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Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

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Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#211

Post by yborg »

layer8 wrote: post #139
gpmcadam wrote: post #133

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if it needs an update because I've just asked one for both temperature and humidity and it was able to tell me. Also see the comparison table at the bottom of this page: https://www.apple.com/uk/homepod-2nd-generation/

Seems like it: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/18/homepods-now-feature-te... Maybe the update also requires iOS 16 on a connected device, I’m still on 15.

I think it depends on HW version. I got a Mini right when it came out, and with the latest beta 16.3 firmware it still says "I'm sorry, I can't do that" for requests about room temperature or humidity.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#212

Post by jeffbee »

criddell wrote: post #195
Jhsto wrote: post #119

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Where I'm from everyone is using Genelec speakers.

In my home office I have a little Onkyo (CR-N575) desktop receiver and it sounds okay at best. I keep wondering if replacing the default speakers would make much of a difference? I'm doubtful because the amp itself isn't great. I clearly don't know much about amplifiers, but the specs say "RMS output power: 20W+20W (1 kHz, 10% THD 6 ohm)" which is terrible, right? https://www.intl.onkyo.com/downloads/manuals/pdf/cs-n…

20W per channel at 10% distortion is pretty bad. The $350 powered speaker mentioned elsewhere in this subthread claims < 0.05% amplifier THD at 100W total power, and total distortion including the speaker of < 0.5% at 85dB SPL, which is an uncomfortably loud output.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#213

Post by lbussell »

novok wrote: post #167
Hippocrates wrote: post #137

I F'in LOVE the OG HomePods. The sound quality absolutely slaps for the money/size/convenience. I've got one for music in the kitchen and it fills the room like a setup 3x as large. The bass response even at low volumes is remarkable, and clarity through the whole volume range is near perfection. Many of my guests have sourced their own OGs after hearing it. I've got another hooked up to my Apple TV (mono) that repla…

Siri is really bad on many basic things that they could hard code. Like 'turn off lights' become 'turning on the the lights'. There are many weird ass bitflips for basics like that in Siri that is incredibly frustrating that alexa and google are significantly better in understanding reliably. Whats even worse is Siri could hard code these basics and not use ML which tends to work %90 of the time, but bitflips %10 of…

Whenever I'm doing laundry, I try to set a timer for 50 minutes and it always thinks I said 15 minutes... it really gets on my nerves. I have to pronounce the individual digits to get it to behave correctly.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#214

Post by philjohn »

jsjohnst wrote: post #76
perardi wrote: post #46

Is it time to complain about Siri again? Sure is! I am an old-school Apple fanboy. I learned HyperCard on a Macintosh SE/30—I am that old. I still appreciate the Apple ecosystem, and I do like certain aspects of my HomePod mini…but Siri. C’mon. Get it together. It just fails at the absolute basics. https://imgur.com/q0H788Y The basics being: please add stuff to my shopping list when I yell it into the aether while in…

> Buy $299 or something that has artificial stupidity like Siri? Well, in fairness, it’s designed first as a music device, the Siri seems like almost an afterthought. That said, Spend $299 on a wireless speaker where the stereo pairing often fails, has random Wi-Fi connection issues (that no other Apple device has), and is otherwise hindered by issues? Nah, fooled me on the first gen, fooled me again on the HomePod m…

This is why I still run all my Sonos on Sonosnet (lucky to live in a brick walled detached house, so 2.4 GHz noisy channels aren't a show-stopper). Never had any sync or pairing issues.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#215

Post by lvl102 »

I really wish they add direct connect either optical or USB. I also don’t think Apple realizes they could absolutely sell a crap ton of Mac Minis to audiophiles/HiFi crowd. They just need to add custom DAC and some outputs.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#216

Post by cptskippy »

ezfe wrote: post #148
yowzadave wrote: post #130

HomePod is the most annoying piece of technology that I still frequently use. I was an early buyer of the first version, but this update doesn't address any of the complaints that I have about it: 1. No audio line-in! It's a $300 speaker, it sounds great...sometimes I'd like to be able to just plug something into it. If you have a record player, you have to have a separate set of speakers for it, because this thing w…

>3. Siri tries (and frequently fails) to identify me and my wife by our voice, and then won't do things (like turn off the music, find our iPhone, etc.) because she can't figure out who we are. I've never had this issue in my household. Have you tried re-training it?

We have a similar issue with Alexa. It can hear me and the kiddo, my partner just doesn't exist.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#217

Post by dddddaviddddd »

plusminusplus wrote: post #26

Does it work with non-Apple hardware? Amazon and Google have the "works with Amazon/Google" so you can buy any brand of hardware (smart plugs for ex) and control them all with one device.

I use third-party apps to stream audio to my HomePods from Android and Windows.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#218

Post by layer8 »

yborg wrote: post #211
layer8 wrote: post #139

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems like it: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/18/homepods-now-feature-te... Maybe the update also requires iOS 16 on a connected device, I’m still on 15.

I think it depends on HW version. I got a Mini right when it came out, and with the latest beta 16.3 firmware it still says "I'm sorry, I can't do that" for requests about room temperature or humidity.

I don’t think so, the sensor was reported fairly shortly after the initial release, and there hasn’t been a second gen of the mini. It’s probably just a staged rollout.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#219

Post by Tsiklon »

gigatexal wrote: post #121

Super, duper bummed I can't pair this one with my 1st gen homepod. From footnote #3: Creating a HomePod stereo pair requires two of the same model HomePod speakers, such as two HomePod mini, two HomePod (2nd generation), or two HomePod (1st generation).

They’ve got a different speaker configuration. There will likely be a difference between how they both sound.

Re: Apple HomePod 2nd Generation

#220

Post by chewmieser »

ezfe wrote: post #148
yowzadave wrote: post #130

HomePod is the most annoying piece of technology that I still frequently use. I was an early buyer of the first version, but this update doesn't address any of the complaints that I have about it: 1. No audio line-in! It's a $300 speaker, it sounds great...sometimes I'd like to be able to just plug something into it. If you have a record player, you have to have a separate set of speakers for it, because this thing w…

>3. Siri tries (and frequently fails) to identify me and my wife by our voice, and then won't do things (like turn off the music, find our iPhone, etc.) because she can't figure out who we are. I've never had this issue in my household. Have you tried re-training it?

I have definitely had this happen as well. It gives a weird response (can't recall what it says - something about not knowing who is requesting the action) and ignores the command. I was able to snap it back into gear by just power-cycling the HomePod but still...
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