Apple, there is added value in owning more Apple devices. With other manufacturers you don't really get any benefits or added features from purchasing more of their products.
If you're an apple ecosystem user it isn't a problem, if you use apple music for example you can play almost anything through it and airplay the rest.
Yes, if you aren't an apple ecosystem user it sucks... but most customers considering it will be.
If you aren't an apple ecosystem user - this is not the device for you. The requirement of an iphone to set it up should probably be a hint at that...
The flip side is that they don’t really play well with devices outside of the Apple ecosystem.
Personally, it’s something I have come to terms with long ago, when I made a conscious decision to embrace the Apple ecosystem in its entirety. Call it a deal with the devil or whatever you wish. Currently, everything still works great for me, and it saves me the hassle of having to consider competing alternatives outside the ecosystem.
Either go all in, or not at all.
Only if you are restricting yourself to Apple devices.
I understand all that but it's not much use to you if you live in a house where mixed hardware is used.
Yup, anyway I must be the only person who doesn't want a smart speaker. Cripes I have a Mac, iPhone and ATV 3 (soon 4 with a new internet provider I got a good deal on). I am not big on vocal assistants though use Siri for simple stuff.
Like I said, hits and misses, didn't say Apple is doomed. It's not. I hope they learn from their failures and release better products.
Apples failures don't impact my happiness lol, I have more important things in life
But isn't the HomePod somewhat different? There is no disadvantage with regard to app availability when it comes to using iOS. In fact, one important advantage is that if you are part of the Apple ecosystem, you have access to all the apps you need, usually first, plus the developers are 'encouraged' to make the apps of a higher quality if they want to get through the screening process. And on the flip side, Apple provides iTunes for iPhone users who prefer PCs.
There is no disadvantage to using macOS. I get the best of all worlds with macOS being Unix and being able to run Windows. And again, Apple provides iCloud and iWorks services and Safari for PC users.
Many of the apps I have on my Apple TV are duplicated on my 'smart' Android TV, yet I use the Apple TV because the apps and UI are better. Same with my Beats X and use with PCs. Almost everything I use is cross platform, also on Windows and Android, yet the Apple ecosystem means I'll have a better experience.
With Apple Pay being an issue, I can easily understand why Apple doesn't make the Apple Watch work with Android.
TVs are the hub for all attached devices, so there is no real disadvantage to Android devices not being able to stream to the Apple TV. Just attach an Android compatible device to the hub (TV).
But the HomePod seems to take it a step farther. By not having an audio jack, it doesn't work with many existing audio systems. I can't connect a console to the HomePod to experience what gaming is like using it's technology. I haven't seen a reason yet how not having the audio jack is advantageous to Apple Music users like myself. I do see many disadvantages.
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Adding Bluetooth would also make it a lot more adaptable.
This is the key point and I hope Apple realize that this stubborn exclusion practice is only limiting their sales.
Agreed, I mean one can use Spotify, Amazon and Google music through iPhone and Mac for example.
And despite all your whining to mommy, you aren't among that number.
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Hopefully they will start listening to your astute business advice.
A lot of homes already have much better dumb multi-speakers than Homepod. People aren't going to throw out their existing speakers so it makes more sense to add better smart features and home automation than Homepod with inexpensive Echo Dot(s).
Makes sense. Apple does like to think they’re replacing entire hifi systems with HomePod, but in reality not everyone is looking for that. Different ways of looking at it when comparing speakers, for sure.
I had an Apple iPod HiFi speaker, it had the tag line “Home stereo. Reinvented.”, also meant to replace your current setup. Not home cinema surround obviously, but simpler music listening I guess.
What I don’t understand is if they are selling so few, why can I still not buy one in New Zealand?
I have been tempted to get one on a couple of recent trips to Australia, just because I am an Apple fan. But the reality is that I don’t think I would ever use it. My music listening is either on my headphones or a real Hi-Fi system.
I have been tempted to get one on a couple of recent trips to Australia, just because I am an Apple fan. But the reality is that I don’t think I would ever use it. My music listening is either on my headphones or a real Hi-Fi system.
But those were smart speaker only. Different market. Siri is gritting better now they are putting a focus on it. They didn’t before as didn’t find it as important.