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HomePod Teardown Reveals Hidden 14-Pin Connector, 16GB Storage, and Very Low Repairability

This is a good point. This may be a product where a tear-down doesn't really offer much utility. Unlike tearing down a computer-type product, there's pretty much nothing in this kind of product to potentially replace. The key parts are such that even if you could secure them, it would probably cost more to buy them and do the work of replacing them than it would to just toss a HP and buy another. Presumably, that's even Apple's approach to repairing HPs that are brought in for repair.

The full tear down write-up is going to estimate cost of the parts. One thing I would have found most interesting in a tear-down is whether a hack might be possible to stick in an aux port to be able to connect some third-party audio equipment to the speaker (recalling the guy who took a headphone jack-less iPhone and hacked the headphone jack back in again).
 
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After thinking about the HomePod and its over-the-top level of integration (RAM,multiple CPUs, etc.), perhaps the best explanation is we are seeing V0.5 of a future VR or AR product intended for use in entertainment settings. All of the buyers of the current HomePod are beta testers supplying Apple with data that can be used as feedback to model and further guide design decisions.
 

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I just can't say enough bad about this thing. Apple should have designed the thing to be repaired for $60 plus parts. Now they put the consumer into adding it to the landfill and buying a new one. If Apple really cared they would just pay you $70 for your broken hPod.
 
The only reason they put a reparability score on something like this is for clicks. They know Apple product and reparability score of 1 will get picked up by all the tech sites and shared all over social media.
 
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Nice size woofer. I can't wait to check it out.

I just wish it was more portable. I'd like to have something like this indoors for excellent sound playback, but also is something I can take outside while washing my car, or working on house projects. So a handle and battery-even if a USB to plug into a charger-would be enough I think.
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oldoneeye said:
I wish that apple would focus on repairability for their products rather than scrapping to landfill. Perhaps they have here - but it's not obvious
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Repairability of a speaker? How easy is it to repair a Sonus? A Bose for that matter? Come on now...
 
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Smeaton1724 said:
I've never seen any speakers or Amps for any form of audio equipment manufacturer such as Denon, Onkyo, Yamaha etc. get the design reviewed on the ability to repair a speaker. The teardown is maybe interesting to give ifixit hits but in general is it necessary?!
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iFixit is obsessed with Apple. I hate their tear downs because their commentary is always full of snark.
 
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Of course it will be. Apple's the reigning king of consumer-repair hostile products.
 
With the discovery of the "USI 339S00450" chip there's hope that some day Apple will open the option to use it as a Bluetooth speaker.
 
Purpose: listen to Apple Music on a speaker better than the one in your iDevice and probably on your computer.

Maybe a little "gee whiz" effect for those that have never used an Alexa or Google smart speaker before?

Tightest integration with Apple services.

Bring great quality music to rooms not already wired for audio.

With a promised software update, whole-home audio (without having to run whole-home wires).

"Just works" easy, typical of Apple.
 
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kemal said:
I just can't say enough bad about this thing. Apple should have designed the thing to be repaired for $60 plus parts. Now they put the consumer into adding it to the landfill and buying a new one. If Apple really cared they would just pay you $70 for your broken hPod.
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If only there was an industry created to recycle E-waste, and Apple participated. That industry is struggling and hopefully will continue to grow. Do you judge every thing you use with the same disdain ? Let’s see $349- $279 out of warranty cost. Wow that’s $70. I see what you did;)
 
JosephAW said:
With the discovery of the "USI 339S00450" chip there's hope that some day Apple will open the option to use it as a Bluetooth speaker.
Click to expand...

What discovery? Bluetooth is for setting a HP up.

Bluetooth can't beat Airplay quality, so the general point of a Bluetooth speaker is trumped by Airplay, except for those with no Airplay option. Since an iDevice is necessary to set up an HP, everyone who buys a HP MUST have an Airplay-capable iDevice.
 
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I know what it is,but purpose is questionable. Im using apple tv 4k connected to AV receiver with 5.1 jbl speakers. If i want to listen music or movie im streaming via airplay with iphone or mac. Is there anything more this device can do and I'm not aware off ?
 
I’m sure it must be the R&D costs that justified the price is it?

Must ... keep ... reminding myself ... why I forked out £300 for this .... oh.

Whew!. For a minute there I thought I had.

It was all a dream, readers. Whew!
 
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