HomePod Should Launch 'Soon' as Inventec Begins Shipments to Apple

[scouser75]

I have two Sonos Play:1’s for their price they sound awfully good.

I’m interested in hearing how the HomePod will sound as I am deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.

How does your sonos work with your idevices? I have a Sonos One and right now and find it rather infuriating. Might be tempted to sell it for the homepod of apple announce some additions to the pod from their additional announcement.
[doublepost=1516224015][/doublepost]I have a feeling that apple delayed the homepod to possibly add some more features to it to justify the high asking price. Time will tell though.

 

[legacyb4]

I have two Sonos Play:1’s for their price they sound awfully good.

I’m interested in hearing how the HomePod will sound as I am deeply entrenched in the Apple ecosystem.

And if Airplay 2 does finally arrive for the Sonos, theory says they should be able to extend your listening environment as part of the HomePod/Apple Music system...
[doublepost=1516225664][/doublepost]

Why don't we just agree that people should slow their roll instead of claiming it DOA or too expensive before it's even out, not to mention it won't work well before it's even tested.
[doublepost=1516223588][/doublepost]
You don't have to get HomePod for Apple's home automation and the benefits from Siri...although everyone proclaims Siri "terrible" when compared to others. I disagree. Still, you only need your iPhone or iPad.

The HomePod is much more than a digital assistant. It's going to integrate AppleMusic, digital assistant, and a high quality speaker into one device. I'd be much more concerned if Apple's product were exactly like the Dot or Google Home. It's not the same product.

Though technically, to be equivalent to the Google Home or Echo systems, you do need some form of a connected hub at home to have full remote automation (which can be handled by a spare iPad, ATV 4+, or the HomePod).

 

[DigitalCK]

Though technically, to be equivalent to the Google Home or Echo systems, you do need some form of a connected hub at home to have full remote automation (which can be handled by a spare iPad, ATV 4+, or the HomePod).

There are plenty of devices for Amazon's ecosystem that are hub-free. I have lights, switches, plugs, thermostats, security cameras... and not one hub.

 

[Mjmar]

I have high expectations for how this will sound.

 

[scouser75]

And if Airplay 2 does finally arrive for the Sonos, theory says they should be able to extend your listening environment as part of the HomePod/Apple Music system...
[doublepost=1516225664][/doublepost]

Will Airplay2 on Sonos enable voice selection from iTunes library playlists? I.E 'Alexa play Xxxx by xxxxxxxx'

 

[tubular]

Don't give a damn about Siri, but a HomeKit hub and good solid AirPlay speaker make this a sure thing for me.

 

[scouser75]

Don't give a damn about Siri, but a HomeKit hub and good solid AirPlay speaker make this a sure thing for me.

How will the hub work? I'd have thought that all.homekit products wouldn't need a hub so long as you have an iPad or iPhone.

 

[tubular]

You can use an iPad or an iPhone, but if you want to use the HomeKit stuff remotely, they'd need to be always on. If I'm going to have dedicated, always-on hardware, let's make it something that doesn't have batteries. And then throw in a really good speaker.

 

[jonblatho]

Why don't we just agree that people should slow their roll instead of claiming it DOA or too expensive before it's even out, not to mention it won't work well before it's even tested.

You ever been around here for an Apple product launch before?

 

[Fozziebear71]

Yeah!!!

For you and apple.

Says the Apple hater who spends time on a website/forum that exists specifically because of the company he likes to hate.

I’ll never understand. I never go on an Android website/forum because I don’t care about their products. What is it about Apple products that some people just cant stay away from websites just to bash the supposed products that they say are inferior.

 

[dazz87]

at this price and its running Siri? NO Thanks.......

 

[Mtmspa]

LOL you guys are real hurt that people don't like/use Siri.

Not at all.

 

[robbieleffel]

I only care about this news because it means that AirPlay 2 is coming soon. I can’t wait to use it with my Sonos speakers. The Sonos software/solution is just terrible.

 

[ErikGrim]

Hope Siri on all other i-devices in the room shut up when calling HomePod. Totally annoying when you shout 'He Siri' and all iPhone/iPad in the room go 'ding ding ding'...

That hasn’t happened for at least 18 months now.
[doublepost=1516233811][/doublepost]

Question, not that anyone would actually know..but can I use this as a wifi/airplay speaker thru Apple TV to use as surround sound for a movie/show playing off the Apple TV (4) ?

I really want to know this as well. If this is the case I’ll buy two.
[doublepost=1516234351][/doublepost]

8 track tapes sounded better (still not great) than cassette tapes. People didn’t care.

You have this exactly the wrong way around buddy.
[doublepost=1516234387][/doublepost]

You do realize you won’t be able to connect it to anything else other than Apple Music?

LOL wut?
[doublepost=1516234619][/doublepost]

But in reality, most audiophiles will only have one real hi-fi system set up, and that system takes up a pretty good amount of space. And for such a person, $350 probably isn't that much for a good-sounding hands-free speaker they can put on a shelf in the kitchen.

I have EVENT 20/20 speakers set up in my living room. They sound incredible. As long as you are right in front of them. Because of the layout of my apartment I will be well served to add a HomePod in the eating/kitchen area. The beam forming is what I am most excited for. Ubiquitous Siri for Home second.

 

[diddl14]

That hasn’t happened for at least 18 months now.

Amen!

 

[neutralguy]

To everyone saying that the HomePod will have superior sound quality.....

Above a minimal level, people don’t care.

Beta VCR had stereo before VHS, people didn’t care.

8 track tapes sounded better (still not great) than cassette tapes. People didn’t care.

High end turn tables sounded better than cheap ones. People didn’t care.

There are high end digital formats that exist now that claim better sound, and few are buying. Why?

In every single instance the better sounding device or format costs more than the ok sound. And most people really don’t listen to music, it’s pleasing background noise. The few who do care buy the better/improved/more expensive devices, and the other 95% of consumers buy good enough.

True. People who have the ears for high quality sound, will never buy HomePod. Many will just buy it for show case. Plus I don't still get the idea of where will you put this speaker? In the middle of the room? Like on coffee table or on dining table? Putting it near to wall or a corner will defeat the purpose of 360 degree doing. The more I think about it, I feel like this is designed by Beats who is famous in making cool looking device, but crappy sound.

 

[rcooked]

As a former Apple Music subscriber, I won’t be able to access Spotify on this. Therefore, this eliminates me from this part of the Apple Eco System.

Apple Music wasn’t horrible, I just found the family sharing a giant pain to get working correctly, and with spotify it’s extremely easy.

Combine with the cleaner interface inn spotify and it was a smart move (I think). Looks like this Apple user will have to continue with Sonos or the Google Home line.

Seems crazy that hardware can’t be more open to other services in this regard.

Oh well...

 

[cclloyd]

The design looks nice, the speaker technology is probably the best out on the market but what's stopping me is the price. What I mean, is that I can get a more capable voice assistant, in a decent speaker setup for 80 dollars from Amazon, or spend 350 dollars be locked into Apple Music and deal with Siri's short comings.

Not only that, but you can pick up a speaker in every room of your house with Amazon for the price of the Apple solution.

 

[Karma*Police]

The design looks nice, the speaker technology is probably the best out on the market but what's stopping me is the price. What I mean, is that I can get a more capable voice assistant, in a decent speaker setup for 80 dollars from Amazon, or spend 350 dollars be locked into Apple Music and deal with Siri's short comings.

Alexa is definitely not more capable. The truth of the matter is, all assistants are dumb and frustrating to use. The cheap smart speakers are popular because they’re cheap and novel... like those cheap MP3 players and netbooks that were very popular back in the day... which also makes them very giftable. I returned my Echo a couple of years ago but I keep getting these smart speakers as presents. I just got another dot this Christmas and I’ve no idea what to do with it. I’ll probably regift it.

People who want the best assistant should look into Apple Watch. I can practically whisper into my wrist to turn off the lights from anywhere inside or outside the house because it’s always on me. I can start a timer and see how much time is left with a flick of the wrist. I can check the weather without even asking. I can call people. I can ask for sports scores and see it on the display. I can ask for directions and it’ll take me all the way to my destination... and on and on.. and it’s perfectly integrated into the ecosystem; or what you call lock-in. Kind of like how I can only order stuff from Amazon using Alexa. There’s no comparison as to which assistant is superior IMO.

 

[DVNIEL]

"Soon"

When will then be now?
[doublepost=1516238564][/doublepost]I’m all about the Apple ecosystem as I’m deeply invested but Google already got me with the Max. $349 is too steep of a price to pay to talk to an assistant I just don’t get along with. Google Assistant is far superior and works well with Spotify.

 

[ErikGrim]

Not only that, but you can pick up a speaker in every room of your house with Amazon for the price of the Apple solution.

Congratulation, you have now blanketed your house with junk. What a saving!

 

[stoopkidblues]

It’s not really so much as missing the boat as it is missing the “features”. I’ve been hype for this since announcement (though still overpriced) but music has been fun lately so figured it’d sound great on these (not to mention Airplay 2...also “coming soon” smh).

But because it’ll be compared to Alexa/Assistant, the fact Siri won’t support any of these features (though hopefully soon?) will be mildly received. It’ll sell units (because, Apple) but I don’t think the average consumer will justify the price given the lack-of. (I know it’s not *for* the average consumer but it’ll be marketed as such because “everyone wants an Apple product”)

But I *could* see Apple announcing a similar, smaller version that would utilize Siri as a home assistant and pricing it around $79 to compete with Amazon/Google then releasing an update to the larger version to include the same. Maybe wwdc?

 

[3rdiguy]

I wonder how will it work when you have other iOS devices nearby and invoke Hey Siri?

 

[ErikGrim]

I wonder how will it work when you have other iOS devices nearby and invoke Hey Siri?

Same as it has worked with iOS devices for 18 months or so now: Only the device nearest to you activates.

 

[Marco Klobas]

You do realize you won’t be able to connect it to anything else other than Apple Music? Why would you not want to use your Hi-Fi system?

I'll use it in another room. Apple Music only is a limit, I agree. In my case I'm already tied in the iTunes ecosystem so it won't be a big issue. I'm watching Sonos (One) as an alternative.