I have 2 and think they are amazing (sound). With the sales and the way Apple is intergrating into Alexia and maybe google home soon I think the bigger question will be around IF there is a new HomePod, not when sadly
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HomePod Opinion: Is it to late to buy HomePod, should I wait for HomePod 2?
- Thread starter CosmicRichy
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Its a smart speaker. There is plenty of room for it to become smarter via software. And it does a very good job accurately reproducing and maintaining a equalized frequency response in the audible range aka not much room for improvement. There is actually plenty of room for improvement but it would be a large departure from the HomePod as it sits now.
I would think you are safe. And even if something new does come out ALL Apple updates are incremental. There are exceptions however the next year Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc doesn't typically offer enough that you'd be devastated by not waiting.
I would think you are safe. And even if something new does come out ALL Apple updates are incremental. There are exceptions however the next year Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc doesn't typically offer enough that you'd be devastated by not waiting.
The hardware was meticulously designed for the best possible sound and it nails it perfectly. I can’t see how they can improve on that. It also comes with microphones so sensitive that it can hear me speaking at a normal voice from a different room with music playing. I don’t think I can ask for better mic’s either. Finally, it comes with a chip that appears to be too powerful for what it does, with lot’s of room for growth. The HomePod is built for the long term.
HomePod has been following the upgrade path of the AppleTV. Hardware built to last with steady improvements in software to help build out its capabilities and assemble a large installed base of users. The original AppleTV was around for years with multiple generations of software upgrades before they came out with the puck and that too lasted years between hardware upgrades.
I would say you’re good to buy a HomePod that will last quite some time before any hardware upgrades are justified.
Does the homepod play albums mp3, flac etc from a macoook air?
The apple site does not list this
And how does Mozart symphonies sound through the homepod?
His prague sym sounded weak when i listen thru a homepod at the apple store in eatly 2018
Thanks!
The apple site does not list this
And how does Mozart symphonies sound through the homepod?
His prague sym sounded weak when i listen thru a homepod at the apple store in eatly 2018
Thanks!
It supports AirPlay, so I think it should function as an external player for any Apple device.
That said, in terms of in-person listening, while HomePods analyze their environments to best present sound, I feel like an Apple store is not going to be the best venue to hear one at its best based on surrounding acoustics.
I as not impressed with the store because the Bose store and Marshall store had better results, but i will be open minded next visit rhere
Until you listen to one in your intended spot (in your house) you will not appreciate its true sound the Homepod can product. I am in love with mine. Mine are not setup in true stereo since they are in different rooms, but listening to them together will moving between both rooms the sound is bliss!!!
Same with Sonos.....the blind tests show there is no difference or Homepod underperforms.
For the price you paid for one Homepod...I was able to get two Sonos set up in stereo and have access to way more services (including Apple).
At this point, there would be no reason for someone to choose a Homepod over Sonos.
For the price you paid for one Homepod...I was able to get two Sonos set up in stereo and have access to way more services (including Apple).
At this point, there would be no reason for someone to choose a Homepod over Sonos.
Can you use Siri voice control on the HomePod? Can it read my messages, make phone calls, or send messages, add events to my calendar.
If you are doing that (while your phone is sitting right next to you)..then it is the right product for you.....for the other 99.999999% of people....it would be a poor product choice when there are MUCH better and cheaper options.
Who said her phone was sitting right beside her? You’re making an assumption that may not be true. I frequently make calls/FaceTime audio calls via HomePod. I use it to put items on my todo list and and make calendar appointments. Sometimes my hands aren’t free to pick up my phone. Sometimes my phone and I aren’t in the same room.
To the @OP, I think you’ve limited your decision-making to either buying now or waiting an indeterminate amount of time for a presumably upgraded version. As I look at this, here’s what I see:
1- that you’re looking to get a HomePod at all, and on macrumors.com, imply you are invested in the Apple ecosystem, know what the product does, what it doesn’t do, and like it.
2- as others have pointed out, there is no official statement from Apple on a HomePod2, or other versions of HomePod, or even software upgrades for the existing HomePod. Nothing, nada, zippo. So any decision to wait is based on hope, not information. Hope is good, but it doesn’t get you a speaker.
3- Given #1 and #2 above, I think your answer is to jump on board with the current HomePod and enjoy it.
Now all that said, there are some other factors creeping around. There are alternative products that deliver wireless sound and voice recognition with some command capability, generally less costly but from companies with a good reputation and a history of delivering ongoing upgraded equipment. Those alternatives may or may not provide for your use cases but only you can decide that by investigating and evaluating them against your needs.
Also, the HomePod does not seem to have been a runaway best seller for Apple, more of a very, very niche product that does a few things very well and a lot more things not so well or not at all. This is just me, but from the sales numbers estimates I’ve read about in this and other forums, I’d say Apple is just as likely to abandon the HomePod as to develop a HomePod2. That doesn’t make the HomePod a bad buy at all, it just means you’ll need to love yours as it is and expect no new features/improvements. Quite frankly, that’s how we buy almost everything EXCEPT technology which, despite its high prices, is considered by manufacturers and more and more consumers as disposable.
So, I go back to my #3 above: get the current version if it meets your wants/needs, and enjoy the daylights out of it.
1- that you’re looking to get a HomePod at all, and on macrumors.com, imply you are invested in the Apple ecosystem, know what the product does, what it doesn’t do, and like it.
2- as others have pointed out, there is no official statement from Apple on a HomePod2, or other versions of HomePod, or even software upgrades for the existing HomePod. Nothing, nada, zippo. So any decision to wait is based on hope, not information. Hope is good, but it doesn’t get you a speaker.
3- Given #1 and #2 above, I think your answer is to jump on board with the current HomePod and enjoy it.
Now all that said, there are some other factors creeping around. There are alternative products that deliver wireless sound and voice recognition with some command capability, generally less costly but from companies with a good reputation and a history of delivering ongoing upgraded equipment. Those alternatives may or may not provide for your use cases but only you can decide that by investigating and evaluating them against your needs.
Also, the HomePod does not seem to have been a runaway best seller for Apple, more of a very, very niche product that does a few things very well and a lot more things not so well or not at all. This is just me, but from the sales numbers estimates I’ve read about in this and other forums, I’d say Apple is just as likely to abandon the HomePod as to develop a HomePod2. That doesn’t make the HomePod a bad buy at all, it just means you’ll need to love yours as it is and expect no new features/improvements. Quite frankly, that’s how we buy almost everything EXCEPT technology which, despite its high prices, is considered by manufacturers and more and more consumers as disposable.
So, I go back to my #3 above: get the current version if it meets your wants/needs, and enjoy the daylights out of it.
Yes - I can believe that
Homepods can sound great. But unfortunately the quality of some music on Apple Music - especially classical - is dreadful. It doesn't matter what you stream it too -Homepods, High-end headphones, Top quality wired speakers - its hit or miss how good it will sound.
Apple really need to up their game on this.
So to see how Homepods really can sound, try playing music you've ripped yourself from a well recorded CD. Either from itunes on a mac, or by streaming files you've uploaded to your phone.