I don’t think the HomePod is supposed to compete with those speakers. Apple is designing it primarily to play music, so the emphasis on sound quality puts it in a different category altogether.
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What to Expect From Apple in 2018: Three New iPhones and iPad Pro With Face ID, HomePod, Refreshed Macs, and More
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There is always a market for new stereo equipment. A portable, unobtrusive speaker array with high quality sound does not exist yet, and that’s what the homepod supposedly is. Assuming that Apple is trying to make a product that fits into existing paradigms is exactly why most people just don’t get Apple at all.
10 is nonsense, but it's definitely not 1GB. The current SE has 2. The next might stay at 2 (assuming there really is an SE2).
RE: "The Mac mini, which hasn't been updated since 2014, is in dire need of a refresh."
This is the ONLY Apple product that has ANY chance to make a BIG splash in CY2018 ... and NOT because of anything "special" that Apple has done or will do, but rather, because of the upcoming third-party apps that intend to piggy-back on it's use !
If priced-right, it will be Apple's top-selling product in CY2018.
If NOT, then CY2018 will see Apple trading at ~$700B (or less) by year's end.
Also, Congrats to Davante Adams on his just-announced 4-year / $56M contract extension ... well deserved ! ... UN-like the recent payout announced for Tim Cook, aka "The Governor".
This is the ONLY Apple product that has ANY chance to make a BIG splash in CY2018 ... and NOT because of anything "special" that Apple has done or will do, but rather, because of the upcoming third-party apps that intend to piggy-back on it's use !
If priced-right, it will be Apple's top-selling product in CY2018.
If NOT, then CY2018 will see Apple trading at ~$700B (or less) by year's end.
Also, Congrats to Davante Adams on his just-announced 4-year / $56M contract extension ... well deserved ! ... UN-like the recent payout announced for Tim Cook, aka "The Governor".
I was very enthusiastic about the HomePod when I first heard about it. But what the heck happened? Christmas came and my husband stuffed the house with the Amazon Echos he asked me for Christmas. And that was the end of that. 
They really goofed, missing another holiday season and giving Amazon and Google another year to take over all the rooms in people’s houses. I know the emphasis is on sound quality but the Echos sound pretty good and they’re more affordable.
They really goofed, missing another holiday season and giving Amazon and Google another year to take over all the rooms in people’s houses. I know the emphasis is on sound quality but the Echos sound pretty good and they’re more affordable.
HomePod and the air power will be what people will look foreward to first
Air power will be great charging everything together for sure.
Air power will be great charging everything together for sure.
I guess we’ll see. I’ve already had some argue that within a year the HomePod will be outselling Amazon Echo and Google Home combined just like the Apple Watch has outsold other wearables. I guess we’ll wait and see. I don’t see it outselling those two, but time will tell.
As far as portable, unobtrusive speakers that sound good there are all sorts of them on the market already. Now most are Bluetooth or Airplay, but Amazon and Google are starting to integrate their platform into other audio brands products. Also from reviews the Google Home Max sounds very good. If Apple is focusing mainly on sound quality I can think of several companies that can compete.
I know Bose is love it or hate it, but I honestly think soon we’re going to have Bose speakers with integrated Google Home. They already have a partnership on the new QC 35 II with integrated Google Assistant so you know speakers are on the way. They’ve been trying to do their own SoundTouch platform, but I think they’d be happy to just integrate Google Assistant and be done with it.
Sonos is already pretty deep in with Amazon so if Bose links up with Google sound and stylewise the HomePod will face competition from all sides. Good luck on this market Apple. I think it’s going to be a tougher road for them then phones and wearables have been.
As already mentioned.
I would feel Face ID on a tablet MUST work in both landscape and portrait orientation.
Given both sensors are looking at the same point in space (your face) I can't see why it need be THAT hard to make it work.
And of course, if it does work on the iPads in any orientation, then the good news should mean that an update will also make it work in any orientation on future iPhones also.
I would feel Face ID on a tablet MUST work in both landscape and portrait orientation.
Given both sensors are looking at the same point in space (your face) I can't see why it need be THAT hard to make it work.
And of course, if it does work on the iPads in any orientation, then the good news should mean that an update will also make it work in any orientation on future iPhones also.
What Apple needs to create is the “MacPod”. Instead of replacing your entire computer when you need to upgrade, just add another ‘Pod to the setup. They could even be pocket-sized to be kept in pockets and bags for mobile computing. Then we merely interact with a screen, which is the “host” pod in the setup.
In fact, they could deliver this experience today if they re-employed Xgrid technology. With so many powerful Apple devices now in the wild, such as within a family home, all devices could share their processing power and free CPU cycles.
This was such a brilliant idea. I wonder why Apple dropped it. I think they got distracted by their insane growth as a company and per-unit sales.
In fact, they could deliver this experience today if they re-employed Xgrid technology. With so many powerful Apple devices now in the wild, such as within a family home, all devices could share their processing power and free CPU cycles.
This was such a brilliant idea. I wonder why Apple dropped it. I think they got distracted by their insane growth as a company and per-unit sales.
2018 is the year I skip most Apple products. HomePod, no interest as I have a surround sound system already. Airpower, most likely to be overpriced so I won't bother though if it is in the ballpark I'll get it. Don't need another X type device for at least 2 or 3 years at this rate unless Apple steps up and revamps the OS completely to add better functionality but at this point I'm not holding my breath. Definitely don't use my iPad enough to warrant a new one. MacBook, just bought a new one in 2016 don't need to upgrade for 2 or 3 more years. Apple Watch... won't include any rumored additions like EKG because that requires serious ok's and while Apple can fast track stuff.. they can't fast track the requirements for this by mid-end 2018 so I don't need another watch when again the software isn't up to par. Can't customize the watch faces, no watch face store.. and the apps are pretty poorly developed with very limited functions. I've seen some companies releasing rings that track heart rate and other features, would like to see Apple release something like that. So if you don't want a watch on, you could still get some readings directly on the ring that's tied to your phone.
I've already set myself up for a good couple years, if I stick with Apple that long. I don't see any purchases or very limited for me in 2018. AirPods 2.0 with new health features would get me super excited but I'm not holding my breath on that either. I'm sure plenty of people will upgrade their units but after seeing how 2017 came and went, I feel Apple is very very much in need of a massive software upgrade across the board. You can dress up a window all you want.. but what's inside it is what really counts. Hardware is there for Apple.. now lets put some serious thought into the software development side. Give long time users who've grown up with your products something more!
I've already set myself up for a good couple years, if I stick with Apple that long. I don't see any purchases or very limited for me in 2018. AirPods 2.0 with new health features would get me super excited but I'm not holding my breath on that either. I'm sure plenty of people will upgrade their units but after seeing how 2017 came and went, I feel Apple is very very much in need of a massive software upgrade across the board. You can dress up a window all you want.. but what's inside it is what really counts. Hardware is there for Apple.. now lets put some serious thought into the software development side. Give long time users who've grown up with your products something more!
Exactly the same here. Performance is acceptable again after replacing the battery. Yet, I might chose iPhone 9 next year assuming X will continue to exist but some more features will show up in the regular, but more affordable iPhone line.
I’m sure there will be a few people who buy the HomePod, and they’ll rave about how amazing and wonderful it is... but I expect that’s going to be a very short-lived product line. Apple has totally missed the boat.
But there will probably be one - rather delayed - refresh before Apple kills it off.
(Just want to get my two cents in ahead of Ming-Chi Kuo)
But there will probably be one - rather delayed - refresh before Apple kills it off.
(Just want to get my two cents in ahead of Ming-Chi Kuo)
My predictions for 2018/2019
Spring Event (late Feb, early March 2018)
HomePod
iPad refresh
Airpower
iPhone SE refresh
WWDC (June 2018)
All Mac lineup refresh
-Macbook Air dropped
-Macbook spec refresh
-Macbook Pro 13'' dual core with quad core option
-Macbook Pro 15'' quad core 15'' with hexcore option, Vega gpus
-iMac refresh 21'' quadcore/4K default, 27'' hexcore/5K default+Vega gpus, SSDs default
-Mac mini refresh
Software previews
iPhone event (Sept 2018)
iPhone 8s/8s+ LCD
iPhone Xs/Xs+? OLED
Apple Watch refresh
AirPods 2
Mac Pro teaser
Apple display teaser
Spring Event (late Feb, early March 2019)
Mac Pro launch
Apple display launch FaceID
iPad redesign - FaceID
Apple TV redesign (slimmer, more functionality, doubled as an airport express)
WWDC (June 2019)
All Macbook redesign - FaceID
All iMac redesign - FaceID
Software previews
iPhone event (Sept 2018)
iPhone LCD dropped
iPhone Xss/Xss+? (OLED)
Apple Watch redesign (slimmer)
HomePod update
Spring Event (late Feb, early March 2018)
HomePod
iPad refresh
Airpower
iPhone SE refresh
WWDC (June 2018)
All Mac lineup refresh
-Macbook Air dropped
-Macbook spec refresh
-Macbook Pro 13'' dual core with quad core option
-Macbook Pro 15'' quad core 15'' with hexcore option, Vega gpus
-iMac refresh 21'' quadcore/4K default, 27'' hexcore/5K default+Vega gpus, SSDs default
-Mac mini refresh
Software previews
iPhone event (Sept 2018)
iPhone 8s/8s+ LCD
iPhone Xs/Xs+? OLED
Apple Watch refresh
AirPods 2
Mac Pro teaser
Apple display teaser
Spring Event (late Feb, early March 2019)
Mac Pro launch
Apple display launch FaceID
iPad redesign - FaceID
Apple TV redesign (slimmer, more functionality, doubled as an airport express)
WWDC (June 2019)
All Macbook redesign - FaceID
All iMac redesign - FaceID
Software previews
iPhone event (Sept 2018)
iPhone LCD dropped
iPhone Xss/Xss+? (OLED)
Apple Watch redesign (slimmer)
HomePod update
if 6.1" LCD comes to fruition, my mom will appreciate the bigger screen and more comfortable phone. She has been struggling with 4.7 iPhone 6S for some time - screen size and battery. I was ready to upgrade her to + size, but I guess I will take the advantage of $29 battery replacement and wait till 2018 iPhones are out to upgrade her.
Comfortable for her eyes I guess, not really comfortable to hold with one hand though.