HomePod's Multi-Room Audio and Stereo Features Will Not Be Available at Launch

[MacRumors]

Within the HomePod's pre-order date and launch announcement today, Apple confirmed that the smart speaker's multi-room audio and stereo features won't be making it into the device at launch. Instead, users will be able to activate these features sometime "later this year" in a free software update.

Multi-room audio with Apple's AirPlay 2 protocol will be aimed at customers who purchase more than one HomePod, and will let them play music throughout their home.

The feature allows for different songs to be played simultaneously in different rooms, or the same song can be played in each room "perfectly in sync," and the speakers communicate with one another through AirPlay 2.

Stereo sound is created when two HomePods are placed in the same room, after which they automatically notice one another and become a "stereo pair" to provide a "more immersive" listening experience.

Coming this year in a free software update, users will be able to play music throughout the house with multi-room audio. If HomePod is in the kitchen, users can ask Siri to play jazz in the dining room, or play the same song in each room -- perfectly in sync. If there's more than one HomePod set up in the same room, the speakers can be set up as a stereo pair for an even more immersive sound experience.

Of course, right now it's unclear exactly when Apple's free software update for these features will go live in 2018. Ahead of that, users will be able to pre-order HomePod on Friday, January 26, and then the speaker will officially launch two weeks later in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia on February 9.

Article Link: HomePod's Multi-Room Audio and Stereo Features Will Not Be Available at Launch

 

[tigres]

So, still not ready for prime time. Big miss here.

 

[dannys1]

Might as well just order one to start with then...

 

[efp1]

I was really looking forward to seeing airplay 2 in action.

 

[Xavier]

Product was announced too early.

 

[ayale99]

So, still not ready for prime time. Big miss here.

Only if you were planning to buy more than two at launch. Otherwise, you're fine.

 

[Mirice99]

Yet another Apple fail with a product released well before it's fully functional.

Cue those defending Apple in 3..2..1..

 

[Preclaro_tipo]

Honestly, what is wrong with Apple? A near Trillion Dollar company can't make a speaker.

 

[Wilburx3]

What a joke, under promise and over deliver, is the mantra of successful companies.

 

[parnas]

In other news: Sound reproduction also coming later this year.

Until then: enjoy your new home decor item.

 

[verniesgarden]

seriously what is up with apple not being able to launch their big features lately? seemed like almost half of the advertised features of high sierra weren't avail at launch, like iMessage sync is still missing, AFS for fusion drives still missing.... but I'll still order one... I think I'm the problem....

 

[iName]

Wow that is such a mess. Don’t bother launching until its ready then! That’s a huge feature and a main selling point, guaranteeing no one will purchase multiples if they even decide to purchase 1 at all. Apple has had a series of flops and disappointments lately.

 

[djeeyore25]

At launch, Siri will be unable to understand your request on one HomePod at a time.

 

[brian3uk]

For goodness sake. Half (or more) of the stuff announced last year has been late, half baked, or MIA. Why should we continue to believe the stuff we're told at WWDC or any of the other keynotes.

 

[Val-kyrie]

I've been burned too many times to order a launch product that is missing features. When they ship the promised product with all of its features, then I will consider a purchase.

 

[robbyx]

Or you could just buy Sonos five years ago and have both of these features.

 

[Val-kyrie]

For goodness sake. Half (or more) of the stuff announced last year has been late, half baked, or MIA. Why should we continue to believe the stuff we're told at WWDC or any of the other keynotes.

Still waiting for eGPU support. I won't buy another Apple laptop without official support for it.

 

[zhang96]

DOA

 

[ateslik]

Apple should buy Tesla. They have the same business model.

 

[dantracht]

Then that is when I will buy one: later this year.

 

[radio893fm]

Why didn't they buy Sonos? It is actually an honest question, may I add... instead of buying Beats, i.e.

 

[goudok]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Airplay 2 was never built at wdc. It was just an extension of what the Mac already does. And does it really bad due to never being in sync and really a total nightmare.
So once someone actually tested the feature and saw how bad it was they had to rebuild it from scratch.
I don’t think the HomePod is the cause of the delay. I honestly think is AirPlay 2 that they can’t get right.

 

[Mad Mac Maniac]

I have a feeling Airplay 2 was one of the biggest reasons for a delay and then Apple delayed Airplay 2 again and just decided to ship the HomePod.

Then that is when I will buy one: later this year.

You know you can get the exact same functionality with ONE HomePod right now.

 

[goudok]

Why didn't they buy Sonos? It is actually an honest question, may I add... instead of buying Beats, i.e.

Probably way too many home speakers sound bars. I don’t think Apple really wants to be in the sound bar business.

 

[justiny]

Apple’s keynotes are turning into CES. “It’s not available for purchase and we don’t know when it will be released.”