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iOS 11.4 Launches Today With AirPlay 2 and Messages in iCloud, HomePod Gets Multi-Room Audio, Stereo Pairing
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I picked up a second HomePod today at Costco ($329.99, Space Gray only). Set it up on the bedroom. I updated my iPhone, HomePod Kitchen and HomePod Bedroom to iOS 11.4.
Then the HUGE disappointment began.
All this time waiting for AirPlay 2 and HomePod is PATHETICALLY unable to do the basic commands that a SONOS ONE (or Amazon Echo Dot connected to other SONOS models) can do with ease.
I got some Sinatra playing in the Kitchen just by touching the top of the Kitchen HomePod (that was the last thing it was playing). Then I walked to the bedroom and said, "Hey Siri, play Neil Diamond in the Kitchen". That worked fine.
While I was still in the Bedroom, I said, "Hey Siri, play Frank Sinatra in the Bedroom". Sinatra started playing in the Bedroom. Then I walked back to the Kitchen and that HomePod had paused. I then said (in the Kitchen), "Hey Siri, resume playback in the Kitchen". Siri's response: "Now resuming in the Bedroom".
The Bedroom wasn't paused in the first place.
Then I tapped the top of the Kitchen HomePod to try to resume playback of Sinatra. It played something completely different, apparently at random.
It DOES work if you say "Hey Siri, play Sinatra everywhere." But I could do that with AirPlay 1 from my iMac.
This is totally pathetic. I've waited all this freaking time for HomePod to have similar functionality to Alexa with SONOS and HomePod doesn't even come close. Freaking failure!
I will be returning HomePod #2 to Costco. If I could return HomePod #1 to the Apple Store, I would.
I should have bought SONOS ONEs.
OMG, I miss Steve Jobs!
Total FAIL, Apple!
Mark
Then the HUGE disappointment began.
All this time waiting for AirPlay 2 and HomePod is PATHETICALLY unable to do the basic commands that a SONOS ONE (or Amazon Echo Dot connected to other SONOS models) can do with ease.
I got some Sinatra playing in the Kitchen just by touching the top of the Kitchen HomePod (that was the last thing it was playing). Then I walked to the bedroom and said, "Hey Siri, play Neil Diamond in the Kitchen". That worked fine.
While I was still in the Bedroom, I said, "Hey Siri, play Frank Sinatra in the Bedroom". Sinatra started playing in the Bedroom. Then I walked back to the Kitchen and that HomePod had paused. I then said (in the Kitchen), "Hey Siri, resume playback in the Kitchen". Siri's response: "Now resuming in the Bedroom".
The Bedroom wasn't paused in the first place.
Then I tapped the top of the Kitchen HomePod to try to resume playback of Sinatra. It played something completely different, apparently at random.
It DOES work if you say "Hey Siri, play Sinatra everywhere." But I could do that with AirPlay 1 from my iMac.
This is totally pathetic. I've waited all this freaking time for HomePod to have similar functionality to Alexa with SONOS and HomePod doesn't even come close. Freaking failure!
I will be returning HomePod #2 to Costco. If I could return HomePod #1 to the Apple Store, I would.
I should have bought SONOS ONEs.
OMG, I miss Steve Jobs!
Total FAIL, Apple!
Mark
What? This Play:5 hardware has been around since 2015. And yes, a software update is required to get AirPlay2 to work. Just like a software update is reauired to get AirPlay2 to work with the HomePod.
Can you explain how Wifi will fix this issue?
The issue exists across all audio apps and don't matter if the content is streaming or cached.
If U have multiple idevices, activate the option on all. Plug in your device and let it sync overnight.
Wake up the next morning, open device and notice how all devices have the messages in the right order. Now delete a conversation on one device and watch it delete on other devices too.
Yes becuase by default in messages, keep messages for is set to forever.
Change it to 30 days and you won’t have that problem
This release fixed it 100%.
I can now use my Apple TVs with my HomePods with my current non-Apple router. I updated all my devices and boom... fixed.
The ONLY way that a HomePod gets content to play is to have it STREAMED over WIFI. It's that "last mile" that matters, and that is TOTALLY dependent on your WiFi network's range, and the relative locations of your WiFi Router and the HomePod.
I don't care whether the content is "streamed" through Apple's iTunes servers, or "cached" in your local iTunes Library; the fact is, since you will notice the conspicuous absense of an Ethernet (network) PLUG on the HomePod, it is a WIFI-ONLY Device!!!
So, bad WiFi Reception (say, for example, you have your HomePod out in the garage, far away from your WiFi Router) will affect ANY content you play on your HomePod.
You may need to look into a device called a "WiFi Repeater", which will extend the range of your WiFi network so that your HomePod will not have dropouts.
Does that help?
I called AppleCare this morning and was lucky to end up talking to a support rep that was very familiar with HomePod. In fact, he said he was working from home and had two HomePods himself.
While he listened to me giving Siri voice commands to the HomePods, it was easy to replicate the issue I described above. It happened the first time I tried it. But then he suggested trying it again. To my surprise it worked correctly. In all, he spent about 20 minutes with me on the phone while I tried various commands:
"Hey Siri, raise the volume in the kitchen to 50%."
"Hey Siri, play Hotel California by the Eagles in the bedroom."
"Hey Siri, what is the volume level in the bedroom?"
"Hey Siri, what time is it?"
"Hey Siri, what is the weather like today?"
Etc, etc.
The informational commands (time, weather, etc.) all worked as they should. However, at one point I was in the bedroom and, after Siri responded with the information, she didn't resume the music in the bedroom (but music kept playing in the kitchen).
In all, about 1 in every 5 or 6 commands something went wrong. In fact, at one point, Siri literally responded "I'm sorry, but something has gone wrong."
So, clearly, AirPlay 2 *is* designed to work like the the Alexa/SONOS combo with regard to controlling music in multiple rooms. But, just as clearly, there are bugs. The Apple rep even agreed that there are bugs. He said he was typing up extensive notes and would submit them to the appropriate software engineering team.
He also suggested that server load, particularly yesterday, might be a factor.
I'm a bit more optimistic after my conversation with the Apple rep. Since I purchased my second HomePod at Costco I have 90 days to return it. We'll see how it goes.
Mark
While he listened to me giving Siri voice commands to the HomePods, it was easy to replicate the issue I described above. It happened the first time I tried it. But then he suggested trying it again. To my surprise it worked correctly. In all, he spent about 20 minutes with me on the phone while I tried various commands:
"Hey Siri, raise the volume in the kitchen to 50%."
"Hey Siri, play Hotel California by the Eagles in the bedroom."
"Hey Siri, what is the volume level in the bedroom?"
"Hey Siri, what time is it?"
"Hey Siri, what is the weather like today?"
Etc, etc.
The informational commands (time, weather, etc.) all worked as they should. However, at one point I was in the bedroom and, after Siri responded with the information, she didn't resume the music in the bedroom (but music kept playing in the kitchen).
In all, about 1 in every 5 or 6 commands something went wrong. In fact, at one point, Siri literally responded "I'm sorry, but something has gone wrong."
So, clearly, AirPlay 2 *is* designed to work like the the Alexa/SONOS combo with regard to controlling music in multiple rooms. But, just as clearly, there are bugs. The Apple rep even agreed that there are bugs. He said he was typing up extensive notes and would submit them to the appropriate software engineering team.
He also suggested that server load, particularly yesterday, might be a factor.
I'm a bit more optimistic after my conversation with the Apple rep. Since I purchased my second HomePod at Costco I have 90 days to return it. We'll see how it goes.
Mark
No but they’re really slipping and on top of that it’s rumored that we’re not getting many new features this year too.
What? This Play:5 hardware has been around since 2015. And yes, a software update is required to get AirPlay2 to work. Just like a software update is reauired to get AirPlay2 to work with the HomePod.
The quote of mine originally on this topic. Was stating rob apple welcome to 2012 - was specific to multi room sharing. Another person stated no you cannot play music or sounds from other media from your Mac or computer. The final reply stated YES (on Sonos) you can. This I replied specifying no you cannot back in 2012 on Sonos NOT without theirs party software.
Even with your reply, regardless of the hardware being there Sonos natively their their hardware or software you could not playback sounds of various media from Play:1/3/5 or PlayBase you had to use one of the other component hardware that connected to an Amp or last enervation sound system ... still limited. So I’m sorry with AirPlay2 that’s possible yet again only with 3 Sonos hardware and with that it must be a Gen 2 Play:5 as per their site.
You need to follow along before arguing/debating. Stay focused.
what is an "enervation sound system"?
You're not making your point clear, at all. What is it?
My point is that the HomePod brought nothing new to the table that wasn't already there in another product long before. Multiroom syncing, check. Stereo pairing, check. Integrated voice assistant, check. Native input from a computer, check - and even better with AirPlay2 because, as you said, no more additional AirPlay receiver required.
Other than the liking the aesthetic, there is no technical benefit to buying a HomePod. Indeed, there are a lot of downsides. HomePod can't stream music from anywhere but Apple Music - not from a NAS, not from Spotify, not from Pandora, not from Amazon, not from Google, not from SoundCloud. No Audible, no radio, no SiriusXM, no aux input. It can't even stream from an iTunes share - a native native Apple service. Come on!
I think this one will be added to the list of Apple products that just weren't good - Newton, 20th Anniversary Macintosh, Pippin, Hockey Puck Mouse, and first-gen HomePod. It will probably be a collectors item, though.
“enervation sound system” is a typo via my iPhone SE (thumb prints worn) and what was intended to be typed was “component sound system”
My point - was made VERY clear in the previous points befor the above with the typo mentioned. You just needed to read them in successfsion before jumping into the conversation I was having with someone else.
Point: Sonos did not, prior to AirPlay 2’ natively support playback of music and video sound from iPhone, iPad, or Mac/PC computer from any application.
Now even with AirPlay2 it’s onlt on 3 devices, one of which you music have a generation 2. Without these three devices you sol.
Every time someone argues: “it does” or Apple “welcome to 2012” fails to acknowledge this fact.
What Apple brings is continued quality firmware support for these uses and not misleading their customers through vague advertising or news briefs stating “company will support AirPlay2” only to release it on a very limited release of their product lineup as did Sonos (going back as far as September 2017 from many tech sites quoting their release).
Okey, you're right. You couldn't wirelessly output regular system sounds to Sonos speakers without the use of an Airport Express until Apple came out with Airplay2. Not that adding an Airport Express to one Aux input was that hard or expensive...
But everything else, you could do on Sonos far before Apple: wireless synchronized multi-room audio, with stereo pairing, from any of many dozens of streaming sources, from the most popular to the niche. Apple still can't do that.
Lol that's far from flat. Look at the db range on the left, and how there are +20db spikes. Huge spikes like that in those fq ranges are NOT good. I'm guessing this was from the Reddit post that winter charm made, which became the laughing stock of the /r/audiophile thread. So many users dissected the data and proved why it was a very bad experiment with inconclusive results.
True on wireless multi room playback yet Sonos Play:1 does not have audio input. I’d have to purchase a bridge. Total cost of each before One was announced made both more expensive than HomePod. Plus neither would be connected to HomeKit or Siri. I don’t have a real use for the latter though.
There are pros n cons to each setup.
If any Sonos speaker in the system has an aux in, they can all share it. So, for example, the Play:5 has a line in, then all the Play:1s on the same network can all play from that line in.
Same with Airplay2. Even though the Play:1 does not support Airplay2, simply having a Play:5 on the same network will make all the other Sonos speakers on that network capable of playing Airplay2.
My Airport Extreme with Time Machine, and my cheapo telco rounter were not cutting it in my house - lack of range, deadspots, drops, and Airplay from 15 in MBP not playing via new ATV to my TV without big lags or stutters. Got tired of that beacause with Mac and Airport, “supposed to just work”.
Invested in a ‘good’ router with dual 5G and a 2.4G channels, chips on board to manage streaming etc. and on sale. Rock solid reliability now across the house and fast. Averaging 12 devices and any one time (not all active at same time mind you). Improves quality of digital life immensely.
[doublepost=1528006783][/doublepost]
Totally fixed (1.) for me - which I had that issue since the ‘17 update to iOS11. Was the only disappointment with my 12.9 and Create becase that is a wonderfully durable keyboard with GREAT keys. No wear, no damage, no other problems with Create, and now charging is completely fixed. Completely happy again
Page scroll seems a bit faster too, along with slightly better battery endurance.Not familiar with (2.) tho.
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True.
What bothers me is the “forcing to buy or forcing to upgrade” tactic to enjoy a free API/construct that is licensed freely from Apple to gain revenues from existing or new customers of Sonos when clearly existing products were more than capable (IMHO).
Sonos has never stated existing products could not be uogradeable to AirPlay2. Tactics like this have me viewing them as dishonourable and what will they do next. Should they have allowed the Play:1 which had many custom limited edition models released global y(of which I have) then I would’ve happily bought another - I don’t wish to have an AI connected speaker ideally.
They’ve lost my business and have solidified Apple more than ever before.
I think its simply a memory issue. Airplay2 requires caching several minutes of lossless audio. On top of whatever memory the base os needs to operate smoothly, I think the play:1 just doesn’t have enough ram.
They should support airplay1 tho, at least.
My Airport Extreme with Time Machine, and my cheapo telco rounter were not cutting it in my house - lack of range, deadspots, drops, and Airplay from 15 in MBP not playing via new ATV to my TV without big lags or stutters. Got tired of that beacause with Mac and Airport, “supposed to just work”.
Invested in a ‘good’ router, for me a [DELETED AT ORIGINAL POSTER'S REQUEST], chips on board to manage streaming etc. and on sale. Rock solid reliability now across the house and fast. Averaging 12 devices and any one time (not all active at same time mind you). Improves quality of digital life immensely.
[doublepost=1528006783][/doublepost]
Totally fixed (1.) for me - which I had that issue since the ‘17 update to iOS11. Was the only disappointment with my 12.9 and Create becase that is a wonderfully durable keyboard with GREAT keys. No wear, no damage, no other problems with Create, and now charging is completely fixed. Completely happy again
Not familiar with (2.) tho.
I, too, found (1.) fixed and, yes, I greatly like the Create KB, too. I hadn't encountered (2.) [Bluetooth bug] until recently, but it has been the source of some missed notification sounds — I think. Seems to be better since 11.4 dropped, so am hoping it's done, too. Of course, the 11.4 changelog mentioned neither.
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