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HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

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Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#21

Post by chaostheory »

ratsimihah wrote: post #2

What’s innovative about this? I feel like I’m reading an Amazon Alexa or Google Home ad.

Apple typically isn't the most innovative. People just feel that way about them because in the past they get things right. This will probably be like Apple Watch where its true value is subtle and only apparent once you own a bunch of other Apple stuff and use them in conjunction with one another. In this specific case since Amazon and Google are so far ahead & haven't stumbled, Apple's only real advantage now is privacy; it currently has no incentive to monetize your data.

Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#22

Post by robert_foss »

warent wrote: post #20

Does anyone have the 411 on the API to this thing? How will apps be developed?

By the chosen people, whom have had developmental access bestowed upon them by the grace of Apple.

Seriously though; there is little to no chance that this will not be another locked down device with which Apple will try to monetize your home to the fullest possible extent.

Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#24

Post by slantyyz »

germinalphrase wrote: post #6

I feel exited about home assistants in the same way I am excited about home automation: the premise seems useful in a general way, but I struggle to think of use cases that have a meaningful effect on my lifestyle. Also - I can't shake the privacy concerns.

Putting aside the privacy concerns, the home automation + home assistant combo is actually pretty useful. It definitely beats fumbling through apps to do smart home stuff.

Since getting an Echo, I notice my wife constantly changing the temperature on the Nest because, well, it's so easy to bark out a command when you don't want to get up or don't have your phone handy.

Prior to getting an echo, I only used my Wemo switches for scheduling lights to come on and off when we were away. I use voice commands for turning groups on and off all the time now. Since it's dark when I take out the dogs in the a.m., I use a "good morning" routine that turns on my downstairs lights and tells me the outside temperature so I know which coat to wear. I'm surprised at how dependent I'm becoming on Alexa for otherwise mundane stuff.

Having said all of that, I guess I made the choice to value convenience/functionality over privacy. I see the Amazon/Google assistants as "Big Brother with benefits".

Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#25

Post by wrboyce »

konradb wrote: post #16
e1ven wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m interested in one as a new speaker. I don’t expect I’ll enable Siri. I want to use it as an AirPlay target. I was previously considering a Sonos, but the Airplay2 support will be baked into the OS so I don’t need to use a clunky 3rd party app.

Although presumably with Airplay 2 you would still need your phone to play the music from, where with Sonos, once it was playing, you wouldn't need your phone as the speakers themselves would have the music. Though that might not be useful for your use-case.

We don't know for certain yet, but the AppleTV will opt to play music from iCloud as opposed to streaming from the AirPlay device if possible. You'd hope this functionality has been extended to the HomePod.

Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#26

Post by jbigelow76 »

firloop wrote: post #8

>Coming this year in a free software update, users will be able to play music throughout the house with multi-room audio. Interesting that a key feature that the competition already has won’t be shipping at launch. I wonder if this is related to the Homepod’s previous delays.

It's a delay with AirPlay 2, which isn't HomePod specific, and not the hardware from my understanding.

Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#28

Post by [deleted] »

e1ven wrote: post #10
ratsimihah wrote: post #2

What’s innovative about this? I feel like I’m reading an Amazon Alexa or Google Home ad.

I’m interested in one as a new speaker. I don’t expect I’ll enable Siri. I want to use it as an AirPlay target. I was previously considering a Sonos, but the Airplay2 support will be baked into the OS so I don’t need to use a clunky 3rd party app.

[deleted]

Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#29

Post by lowbloodsugar »

e1ven wrote: post #10
ratsimihah wrote: post #2

What’s innovative about this? I feel like I’m reading an Amazon Alexa or Google Home ad.

I’m interested in one as a new speaker. I don’t expect I’ll enable Siri. I want to use it as an AirPlay target. I was previously considering a Sonos, but the Airplay2 support will be baked into the OS so I don’t need to use a clunky 3rd party app.

My wife has listened to a lot more music this last week now that she can just say "Alexa, play some ozzy osbourne" or whatever. We've had an Airplay system forever. Never used.

Re: HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday

#30

Post by knolan »

firloop wrote: post #8

>Coming this year in a free software update, users will be able to play music throughout the house with multi-room audio. Interesting that a key feature that the competition already has won’t be shipping at launch. I wonder if this is related to the Homepod’s previous delays.

You can already AirPlay to multiple devices (including homebrew kodi boxes) from iTunes in MacOS. AirPlay 2 just brings this to iOS.
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