Tag: homepod
The Original HomePod Returns, and It Might Be Worth Buying This Time
Two years after unceremoniously ditching the original HomePod, Apple is backtracking. The company just revealed its second-gen HomePod, a smart speaker that looks identical to its predecessor. It even carries the same $299 price tag! But this “new” speaker offers a few improvements that could entice you.
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Apple HomePod mini vs. Google Nest Audio
Apple’s HomePod Plans: What’s in the Works for 2023 and Beyond
At least one HomePod update is expected in 2023, though we may be waiting longer for some of the more fantastical functionality that we’ve seen rumored.
Larger-Sized HomePod (2023)
Apple in 2021 discontinued the original full-sized HomePod in order to focus on the more popular HomePod mini, but rumors suggest that Apple is once again ready to try selling a larger HomePod speaker.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said in 2020 that Apple is working on a HomePod that would be larger than the HomePod mini and closer in size to the original HomePod. It could be between the HomePod and HomePod mini in size, sound quality, and cost, offering an option for those who want something bigger than the mini but not as expensive as the first HomePod.
Such a speaker could be priced somewhere around $150 to $200, which would exceed the price of the $99 HomePod mini, but would be more affordable than the $299 HomePod.
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in May 2022 said that Apple is designing a new HomePod, but he did not provide specifics on sizing and he said there “may not be much innovation in hardware design” for the new HomePod. It’s possible that he was talking about the same middle-tier HomePod that Gurman has mentioned, but with a design similar to the HomePod.
The new HomePod could feature a multi-touch display on the top for physical control purposes, along with an S8 processor, the same processor that’s in the Apple Watch Series 8.
Kuo said that the new HomePod could come out in late 2022 or early 2023, while Gurman says the larger HomePod is on track for a 2023 launch.
With 2022 out now that the year is close to over, it’s sounding like we could see some kind of new HomePod option in the first quarter of the year, if the rumors are accurate. Apple could, perhaps, pair a new speaker announcement with the launch of Apple Music Classical, a new Apple Music feature that was slated for 2022 but did not come out.
New HomePod Mini (2023)
Alongside the larger HomePod that’s in the works, Apple could do a simple refresh of the HomePod mini. New features are not expected, nor are design changes, but updated colors would be easy enough for Apple to debut. If a new HomePod is slated for 2023, it’s likely that a minor refresh to the HomePod mini would come at the same time.
Apple TV and HomePod Hybrid
Apple in the future could combine the Apple TV and the HomePod into one device, creating a set-top box with high-end audio capabilities, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
This HomePod and Apple TV hybrid device could feature a camera for video calls, with a connected TV serving as the screen. It would function like an Apple TV, offering gaming, support for streaming content, and music playback.
The project was described as being in the early stages in 2021, and it is not yet clear if Apple will move forward with it, but it is a design idea that makes a lot of sense because the HomePod mini and the Apple TV both run the same operating system and are often used for some of the same purposes.
iPad and HomePod Hybrid
Apple has been experimenting with future HomePod designs that could include a screen of some kind, akin to the Google Nest Hub Max, the Echo Show, and the Facebook Portal.
Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman has described the device that Apple is working on as a high-end HomePod speaker connected to an iPad using a robotic arm. The arm would be able to rotate and move, following a user around the room when on a video call, for a more advanced version of the Center Stage video feature that Apple has added to some of its products.
The iPad/HomePod hybrid has been described as a device that is in the conceptualization stages, so there is a good chance that this one might never see the light of day. If it does come out, it could launch in the form of deeper integration between a future HomePod and iPad, along with an optional accessory arm to connect the two.
Apple has experimented with deeper integration between products for the past few years. The iPad and the Mac can link together to be controlled with one mouse or trackpad and one keyboard, for example, and the iPhone can link to a Mac to serve as its camera, so it would not be out of the question for Apple to pair the HomePod and iPad in new ways in the future.
This article, “Apple’s HomePod Plans: What’s in the Works for 2023 and Beyond” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Deals: You Can Get a HomePod Mini for $79.99 in Time for Christmas at Best Buy
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Best Buy. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
There are a few ways you can still get the HomePod mini in time for Christmas on Best Buy. You can choose in-store pick-up and see if a local Best Buy has stock, or you can get free two-day shipping with delivery dates estimated for December 23.
Best Buy is also offering a bonus deal on Nanoleaf smart lighting products when purchasing a HomePod mini. You can save $20 on select Nanoleaf packs, including the Nanoleaf Essentials A19 LED Bulbs 3-Pack and Essentials Smart LED Lightstrip. Just add the HomePod mini and one of the Nanoleaf items to your cart to see the discount.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
This article, “Deals: You Can Get a HomePod Mini for $79.99 in Time for Christmas at Best Buy” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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HomePod Mini Available to Order in Finland, Norway, and Sweden
HomePod mini pricing is set at €109 in Finland, 1,249 kr in Norway, and 1,295 kr in Sweden, compared to $99 in the United States.
Apple previously announced that the HomePod mini would be available in these countries starting December 13 and orders can be placed in advance. Apple said the HomePod mini will also be available in South Africa starting December 19 and in Denmark next year.
Apple first released the HomePod mini in the U.S. and select other countries in November 2020. With Siri, the smart speaker can be used for listening to music, controlling HomeKit smart home accessories, setting a timer, and other tasks. Beyond new colors, the device has not received any hardware changes since launching two years ago.
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What’s Next for HomePod Mini: Recapping the Latest Rumors
Below, we’ve recapped the latest rumors and expectations for the HomePod mini.
HomePod Mini History
- October 2020: Apple announces the HomePod mini during its iPhone 12 event.
- November 2020: HomePod mini launches November 16 in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the U.K., followed by Mexico and Taiwan on November 24.
- December 2020 – November 2021: HomePod mini launches in mainland China, Austria, Ireland, New Zealand, and Italy.
- March 2021: Apple discontinues the full-sized HomePod.
- November 2021: HomePod mini gets three new color options: yellow, orange, and blue.
- March 2022: HomePod mini launches in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
HomePod Mini Rumors
New Model
In August 2022, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman said that Apple was considering launching an updated version of the HomePod mini in the future, but he did not provide a specific timeframe or details about potential new features. He did say the update was unlikely to be “super-impressive,” suggesting any changes to the speaker would be minor.
More Countries
Apple is likely to launch the HomePod mini in Denmark, Finland, Norway, and Sweden in the foreseeable future based on Siri language support.
In recent software updates, the HomePod mini and full-sized HomePod gained support for Siri in Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish. Danish is still not supported on HomePods, but a report earlier this year indicated that the language was being tested.
Improved Home App
Starting with iOS 16.2, which remains in beta testing, an optional update is available for the Home app on the iPhone. Apple says the update improves the app’s performance, efficiency, and reliability for controlling smart home accessories.
To upgrade the Home app, all HomePod speakers associated with the same iCloud account as the iPhone must be updated to HomePod software version 16.2, which also remains in beta testing and is expected to be released alongside iOS 16.2 later this month.
This article, “What’s Next for HomePod Mini: Recapping the Latest Rumors” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Best Black Friday HomePod Mini Deals Still Available
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You’ll find the HomePod mini deals this year are mainly being offered by Verizon, available for $79.99, and so far no other retailer has matched this price. As with all Black Friday sales, be sure to be quick with your purchases because we’re never sure exactly how long these will last, and this sale in particular has already disappeared once this week.
If you’re looking for something other than the HomePod mini, be sure to visit our post on every Apple device currently on sale for Black Friday. Additionally, our Black Friday 2022 Roundup has all of the best deals and discounts on other Apple-related products and accessories happening today.
Need Help Deciding?
Our buyer’s guides are great shopping companions as you shop around this holiday season.
For full details on the HomePod mini, explore our roundup.
More Black Friday Deals
- Best Black Friday AirPods Deals
- Best Black Friday Apple TV Deals
- Best Black Friday iPhone Deals
- Best Black Friday Apple Watch Deals
- Best Black Friday iPad Deals
- Best Black Friday Mac Deals
- Best Black Friday HomeKit Accessory Deals
We’re keeping track of all of the season’s best Apple-related deals in our Black Friday roundup, so be sure to check back throughout the month for an updated list of all the most notable discounts you’ll find for Black Friday 2022.
This article, “Best Black Friday HomePod Mini Deals Still Available” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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HomePod Mini Likely to Launch in These Four Countries Next
In recent software updates, the HomePod and HomePod mini gained support for Siri in Swedish, Norwegian, and Finnish. Danish is still not supported on HomePods, but a report earlier this year indicated that the language was being tested.
First released in October 2020, the HomePod mini is currently available in 20 countries and territories, including the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, and the United Kingdom.
Apple made the HomePod mini available in yellow, orange, and blue last year, alongside space gray and white. In August, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman claimed that Apple was considering launching an updated version of the $99 smart speaker in the future, but he did not provide a specific timeframe or details about potential new features.
Apple discontinued the full-size HomePod in March 2021.
This article, “HomePod Mini Likely to Launch in These Four Countries Next” first appeared on MacRumors.com
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