I just don’t understand why she has to respond to every request. I dont need you let me know media will now play softer. Just lower the volume..
In terms of successful interactions, she’s been reduced to ”hey siri set timer”
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Kuo: Apple to Release New HomePod in Late 2022 or Early 2023
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In terms of successful interactions, she’s been reduced to ”hey siri set timer”
Siri works really well for the things that a HomePod is good for. I use Siri on HomePod for music and turning HomeKit switches on/off.
I just wish that I should use a different trigger phrase for my HomePod instead of my phone. They can’t do the same things but the Homepod usually responds first just to tell me that it can’t do that.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Exactly. Lots of us seem confused about the HomePod line but maybe think about it like this:
The ANALOG portion- the "dumb" speaker parts themselves- can/should have LONG lives sounding as good long after any Apple computing technology in any form available new today is fully obsolete. I have some great "dumb" speakers that are already about 4 years old. I just laid out over $6K for a new Studio Ultra. I'm 100% certain that Ultra will be macOS obsolete long before those speakers need to be replaced.
The DIGITAL portion- the "smarts" can take the whole ship down by them getting too far behind.
Loose Analogy: how many of us had to toss a perfectly good iMac screen when the iMac guts either died or macOS updates got too far ahead to make us feel the need for a new Mac. That screen was likely still perfectly fine. If there was a way to keep using it as a monitor, it likely had many years left in it. Instead, when the guts conk or no longer get updates, the whole thing gets chucked.
There's a YouTube video where a guy repurposes an old iMac screen into basically being exactly that by- essentially- creating a kind of AUX jack to use it that way.
While I'm not fan of Amazon smart speakers, I completely appreciate the little disc that is the entire "smarts" part of a Echo speaker in a dedicated package available as a SEPARATE product: Echo Dot. I'd prefer to see the same from Apple- the "smarts" as one product and a great-but-otherwise "dumb" speaker as another product. Those 2 could fit together to create a single unit like the "as is" but then the smarts piece could get upgraded when it is obsolete, while the speaker portion could continue to be used and enjoyed.
Now arguments could be made about the relative "smarts" or not in such a device. And isolating the "smarts" means that one could get all of those benefits with it attached to ANY speaker (not only a speaker made by Apple)... but, to me, I'd much prefer that in future offerings than an "all in one" where one part will certainly obsolete the rest one before the rest has any actual quality decay.
And lastly, AppleTV is basically already this concept- dedicated smarts with Siri in a separate box- to which one can play anything on ANY soundbar, ANY mono speaker, ANY stereo speakers, 5.1 surround setup, 7.1 surround setup, ATMOS. Quality of those speakers can be dirt cheap to far beyond HomePod classic- one can get whatever quality they desire right now. If Siri in appleTV (or Siri in iPhone or iPad airplaying through AppleTV to those speakers) is smart enough, you already have a better incarnation of any new HomePod concept this way... perhaps far beyond another standalone box with narrow "smarts" built (er... LOCKED) into it.
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this is a welcome rumour: the original homepod sounds superb. they just need to fix the capacitor issues & put a modern chip inside. mine lasted two years before being swapped out, thankfully under warranty, but there was clearly a design flaw with them leading to an extremely high failure rate which warranted a replacement program. we never got one of those, presumably because so few of us actually bought them.
the mini sounds good for its size, but as a single speaker it obviously cannot compete with the cavernous bass the original could kick out with its 4" woofer.
the mini sounds good for its size, but as a single speaker it obviously cannot compete with the cavernous bass the original could kick out with its 4" woofer.
Often if I ask Siri to play anything specific, she starts to play something from Evita. My son asked for Pantera: Walk, and it started playing Frozen: Do you want to build a snowman.
Siri is such a shame these days to the point I just turn it off. Anything I would want to know it refers me to a website so unless it’s time or weather it’s useless so I always disable it as it will often pop up if I accidentally press something.
Feels like Apple needs to bite the bullet on Siri and offer the ability to use another voice assistant by default. I can only imagine those poor souls using Siri only Apple Music.
Feels like Apple needs to bite the bullet on Siri and offer the ability to use another voice assistant by default. I can only imagine those poor souls using Siri only Apple Music.
Goldilocks and the 3-bears market adaption strategy.
The big one sounded great but was too expensive.
The little one was priced right but is too quiet.
The middle one will sound great and loud and be priced just right.
The big one sounded great but was too expensive.
The little one was priced right but is too quiet.
The middle one will sound great and loud and be priced just right.
Great news. The original HomePod is a great product but Apple blew the messaging. Glad to see them willing to give it another try.
Some innovation, let’s see…….how about a screen on top emitting colored lights whiie playing along with the beat of the music?
Also, the name of the song playing on screen as well.
Or tinny lights hidden within the globe’s mesh playing along with music and can have an option to emit laser with different lights. ???
Also, the name of the song playing on screen as well.
Or tinny lights hidden within the globe’s mesh playing along with music and can have an option to emit laser with different lights. ???
If the full-sized HomePod is being resurrected, I just want:
- Ultra wideband, Thread, and Wi-Fi 6
- A12 or better for future proofing
- Upfiring speakers for better Dolby Atmos
- Discounted 2-pack bundle
- HomePod Soundbar, similar to Sonos Arc
- HomePod Subwoofer add-on
- HomePod mini revised with better sound and a small display for widget or Apple Watch style complication (e.g., time)
Nope. Those items don't interest me at all.
Another couple of large HomePods certainly does. I have five originals and two Minis. Would def purchase a couple more large ones.
The price was great for the beamforming tech and sound. I've yet to have a power cable "go bad." Don't need bluetooth as every device I have can Airplay. A 3.5mm input, no, wouldn't be something I'd use.
Also...always knew Apple was working on another larger HomePod. The underlying beamforming tech was too good to abandon.
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Let’s hope it sounds as good if not better than the original. I love the OG Homepod!
I would definitely have bought a LARGER Homepod than the OG homepods, if they had come out with it in due course. But now I would be happy just to be able to replace the existing ones if they go kaboom. Or BZZHT or whatever.??
People are not giving these Homepods the love they deserve. Maybe their playlists are sad and depressing to begin with? Benefit of the doubt, good people, benefit of the doubt.??
People are not giving these Homepods the love they deserve. Maybe their playlists are sad and depressing to begin with? Benefit of the doubt, good people, benefit of the doubt.??
As much as I'd love to see it too I can't imagine Apple ever giving us a 3.5mm input on a HomePod. I have two HomePod minis paired to my MBP, they're awesome until you try to use them as output when on a Zoom call (horrible lag) and totes unreliable when the MBP goes to sleep (you either have to restart the MacBook or the HomePods to be able to reconnect to them). A wired connection to them would solve that problem but like I said I seriously doubt Apple would give us that.
I have a Bose Sounddock in the attic which is redundant as has no 3.5mm input and only takes a 30-pin iPod (admittedly the Sounddock 2 did feature a 3.5mm input). It's stuff like that leads to more electrical waste sadly where manufacturers limit the lifespan of products by refusing to open them up to be used as direct audio sources rather than just proprietary connections such as AirPlay.
I have a Bose Sounddock in the attic which is redundant as has no 3.5mm input and only takes a 30-pin iPod (admittedly the Sounddock 2 did feature a 3.5mm input). It's stuff like that leads to more electrical waste sadly where manufacturers limit the lifespan of products by refusing to open them up to be used as direct audio sources rather than just proprietary connections such as AirPlay.
I'm not so sure I agree with your last comment. If it had a camera it could finally mean FaceTime on AppleTV. That would be a useful thing. We occasionally mirror a phone to the TV for this purpose but it's awkward at best.
I really believe they intended to make a new model of the HomePod to release along side the mini then Covid hit and they put the resources elsewhere.
And Apple WILL not succeed with HomePod, until they fix up the teams around HomePod.
The problem is not the HomePod hardware, it's
- HomeKit remains a dumpster fire, and after 5+ years of sucking, no-one is optimistic this will change
- Apple TV has kept changing the rules of exactly how an aTV will pair with HomePod (along with its own 2 years of relentless bugs)
In other words the things that are supposed to make HomePod BETTER than a $30 Amazon echo just DO NOT WORK. Until this changes, what does Apple expect?
The problem is not the HomePod hardware, it's
- HomeKit remains a dumpster fire, and after 5+ years of sucking, no-one is optimistic this will change
- Apple TV has kept changing the rules of exactly how an aTV will pair with HomePod (along with its own 2 years of relentless bugs)
In other words the things that are supposed to make HomePod BETTER than a $30 Amazon echo just DO NOT WORK. Until this changes, what does Apple expect?
Agreed
For me though, I'm not buying something like these without alternative inputs of some kind.
I don't want speakers that are so damned locked down.
As you said, it really limits flexibility and longevity.
If they'd make a SoundBar version I'd consider it, as long as I could connect with HDMI ARC ... and I would consider having that allow wireless connection to other HomePod hardware for rear speakers/around the room...
They have a tough road to hoe in order to beat my current ZVOX SB500 though. Thing looks great, "just works" and sounds fantastic and has great voice clarity/dialogue modes.
Ultimately I want some way to get audio into the overall setup, with a wire.
Wouldn’t there be a lag from over wifi from camera homepod to Apple TV?
All FaceTime devices are currently hardwired to their screen output.
Ah, well Citysnaps has declared these features are useless, therefore none of us can have them. Drat.