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HomePod Turns Two, Lower-Priced Model Might Launch Later This Year
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Try asking Siri to play a specific Grateful Dead/phish show. Not possible.
If they threw a HDD in there and gave it time capsule functionality, I’d buy it in a heartbeat.
Happy birthday, HomePod. Happy with both of mine.
If it drops below $200, I might get one. But I've already got speakers running off an Airport Express, which serves its purpose decently.
I imagine people who've bought into Apple Music would see more of a value proposition.
I imagine people who've bought into Apple Music would see more of a value proposition.
Hint: buy in real Europe. A country that always makes fun of the disadvantages of Europe must also miss the advantages.
For sure on that, especially at $7.08/month.
When Apple Music came out four years ago I tired the free trial. Didn't like it - was not ready for prime time.
A year latter I tried out AM again and it was so much better. I'm hooked, especially when combined with HomePod or listening to music while I'm driving.
I find it very disheartening that Apple, which used to pride itself on all things music related has taken such a lack lustre stance on speakers.
maybe, just maybe, like the AppleTV the HomePod will mature into a full lineup or products.
I see this articles news to be full of bs ... Apple doesn’t work in low end products. They have once and o let once with the iPod and that simply was after they dominated portable music players and decided to kick all the low priced competition. This isn’t the case right now.
Apple should NOT deal in the low end home entertainment market, the profit margins are too thin/unit, and the competition is purely cut-throatgunning for market share to entrence people into their ecosystem.
Apple should expand the HomePod into a full line of home speaker and entertainment system products: pure Bass woofer, satellites, sound bar and outside speakers (patio/backyard use).
Then as Siri evolves or it’s replacement would be awesome!!
have 5 work perfect, sound is AWESOME!...Siri gets better all the time...need a cheaper mini version, need intercom feature, and one day amazon fresh intergration (last one I know will never happen, lol)...only have amazon for intercom and building my fresh cart, would love to completely get rid of my dots!
For sure on that.
I'd like to see that as well. Apple could go far employing their underlying signal processing technology in the products you mentioned above, and others as well.
What are the sales? What were Apples internal targets? Can't say it's a failure unless you know the targets and sales.
Really? Then I am *DEFINITELY* going to buy one. Thanks for the tip!
I bought one white HomePod when it first came out. It died in a surge from a nearby lightning strike about 4 months ago. I bought two to replace it. I absolutely love the HomePod and the sound is better than my KEF surround sound. Only wish is for it to control the Apple TV the same way the remote microphone button does. I’m so glad Apple has decided to keep a high quality product not flood the market with low price junk that sounds like crap (ahem amazon/google)
We've both been around long enough to know by Apple standards, that this is considered a flop. Not to be confused with perhaps being an actual good product.
I might pay $150 tops for this thing, that's about it. Apple missed the mark, plain and simple 🤷🏾♂️.
I'm not sure Apple missed the mark. The HomePod might not be for everyone, but as you say, it's very good at what it does. IMO.
Have you ever considered that maybe your attitude has something to do with that?
I used to think that was a bad idea (because of the thin sound you get from dot-sized devices) but I was wrong. It would definitely work for folks who already have other Airplay-2 systems throughout their home.
Case in point: I have four HomePods spread around the house, but I also have six non-Apple Airplay-2 compatible speakers in other rooms. They're speakers only (no mics) but I can pretty-much get anything playing anywhere just by asking. "Hey Siri, plays jazz upstairs", "Hey siri, play Mozart in the bathroom and bedroom", "Hey Siri play Massive Attack in the garage", "Hey siri play BBC radio 1 everywhere".
The HomePods have sensitive mics. Whichever is closest takes charge and streams to all the rooms I ask for, regardless of whether they've got HomePods, Naim or Ikea/Sonos. It's pretty darn brilliant.
Still not widely available across Europe... Apple is not interested in enlarging market share for it.
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I don’t think having an Amazon microphone active in my house is a good idea at all...
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When you pay $1 for a product, the product is you.
I don’t think having an Amazon microphone active in my house is a good idea at all...
Most, including me cannot distinguish the sound quality of a $200 vs $300 dollar speaker. But even a toddler can assess that Siri is ****.
Oh and AirPods are popular because of convenience not sound quality.
This argument again.
Yes HomePod received a lot of initial praise for its sound and I agree it sounded amazing... initially.
Everyone conveniently forgets or rather doesn’t acknowledged that apple
Zapped the power and punch out of the HomePod following a firmware update and it’s never been the same since.
Apple should release a smaller 'minipod' to compete with google home and Amazon Echo. Google home is superior but Alexa is incredibly popular in the UK. I tried it and it's great at turning lights on or off, however, searching for things, asking questions, it sucks!