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HomePod Mini

apple.com

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Re: HomePod Mini

#101

Post by gnicholas »

jagger27 wrote: post #23

The coolest part to me is that they're using the S5 watch SoC to power it. Pretty cool that Apple's various hardware teams can just grab a part off the shelf to use in a completely different class of device. I'd love to see them reintroduce AirPort routers powered by an A-series chip.

I'd love to see them put AirPort tech inside their smart speakers. That's one great way to differentiate from Alexa devices. We're still running AirPorts at my house, though I know eventually they'll die and we'll have to find something else.

In the meantime, they're super convenient for having my Time Capsule back up my Mac, and for piping audio via an Airport Express to the speakers I use with my projector setup.

Re: HomePod Mini

#102

Post by selykg »

ChrisLTD wrote: post #77
AceJohnny2 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The SoC in the Homepod is old . It's the Apple A8, which was used on iPhone 6 (2014). The HomePod Mini uses Apple S5, which was in the Apple Watch 5 (2019)

It feels slower than my old Amazon Echo which is certainly using a crappier chip than the A8.

Doesn't seem slow to me. Mine responds quite quickly.

Re: HomePod Mini

#103

Post by INTPenis »

athenot wrote: post #7

HomePod mini works with your iPhone for requests like hearing your messages or notes, so they are completed on device without revealing that information to Apple. This is the big differentiating feature, along with the seamless integration within the rest of Apple's product line. EDIT: HomePod does this too but it was not at a price point nor size that competed with other assistants.

How is it different though? Doesn't Siri on your phone send your recording to its backend to figure out what you need anyways? So it's just an extra step?

Re: HomePod Mini

#104

Post by TYPE_FASTER »

leoedin wrote: post #98
TYPE_FASTER wrote: post #96

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah, that'll be a differentiator for me. We have a few Echo Dots, which are pretty neat devices, but I'm not a huge fan of providing audio to Amazon and Google. Also, my neighbor was getting swatted and narrowed it down to his Echo Dots.

What do you mean by the last part? Swatted, as in having a SWAT team called to his house? What role did the Echo play in that?

Yes, the police showed up at his door a couple times saying somebody called 911. He disconnected everything from his network, no more visits from the police. He plugged devices back in one at a time, leaving a day or so between devices. Within an hour of plugging in the Echo devices, the police were back. He unplugged the Echo devices, no issues since.

Re: HomePod Mini

#105

Post by gnicholas »

karmakaze wrote: post #32
justusthane wrote: post #17

I think this is big. I've never gotten an Echo because I don't trust Amazon, but at $99 I'll buy one or two of these.

I haven't gone looking, but I wouldn't assume that you can get sync'ed stereo unless specifically a feature.

The stereo pair feature was hobbled at release (only iTunes on MacOS, but from any app on iOS), but subsequent MacOS updates apparently solved this. But beware if you're running and older MacOS and don't want to update just to get stereo pairing!

Re: HomePod Mini

#107

Post by suyash »

turtlebits wrote: post #40

I don’t get it. Siri is the absolute worst compared to Google assistant, the only compelling reason to buy the HomePod is for sound quality. So unless this has some other redeeming quality over “Siri in your living room”, I don’t think it will sell well. The original HomePod regularly went on sale for 33% off already.

Siri is slowly catching up and my bet it will become really good soon. If you want to get this, get it for privacy and better sound quality.

Re: HomePod Mini

#108

Post by duhi88 »

Synaesthesia wrote: post #59
AceJohnny2 wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The SoC in the Homepod is old . It's the Apple A8, which was used on iPhone 6 (2014). The HomePod Mini uses Apple S5, which was in the Apple Watch 5 (2019)

It's not that bad of a CPU. It's powering my iPad Air 2 (A8X) which doesn't do too badly. Remember when we were freaking out about the unprecedented performance of the A7, the first 64-bit mobile chip? And now it's in a speaker.

For real. Maybe, just maybe, a voice-controlled speaker doesn't need the latest cutting edge CPU.

I wasn't expecting new Homepod hardware until after they announce on-device Siri. That seems like the only thing that would warrant a better CPU.

Re: HomePod Mini

#109

Post by zepto »

andruby wrote: post #97
accrual wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wish there could be a better partnership between Apple and Spotify. I consider Spotify to be best in field for my music needs and a tighter integration would be a win-win for me as a consumer. Just the other day: > "Hey Siri, favorite this song on Spotify." > "Sorry, Spotify hasn't added support for that." (paraphrased)

According to Spotify, it’s Apple that’s making life hard for them [0]. And here is Apple’s rebuttal [1] [0] https://www.timetoplayfair.com/timeline/ [1] https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2019/03/addressing-spotifys-c...

Spotify has to drag it’s heels and blame Apple now to support its legal case.

Re: HomePod Mini

#110

Post by crooked-v »

untog wrote: post #56
turtlebits wrote: post #40

I don’t get it. Siri is the absolute worst compared to Google assistant, the only compelling reason to buy the HomePod is for sound quality. So unless this has some other redeeming quality over “Siri in your living room”, I don’t think it will sell well. The original HomePod regularly went on sale for 33% off already.

I'm curious to know what 90% of people do with their home assistant devices. I have a Google Home. I know it can do a huge array of things, but almost all I do with it is play music, control lights, and set timers. Siri can do all of those things.

For me it's that plus voice-controlled NPR or audiobooks while doing other things (often cooking) and weather for later in the day (while getting ready in the morning). It'd also be temperature control, but I'm stuck with a millivolt thermostat and apparently nobody's interest in selling to us gas fireplace people.
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