Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Unreleased HomePod With LCD Display Allegedly Shown in Images [Update]
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
The current HomePods have a 19-LED array on the top that can only display colour patterns, it's not the same as an actual LCD panel.
Right! The HomePod is 5+ years old and iOS is still so buggy. Unresponsive buttons, AirPlay failing, wrong artwork, … I just don’t get why they can’t make it better.
I wouldn’t mind a HomePod with a screen for a simple clock. Obviously the screen would have other uses that I would want to use with as well, but specifically a simple clock would be nice to have. A countdown timer for a HomePod in the kitchen would be nice as well.
I probably wouldn’t want that simple clock on the very top of the device though. Especially since my Amazon Echo in the kitchen is currently on top of my refrigerator (so I would need to be eight feet tall to see the screen in that case, lol).
I probably wouldn’t want that simple clock on the very top of the device though. Especially since my Amazon Echo in the kitchen is currently on top of my refrigerator (so I would need to be eight feet tall to see the screen in that case, lol).
We have a black and a white original home pod on either side of the living room sofa bought when they first came out sometime in 2018. Made it easier identify which one I was working with in the software. They still do what we bought them for. Play Music from the vast Apple Music library over WiFi.
They can create room filling sound if the volume is cranked up that over rides any ability to have a conversation. Still very clear sound and good bass.
Like many things I have forgotten, I do not remember the acquisition cost (looked it up online and it was $349 each) but it was worth it for the many years of excellent service being a strong sound system taking up minimal space. For us, this was great design.
My wife is British and Siri has finally learned how to understand her soft voice and accent.
They can create room filling sound if the volume is cranked up that over rides any ability to have a conversation. Still very clear sound and good bass.
Like many things I have forgotten, I do not remember the acquisition cost (looked it up online and it was $349 each) but it was worth it for the many years of excellent service being a strong sound system taking up minimal space. For us, this was great design.
My wife is British and Siri has finally learned how to understand her soft voice and accent.
So now the question is WHY was that feature so hard to find??? I literally sold my Home Pods because they didn't seem to have a way I could run them without internet, nor could I use them to allow a guest (heck, maybe someone on an Android device?) to share their music at a party. Closing the system closes my wallet.
When the Design Language of a product sends such a solid DON'T DO THIS signal, as the power plug in the Home Pod does, I figure it is for a reason. I start to think, if I pull this out, will I break a solder joint? Will I able to put this back in so that it looks OK after I've pulled this out?
If what you are telling me is true, that I could have just pulled it out anyway, this is also a failure in the design because it RESOUNDINGLY sends the message DO NOT PULL THIS OUT!! I don't need Apple to prescribe every nuance of how I want to use their products.
I may be risky or not. Don’t really care as I had AppleCare+ so if I messed anything up I could just get a replacement. It turned out to be much more simpler than I thought. Straightforward and never felt like I could damage it.
Feel like that is just something they are adding to charge more. How many people have/want to touch their homepods when you can do everything right from the phone/voice commands. I would rather them improve the reliability of the homepods and the software instead of focusing on external features that don't really add anything meaningful to what homepods do.
Didn't Kuo said it's going to be looking like this?
And Gurman said it's going to be looking like this?
Then someone else said it's going to be like this?
Meanwhile Apple will keep giving you this:
And Gurman said it's going to be looking like this?
Then someone else said it's going to be like this?
Meanwhile Apple will keep giving you this:
The UI and layout of WatchOS would work fantastic on the HomePod for things like Apple Music. Spotify, Pandora, Shazam, and a basic home of Now Playing.
Half of WatchOS is tuned around circles (Home Screen) and watch faces (Lock Screen) while certain UIX elements like text and buttons are made to utilize the square. (Squircle?)
Emphasize central elements like track control interaction, and de-emphasize text like song / album / artist. Move that to the perimeter of the circle like text on many of the Apple Watch faces that bend around the round clocks.
Half of WatchOS is tuned around circles (Home Screen) and watch faces (Lock Screen) while certain UIX elements like text and buttons are made to utilize the square. (Squircle?)
Emphasize central elements like track control interaction, and de-emphasize text like song / album / artist. Move that to the perimeter of the circle like text on many of the Apple Watch faces that bend around the round clocks.
Screen on top really has no point for the added cost. Even something basic like a clock would be worthless from even a few feet away.
I literally have my HomePod Mini sitting on top of AppleTV. (the Siri volume/power control is nice for TV when lazily falling asleep on the couch!)
I don't know if I want to "combine" them, I like the modularity... like I've thought about buying another 1, 2 or even 3 for a multiple rooms or fuller room audio.
But at the same time, Apple TV, as a device, feels woefully devoid of purpose. Maybe it's the name though.
To be honest, Apple TV seems like it should have been part of the old AirPort router with Time Machine, or maybe rebrand it as a sort of station/hub/link device for various Home service, TV included, and maybe lots of other I/O. Maybe just an Apple branded NAS, a LAN copy of your iCloud if you want it to be that... they could really branch into some offline/cold storage + privacy type "features" too.
I was wondering if they were ever going to have a crack at the Nest Hub with their own version for cheapy cheap instead of using an iPad as a stand in option.
I have two original HomePods used as stereo speakers which are at a height just below my wall mounted tv so I can't see the benefit of this unfortunately, I definitely think they are testing the waters with the new display on the iPhone when charging on a stand sideways as a potential display going forward. If the HomePod was to get a screen it would have to be one facing towards me where I can see from where I am seated rather than having to walk over and stretch to look at a top screen just my thoughts on this 
I'd still prefer it for lower power consumption. Something that is literally always on, the impact of lower power usage gets multiplied out over a whole lot of time. The difference in just 5 watts is 3.6KWh per month (a 30 day month).
You must be so much fun at parties. Not to mention a great friend who pawns their "inheritance" at the first opportunity.
I have almost a dozen HomePods throughout the house, and while I love them in many ways, they are maybe Apple’s most frustrating product category. The software can be buggy, and rudimentary. Like in the bedroom. Why wouldn’t the volume of Siri’s voice be softer, like “bedtime mode”, or just off completely. And why aren’t more functions embedded in the RAM, so they can withstand minor fluctuations or dropouts of internet/Wi-Fi, which are and will be a fact of life for the foreseeable future? If my partner is listening to white noise during the night, and the internet/Wi-Fi gets wonky, the white noise should continue because… it’s white noise. Not a 4K version of The Lord of The Rings trilogy. And also, it’s people’s sleep. It’s kind of a sacred thing. Wanna get your product booted out of the bedroom? Screw with my partner’s sleep. Or anyone’s. It’s surprising that Apple isn’t using these products in their own homes, coming up against the same issues we do, anticipating others, and fixing them during design phase, or during beta.
This new leaked photo is… interesting, but I’m hoping for some super functional and compelling new designs, and a real doubling down on their commitment to both purpose and excellence in smart home offerings.
This new leaked photo is… interesting, but I’m hoping for some super functional and compelling new designs, and a real doubling down on their commitment to both purpose and excellence in smart home offerings.