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Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

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Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#81

Post by gormz »

dragonwriter wrote: post #80
gormz wrote: post #76

Earlier quoted context omitted.

consumers are happy because no one listens to music from an echo dot

I don't know about Echo Dot, but I definitely use my Home Mini for music. It's nothing special in that role, but actually better than I would expect, and music isn't the main use (controlling content being cast to the TV is a lot bigger use than listening to music from the speaker.) I guess I can understand getting one of the premium (Home Max, HomePod, etc.) smart speakers if direct music playback on the speaker is…

Yeah for sure. I just think that the full sized echo or the google home plays fairly good music. I don't see much of a use for the home max or the homepods.

What do I know though, I have 3' tall cerwin vegas in my living room and can't comprehend why someone would want something smaller

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#82

Post by Someone »

”it eked out 10 percent of the smart speaker market, compared with 73 percent for Amazon’s Echo devices and 14 percent for the Google Home”

Given the earlier ”grabbed about a third of the U.S. smart speaker market in unit sales”, let’s assume this is in units, too. Guessing at average sale prices of $100 for Amazon, $129 for Google, $350 for Apple and $150 for ‘others’, that would give them about 25% of the market (1) in dollars. _If_ that’s ballpark correct and _if_ they manage to keep that up, I wouldn’t call it a failure, certainly not considering that, in their other products, their margins are higher than those of their competitors.

(1) if that’s their market. That’s arguable. Some people think they compete with audio systems more than with smart speakers (¿for now?)

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#83

Post by jandrese »

dingaling wrote: post #70
jandrese wrote: post #62

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The original iPod was a pretty flawed product as well. The price point was very high and the storage was a bit less than it really needed and the scrollwheel was fragile. I'd say Apple didn't get it right until the third generation. It's hard to overstate just how flawed the original iPhone was. You were locked into AT&T, you had to effectively buy the phone outright AND pay the subsidy (which never went away, no mat…

> and nobody else in the market was the least bit interested in improving it Without even digging I can name the LG Prada UI as one other contemporaneous effort. The KE850 was actually announced before the iPhone.

Was still miserable once you got past the home screen. Most importantly the web browser was total dogshit.

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#84

Post by nugi »

delgaudm wrote: post #34
threeseed wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is a high end speaker. Audio testing has confirmed that. But it isn't designed to be a replacement for a 5.2, 7.1.4 etc system. But a pair of them with an AppleTV could absolutely be your 2.1 system for watching Netflix and listening to Apple Music.

Is there a subwoofer that pairs with the HomePod? I can't find one. If not, that would make it a 2.0 system, which is a whole different thing. Also, it looks like stereo pairing is some ways off.

Without seperate point sources, its more like 1.5

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#85

Post by realdlee »

Someone wrote: post #82

”it eked out 10 percent of the smart speaker market, compared with 73 percent for Amazon’s Echo devices and 14 percent for the Google Home” Given the earlier ”grabbed about a third of the U.S. smart speaker market in unit sales” , let’s assume this is in units, too. Guessing at average sale prices of $100 for Amazon, $129 for Google, $350 for Apple and $150 for ‘others’, that would give them about 25% of the market (…

$30-40 for average sale prices for Amazon/Google is probably more accurate.

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#86

Post by NathanOsullivan »

candiodari wrote: post #55
natch wrote: post #52

If Apple Music was cheaper, maybe they would sell more. I mean sure, Apple Music is great, but I'm doing just fine without it. But I would consider it if the price was lower. Yes the price could be considered low by some people when you look at the value, but I have to look at all my different subscriptions, and it sticks out as higher than the others.

In that regard, does anyone know a way to get either the google speaker, alexa dot, or apple homepod something like that playing mp3 files ?

Google home works as an audio Chromecast target, so you can play MP3 from any app that supports Chromecast audio playback.

Personally I use Plex.

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#87

Post by lowtolerance »

candiodari wrote: post #55
natch wrote: post #52

If Apple Music was cheaper, maybe they would sell more. I mean sure, Apple Music is great, but I'm doing just fine without it. But I would consider it if the price was lower. Yes the price could be considered low by some people when you look at the value, but I have to look at all my different subscriptions, and it sticks out as higher than the others.

In that regard, does anyone know a way to get either the google speaker, alexa dot, or apple homepod something like that playing mp3 files ?

You could AirPlay it to the HomePod. It also supports FLAC.

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#89

Post by lern_too_spel »

candiodari wrote: post #55
natch wrote: post #52

If Apple Music was cheaper, maybe they would sell more. I mean sure, Apple Music is great, but I'm doing just fine without it. But I would consider it if the price was lower. Yes the price could be considered low by some people when you look at the value, but I have to look at all my different subscriptions, and it sticks out as higher than the others.

In that regard, does anyone know a way to get either the google speaker, alexa dot, or apple homepod something like that playing mp3 files ?

You can upload 25000 mp3s to Google Music for free — no subscription and no ads. Then just ask the speaker to play them or cast from your phone.

Re: Apple’s HomePod Isn’t a Hot Seller

#90

Post by ddjfaegjhc »

spiderfarmer wrote: post #36
guyzero wrote: post #31

The single largest app used across all smart speakers is Spotify, so it's not surprising that the lack of third-party streaming service support hampers HomePod.

True. I went for a Spotify Connect enabled receiver with quality speakers. If see no need for Siri.

You can also get a chromecast audio for $35 and even connect it with optical. Great way to get support for spotify and multiple other services.
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