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iFixit Tears Down Second-Generation HomePod
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You both are adding all sorts of hyperbole while agreeing that is what Apple is doing. Let me try it another way. Apple is not “crippling” their hardware by removing two tweeters and microphones because most people won’t notice much, if any, difference. What they are doing is providing a clear upgrade path, because they know they can fit more tweeters and microphones. This is the same as the now empty space on the iPhone 14s that use e-SIM only. Apple could have used that space for something else immediately, but then they would have a less clear upgrade path (first remove, wait, then innovate). The same is true with the WiFi. By using an older chip with even older WiFi, most customers won’t notice much of, if any, difference, but Apple has the opportunity to really advertise the upgrade.
In other words, Apple doesn’t just change things randomly. When they change something, they have a very clear purpose and you can be sure Apple PR will tout changes as “best-in-class,” “incredible,” etc.
Yet the easiest way to view this is that they’ve reduced the Bill of Materials and therefore the cost to produce.
I think the “upgrade path” is a bit ridiculous as again, it’s going to take a marketing miracle to get people to “upgrade” a fantastic sounding speaker for additional tweeters and faster wifi down the road.
I think you’re overthinking the long term here, applying the upgrade cadence of an entirely different product category, and insisting that’s the reason Apple made something less expensive to produce. The answer is clear as day, the new HomePod is less expensive to make, that’s all there is to it 🤷♂️
Again, you’re adding hyperbole but agreeing about what Apple is doing. You need to look at it from the perspective of Apple. An upgrade is anything that improves on the previous generation. Regardless of whether a current owner purchases a new model, if the new model is better than the previous model, the new model is an upgrade. With the iPhone, Apple discovered a winning method and they are replicating that across all of their products. The original HomePod failed to provide a clear upgrade path, so Apple stopped selling it until they could modify it to make that path clear.
Is the upgrade worth it to 2 stereo if you already have 2 Minis stereo? (Would then shift them to the bedroom)
I wouldn't doubt people would want a portable Apple speaker, but that would be a different product and outside the current scope of this HomePod use-case which is for the...umm..."home"
Timmy's best trick was recycling old parts and convincing consumers to buy them again!
Ha ha not necessarily- all it takes is to stick a handle on top and have it resting in a charging tray so you could move it between rooms or into the garden. You still consider the garden as part of home, no?
At the very least it saves the planet by not needing 10 minis littering the house, which will eventually end up in landfill.
Again, a different device. I do "litter" my home with a couple HomePods and HomePod minis in every room, bathroom, and common areas. I don't aim to disconnect any one of those to bring to another room or outside. The HomePods were not meant to be portable as they would be "assigned" to specific rooms and hence the socket and Home app integration.
If you want a portable speaker, it would not be a HomePod or HomePod mini. And that would be speculation of what Apple would call it. But simply sticking a handle on these current form factors ain't it.
I don't know how else to put it, really. The title of this exact thread is:
iFixit Tears Down Second-Generation HomePod
If you or someone else wants to start a different speculation thread that isn't literally under this topic. Go at it. My response is focused on this exact product under this thread.
Your responses to this thread is so off topic. There has to be an IQ entrance exam to post per thread to stop trolling.
No IQ and no reading comprehension. So that would be you answering your own question. But you wouldn’t know that because stupid people don’t know they’re stupid.
Ironic. Perhaps you need a quiet lie down a good hard think.
(You said:
“As opposed to? Battery operated? I definitely don't want home speakers to be battery-operated.”)
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Like I said. Reading comprehension is lacking. Poor you. Move on and start trading books.
Moreover, I don’t blame your English skill as it’s not everyone‘s first language. So no judgement there.
Oh I’m judging your stupidity. Just not your English skill. Reading. Comprehension. Learn it.