HomePod Mini • Hacker News Board

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.

I don't even really use any other Apple products, and have never really been particularly comfortable with smart assistants, but I have to say that the steps that they've taken here with E2E, non-AppleID-tied identifiers, on-device computation, and of course the really good price point have got me seriously considering a purchase from them for the first time in a long time.

For my family members that already have Apple products for their tablet, phone, etc., but have either Amazon Echo or Google Home smart assistants, I'm definitely looking that these as an option for holiday presents.

Re: HomePod Mini

#44

Post by threatofrain » Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 7:06 PM UTC

crooked-v wrote: post #31

actuator wrote: post #21

Earlier quoted context omitted.

There is a new Nest audio device out which apparently has good audio and is at the same price as Homepod Mini.

...with the additional downside that it's from Google, and Google projects and devices have a tendency to be abandoned pretty quickly whenever their interest turns to something else.

Has Google ever abandoned consumer hardware, or their obligations to Nest customers?

Re: HomePod Mini

#45

Post by whycombagator » Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 7:06 PM UTC

llampx wrote: post #8

Can anyone with a Homepod comment on the usability compared to the Google and Amazon spy systems... err speakers?

Related, but if you want a non spying speaker (i.e a network connected speaker with no mic) - Sonos make a mic free version of their entry level speaker: One SL. It supports Apple Airplay 2 and two One SLs can be paired for studio sound.

However, it is more expensive than the HomePod mini, not wireless (needs to be plugged in), & although it integrates tightly with iOS it can’t be as smooth as HomePod probably is (I haven’t tried the HomePod myself).

Re: HomePod Mini

#46

Post by TedDoesntTalk » Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 7:06 PM UTC

wtmt wrote: post #5

I was expecting a refresh of the HomePod too, though rumors mentioned only the HomePod mini. I also thought that a price of $79 would’ve been quite attractive compared to the $99 price. Just have to wait for holiday sales, I guess. I can’t wait for reviews and comparisons on the sound of HomePod vs. HomePod mini.

> I also thought that a price of $79 would’ve been quite attractive compared to the $99

How did you arrive at that? Is $20 really the deciding factor for you?

Re: HomePod Mini

#47

Post by thomasfl » Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 7:07 PM UTC

No Spotify support. Spotify’s market share is probably so large that Apple will sell fever of this speakers because of that.

Re: HomePod Mini

#48

Post by qchris » Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 7:07 PM UTC

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.

> If you want to take the amazing sound experience of HomePod mini even further, you can create a stereo pair. Two HomePod mini speakers paired in the same room create left and right channels for an immersive soundstage.

Fwiw, it does look like they are advertising stereo pairing as an out-of-the-box feature

Re: HomePod Mini

#49

Post by ogre_codes » Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 7:07 PM UTC

mmastrac wrote: post #26

ogre_codes wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Siri lives in on your wrist, in your pocket, or even in your ears with AirPods. It's a pretty significant difference. When you can access Siri anywhere, you only need to put speakers out where you want music. Google and Amazon need to work harder to get presence so they push them out using aggressive pricing.

I have the same options with the Google assistant/Chromecast etc. That doesn't answer the question of what the homepod line's market share is.

"Speaker" market share is irrelevant when 30-50% of iPhone owners have speakers in their ear or on their wrist.

Re: HomePod Mini

#50

Post by hello_friendos » Tue, Oct 13, 2020, 7:08 PM UTC

Grazester wrote: post #41

llampx wrote: post #8

Can anyone with a Homepod comment on the usability compared to the Google and Amazon spy systems... err speakers?

You mean the Google, Amazon and Apple spy systems? https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/jul/26/apple-con...

That article is over a year old and Apple does not allow this anymore. Of course Google and Amazon still do.

https://www.theverge.com/2019/8/28/20836760/apple-apology-si...