Tag: homepod
The Next HomePod Could Rival Amazon’s Echo Show
It’s been five years since Apple debuted the HomePod, a smart home speaker with impressive specs that didn’t sell very well. The company discontinued the original HomePod in 2021 in favor of the HomePod Mini and a second generation in 2023. But now it seems the device may get something new.
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Kuo: Apple to Launch Redesigned HomePod With 7-Inch Display in 2024
In a brief post on Medium, Kuo wrote that the next-generation HomePod’s display could facilitate deeper integration with Apple’s other hardware products.
Tianma apparently will be a beneficiary of Apple’s “revamped smart home strategy,” becoming the sole supplier of the redesigned HomePod’s display. If its participation in manufacturing the new HomePod goes well, Tianma may be entrusted to supply iPad panels in the future.
In 2021, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman was first to suggest that Apple is working on new HomePod models with displays and cameras. He has also reported that Apple is working on multi-touch functionality for the HomePod. In the long term, Apple is believed to be rethinking its smart home strategy and is reportedly working on a combined Apple TV and HomePod device, as well as a HomePod with a screen mounted on a robotic arm. The HomePod already runs a variant of tvOS, but there are some indications that Apple is working on a new “homeOS” platform.
This article, “Kuo: Apple to Launch Redesigned HomePod With 7-Inch Display in 2024” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Apple HomePod (2nd generation) review: The best speaker in Apple’s walled garden
The MacRumors Show: David Lewis Talks AirPods, HomePod, and Apple Music in 2023
David is a tech YouTuber and podcaster with a background in broadcast radio, jazz music, and voice-overs – giving him unique insights on Apple’s audio products and services. See more of David’s work over on his YouTube channel or follow him on Twitter @Dtalkingtech.
Following a major update for the AirPods Pro and the reintroduction of the full-size HomePod, as well as acquisitions of companies like Primephonic and AI Music, Apple seems to have doubled-down on its commitment to audio technology. Yet, amid the delay in launching Apple Classical, a long wait time before the second-generation AirPods Max are expected to be released in late 2025, and fierce competition from companies like Spotify, plenty of questions remain about the direction of Apple’s audio products and services over the next few years.
We also discuss some of the latest news, including Apple’s breakthrough with non-invasive blood glucose technology designed for the Apple Watch, Apple suppliers making a start on a cheaper second-generation mixed-reality headset, and the sealed original iPhone that sold for over $63,000 at auction.
Listen to The MacRumors Show in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Pocket Casts, Castro, Google Podcasts, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player. Watch a video version of the show on the MacRumors YouTube channel.
If you haven’t already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up for our in-depth discussion about Apple’s positioning in the ongoing race to develop generative AI tools.
Subscribe to The MacRumors Show for more episodes, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by exciting guests like Andru Edwards, Tyler Stalman, Jon Prosser, Sam Kohl, Quinn Nelson, John Gruber, Federico Viticci, Sara Dietschy, Luke Miani, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, iJustine, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, Jon Rettinger, Rene Ritchie, and Mark Gurman. Remember to rate and review the show, and let us know what subjects you would like the podcast to cover in the future.
This article, “The MacRumors Show: David Lewis Talks AirPods, HomePod, and Apple Music in 2023” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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HomePod vs HomePod Mini: Which one of Apple’s smart speakers is right for you?
Apple HomePod (2023) review: Great news! The HomePod is back
Apple Releases HomePod 16.3.2 Software With Fix for Siri Request Failures
According to Apple’s release notes, HomePod software version 16.3.2 addresses an ongoing problem with HomeKit-related Siri requests, which could fail.
This update addresses an issue where asking Siri for smart home requests may fail, and also includes general performance and stability improvements.
There have been multiple complaints about Siri failing to correctly respond to a HomeKit-related requests the first time a request is received, with a timeout occurring. The update should fix that problem for those who have been impacted.
This article, “Apple Releases HomePod 16.3.2 Software With Fix for Siri Request Failures” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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HomePod (2023) vs. HomePod mini: Worth the upgrade?
Apple’s new HomePod (2023) is, at first glance, a dead ringer for the original HomePod, which launched in 2018. In the meantime, Apple launched the HomePod mini, which was the company’s only speaker for nearly two years, as the original HomePod was discontinued in early 2021.
The new HomePod and the HomePod mini share a similar set of features, though at very different price points. So should you go for one HomePod, or buy two HomePods mini instead (leaving you with a hundred bucks to spare)? Let’s dive in.
Cute, small and colorful versus big and beautiful
Just like the original, the new HomePod has a cylindrical shape, and is dressed in an interwoven mesh fabric, with volume controls, and an animated touch display on top, which lights up when you invoke Siri. The HomePod mini is smaller, cuter, and way lighter (5.16 pounds vs. 0.76 pounds), but its basic features are the same: Mesh fabric cover, touch display and volume controls on top. It is way more colorful, though, as you can get it in Space Gray, Blue, White, Yellow, and Orange, whereas the HomePod only comes in Midnight and White colors.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
It’s worth noting that, due to the sheer size difference, the HomePod is a far more striking and beautiful object to place in your home. Mini is almost inconsequential; I’ve owned it for a year, and over time it got pushed behind the TV by other objects such as fruit baskets and candles. The HomePod, especially if you buy two, is something that you definitely want to be seen.
The same set of features
In terms of features, the HomePod and the HomePod mini are remarkably similar. They both support Bluetooth 5 and Wi-Fi 802.11n connectivity, come with an accelerometer as well as humidity and temperature sensors, and have sound recognition capabilities.
Despite the fact that the HomePod mini has an older chip (Apple’s S5 vs. HomePod’s S7), it’s hard to point at a feature that the HomePod mini doesn’t have. It seamlessly integrates with other Apple devices, runs Siri just the same, and can be paired with another mini to get stereo sound. It even has four microphones listening for input, just like its bigger, younger brother. If you want to nitpick, the HomePod has a detachable power cable, whereas the HomePod mini has a non-detachable USB-C cable which has to be plugged into an external, 20W power adapter. Neither speaker is designed to be moved around too often, so once you set them up, you probably won’t notice.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
The similarities stop at the way these two speakers produce sound. The HomePod has an array of five tweeters firing in all directions, coupled with a 4-inch woofer. The HomePod mini has an entirely different design, with a single speaker and two passive radiators, which improve its bass response, but cannot get it to sound as deep as the new HomePod.
HomePod likes pop, HomePod mini likes rock
I’ve compared the HomePod to the HomePod mini side-by-side. When you listen to each speaker separately, they sound similar, with lots of bass and a surprising airiness to the sound. But when you actually compare them directly, switching from one to the other at same volume, the difference is astounding. Switching from the smaller to the bigger speaker is like listening to a concert through a closed door, and then opening it and stepping inside.
The HomePod is louder and has more bass, but it also has tons more clarity and definition across the entire frequency range. That’s not to say the HomePod mini sounds bad; it just cannot hold a candle to the bigger speaker.
The difference is most pronounced when reproducing bassy pop and hip hop, like something from Rosalia or Drake. Interestingly, even though the HomePod still sounds better, the difference is much smaller when listening to rock, like Queens of the Stone Age or All Them Witches. The HomePod offers more clarity, but the HomePod mini has a better sound mix, with the instruments nicely tied together, the bass and the distorted guitars happily producing a punchy, deep sound. In contrast, the HomePod puts too much treble in the mix. I’ve said this in my HomePod review, and I’ll repeat it here: It’s a pity that Apple doesn’t offer any sort of equalizer for the HomePods, as they could both benefit from some fine tuning.
The real question for prospective buyers, I think, is whether to buy two HomePods mini for $198 or one HomePod for $299. Adding another speaker to the mix gives you stereo and vastly improves the overall sound. Given that the feature list between the HomePod and HomePod mini is practically identical, going for two minis is a good cost-conscious option. Of course, if money is no object, go for two HomePods; doubling down does wonders for the sound and makes the speakers a great option for home cinema audio.
Apple HomePod (2023) review: Big sound for Apple fans
Apple’s HomePod is back after a few years of absence, and frankly, it hasn’t really changed much.
The original HomePod, which launched in 2018, was discontinued early in 2021, leaving an empty void in the lives of people who wanted an Apple speaker that can produce a bigger sound than the HomePod mini. It was an ambitious product for its time, with an array of 7 tweeters, 6 microphones, and Apple tech wizardry which allowed it to adapt its sound for every room. It also had an ambitiously high price to match at $349, which probably contributed to its quick demise.
Things have changed since then. On the one hand, smart speakers are so ubiquitous that you can now buy a decent-sounding speaker at Ikea for $99; on the other, you can easily spend $2,000 decking out your house with an array of Sonos or Bose smart speakers.
Same old design, but it still looks great
With the new HomePod, Apple seemingly decided to walk the middle of that road. The new HomePod is 0.2 inches shorter, a little cheaper at $299, and a little less powerful, with 5 tweeters and 4 microphones (the subwoofer is still here and it still has the same 4-inch diameter). It’s powered by Apple’s new S7 chip, and it now comes with humidity, temperature, and sound recognition sensors.
You wouldn’t notice the changes just by looking at it from afar. The new HomePod still looks pretty much the same, the only major design difference being the new, Midnight color (replacing the Space Grey which wasn’t all that different). I don’t mind the unchanged design, because HomePod is still beautiful. The mesh fabric body is soft to the touch and pleasing to the eye, especially when you get close enough to notice the latticed weaving pattern. The eye of Siri that pops up on top when you invoke it is bigger than on the first generation, and is still really cool to look at, especially in a dark room. But the most important thing about the design, to me, is that the HomePod will fit well into any home.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
The new sensors (which, surprisingly, have also been built into the HomePod mini all this time, but Apple only decided to enable them now, two years after launch) are a nice addition, but not groundbreaking. They make the HomePod a little more viable as a hub for your smart home, enabling you to quickly check the temperature in various rooms in your house (if you have more than one HomePod), and informing you when, say, a carbon monoxide alarm has gone off.
Apple’s warm embrace
The best thing about the HomePod, if you own a lot of Apple gadgets, is just how great they all work with one another. Setting up one HomePod was incredibly easy; I plugged it in, scanned it with my iPhone, and I was all set. Adding another was even easier, with Apple immediately asking whether you want them to reproduce stereo sound (you can only do that with two identical HomePods; you cannot have stereo playback with a HomePod and a HomePod mini). I used eARC on my LG television set to get the HomePod to act as speakers for my TV, with the help of Apple TV 4K, and it worked seamlessly. I even started using Apple’s Home app, which I rarely did before, to overview and control all aspects of my smart home setup, and found it to be quite capable.
Thanks to its built-in mics, the HomePod is great at catching your voice commands, even if you shout them over several other Apple gadgets which are also listening for input. Siri is still the same old Siri, often surprisingly smart, sometimes frustratingly unable to understand what you want (and no, you can’t get any other voice assistant to work on the HomePod).
Most of my frustrations with Siri are due to Apple’s lack of integration with third-party services such as Spotify. I’d ask her to play a song, and she’d refuse, simply because Spotify has that particular song and Apple Music doesn’t. Sure, I can beam a Spotify song to the HomePod via AirPlay, but it takes that extra second that you often just don’t want to spend. Full integration for Tidal and Amazon Music is similarly absent, though Apple supports some third-party services, namely Deezer and Pandora.
Even when confined to the warm, cozy world of Apple’s ecosystem, you’ll occasionally experience bugs. Sometimes, playback would pause for no discernible reason (fortunately, it quickly resumed again). Unlike the Home app on my iPhone, that same app on my MacBook Pro never displayed the two HomePods in my living room. Overall, though, the integration between all the moving parts of my system, especially those bearing the Apple logo, is great.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
If I could change one major thing about the HomePod, I’d make it battery-powered. It’d be nice if I were able to just plug it out and carry it to the terrace, or to another room, or even on a trip. It is fairly heavy at 5.16 pounds, but it’s not so unwieldy that it couldn’t be a portable product; Sonos’ portable Move speaker, for example, is larger and heavier (an obvious caveat to this is that the HomePod would also be larger and heavier if it included a battery). Perhaps Apple could include a battery-powered version in the future.
Sound that fills up the room
The sound coming out of the HomePod (or two HomePods) is surprisingly big. Thanks to the way the HomePod is designed, with five tweeters firing sound in all directions, and Apple’s computational audio magic, it produces an airy, loud sound, and it sounds good no matter where you stand in the room.
As if trying to prove that a small speaker can reproduce deep bass, the sound signature coming out of the HomePod is incredibly bass-heavy. This may be desirable at a party, but for home listening, the bass was too loud and distracting. Hidden in the HomePod settings in the Home app is the option to “Reduce Bass,” but I feel it does too much reducing. An equalizer of some sort, or at least a few more presets, would be a good thing to add (Apple Music does offer a number of presets in the settings, but they don’t work on the HomePod).
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
Partially thanks to that booming bass, the HomePod has a slightly muffled sound in the treble and mid-range. I compared it to my $149 Audio Pro T3 speaker, which produces an incredibly bright and detailed sound for its size, and when I switched from the T3 to the HomePod, it sounded like the vocals took a step back. To be fair, the T3 gets lost when forced to reproduce anything with more than two instruments, whereas the HomePod has a more balanced sound, and sounds better when you’re not sitting directly in front of it.
I’ve had the luxury of connecting two HomePod speakers to get a stereo sound. Unsurprisingly, everything got exponentially better; the sound stage became decent in size, both horizontally and vertically, the sound got a lot louder, drums and percussion were rich and detailed, and bass was precise and surprisingly deep. The vocals and acoustic guitars still weren’t as clear as I would’ve liked. Again, if Apple would just give me an equalizer, I think I could get the HomePod to sound even better with some fine-tuning.
Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable
Sonically, the HomePod is at home when you play modern pop; The Weeknd, Billie Eilish and Rosalia all sounded great. It wasn’t too content with the crunchy rock sounds of The Arctic Monkeys and The Mars Volta, offering a slightly thin sound, but it still did a decent job. Intimate, acoustic performances such as Fink’s Wheels Turn Beneath My Feet will give you an amazing sense of space, as if you were there in the auditorium, but the vocals will sadly always stay a little too subdued.
The HomePod is good, but consider the HomePod mini
The new HomePod is one of those product upgrades that’s typical of Apple: Not groundbreaking, but offering just enough novelty to nudge you towards a purchase. The reduced starting price helps, too. This goes for people who want a HomePod but don’t have one. That is: If you own the original HomePod (or two), you probably don’t need to upgrade.
If you’re starting from scratch, the competition is tough. If you look hard enough, you’ll find better-sounding speakers, and you’ll find cheaper ones too. You’ll probably find a speaker that’s better suited to your musical taste. But you definitely won’t find a speaker that sounds this good will playing so nice with all the other Apple gadgets. Oddly, perhaps the HomePod’s biggest competitor is Apple’s HomePod mini; you can buy three for the price of one HomePod, and it comes with a near-identical set of features.