I'm predicting Apple will reveal a soundbar. Maybe not during WWDC but soon. HomePod is really putting the pieces together for TV.
I would love if Apple rounded up the Kinect team and others to develop ambient lighting for TV. "Surround lighting" so if a helicopter points toward the viewer in a movie it lights up the room and bullets fly by your face during war movies, crazy room colors during animated movies etc. The possibilities are endless. It can even be independent from TV for party lighting etc.
Here's an example of Microsofts vaporware with the surround lighting idea:
I've said this many times before as a HomePod feature.
Thanks for reminding me that I didn't just imagine this. Microsoft is terrible.
I'm predicting Apple will reveal a soundbar. Maybe not during WWDC but soon. HomePod is really putting the pieces together for TV.
I would love if Apple rounded up the Kinect team and others to develop ambient lighting for TV. "Surround lighting" so if a helicopter points toward the viewer in a movie it lights up the room and bullets fly by your face during war movies, crazy room colors during animated movies etc. The possibilities are endless. It can even be independent from TV for party lighting etc.
Here's an example of Microsofts vaporware with the surround lighting idea:
I've said this many times before as a HomePod feature.
Thanks for reminding me that I didn't just imagine this. Microsoft is terrible.
The technology is good(Kinect) but Microsoft never knows what to do with it(Kinect)....
It’s my birthday today so I’m having fun but anything is possible, right?
Sooo, you’ll be changing your name to “Rob54”?
I don’t think this is currently possible but I’d like the ability to stream to a HomePod from my iPhone (or whatever) using an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network, similar to how AirDrop works. As far as I know, HomePod needs to connect to Wi-Fi to work at all. That is a limitation for someone like my wife who would love to have a HomePod at work but she can’t get access to their Wi-Fi with a personal device.
It’s my birthday today so I’m having fun but anything is possible, right?
Sooo, you’ll be changing your name to “Rob54”?
I don’t think this is currently possible but I’d like the ability to stream to a HomePod from my iPhone (or whatever) using an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network, similar to how AirDrop works. As far as I know, HomePod needs to connect to Wi-Fi to work at all. That is a limitation for someone like my wife who would love to have a HomePod at work but she can’t get access to their Wi-Fi with a personal device.
Yes you can, but you can't stream from the device which is creating the hotspot. Well, you can but playback will pause fairly soon. But should be able to play on its own from the hotspot, and you can play from an iPad, Mac, PC, or other iPhone which might be connected to the hotspot.
However, you don't need Wi-Fi at all in order to play to your HomePod ... if you go into your Home app and configure your home to allow speaker access to "Everyone" that lets others (even you) play to the HomePod from another device without using a Wi-Fi network. I'm doing this now since I don't currently have internet access in my new home.
It’s my birthday today so I’m having fun but anything is possible, right?
Sooo, you’ll be changing your name to “Rob54”?
I don’t think this is currently possible but I’d like the ability to stream to a HomePod from my iPhone (or whatever) using an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network, similar to how AirDrop works. As far as I know, HomePod needs to connect to Wi-Fi to work at all. That is a limitation for someone like my wife who would love to have a HomePod at work but she can’t get access to their Wi-Fi with a personal device.
However, you don't need Wi-Fi at all in order to play to your HomePod ... if you go into your Home app and configure your home to allow speaker access to "Everyone" that lets others (even you) play to the HomePod from another device without using a Wi-Fi network. I'm doing this now since I don't currently have internet access in my new home.
That’s great. So, if I’m following correctly, we could get my wife a HomePod, configure it at home but then she could take it to work and play her iPhone’s music library through the HomePod over Wi-Fi (but not connected to a Wi-Fi network. Correct?
Edit: I suppose I could try this at home by forgetting our Wi-Fi network on pretty much any device, leave Wi-Fi on and trying to stream to the HomePod.
Amen to that. I would seriously consider buying four or five more HomePods if I could use them in my living room for real 5.1 sound. I think the concept of multiple smart speakers+microphones working together makes more sense then a bunch of dumb speakers controlled by a single receiver which doesn't have any microphones or sensors of its own.
I suspect, though, that must consumers would balk at buying five HomePods for the living room at $349 each. That's a lot of cash.
Five at $200 each, or two@$350 and 3@$200 would much more digestible. Perhaps if they could provide some slightly cheaper HomePods to act as the surrounds -- maybe only a 180 degree array of speakers and microphones rather than 360 degree could help them reduce the cost.
Amen to that. I would seriously consider buying four or five more HomePods if I could use them in my living room for real 5.1 sound. I think the concept of multiple smart speakers+microphones working together makes more sense then a bunch of dumb speakers controlled by a single receiver which doesn't have any microphones or sensors of its own.
I suspect, though, that must consumers would balk at buying five HomePods for the living room at $349 each. That's a lot of cash.
Five at $200 each, or two@$350 and 3@$200 would much more digestible. Perhaps if they could provide some slightly cheaper HomePods to act as the surrounds -- maybe only a 180 degree array of speakers and microphones rather than 360 degree could help them reduce the cost.
Apple, come take my money!
FWIW Chromecast Audios are a much less expensive option for expanding a smart-speaker room setup. At $350 a pop doing so with HomePods gets pricey for no real advantage IMO. Heck, if you're willing to spend $1700 on a 5.1 smart-speaker setup you'd be better off with Sonos Surround Sound system that truly works as one now for the same price. and isn't Siri coming to that in the very near future?
It’s my birthday today so I’m having fun but anything is possible, right?
Sooo, you’ll be changing your name to “Rob54”?
I don’t think this is currently possible but I’d like the ability to stream to a HomePod from my iPhone (or whatever) using an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network, similar to how AirDrop works. As far as I know, HomePod needs to connect to Wi-Fi to work at all. That is a limitation for someone like my wife who would love to have a HomePod at work but she can’t get access to their Wi-Fi with a personal device.
However, you don't need Wi-Fi at all in order to play to your HomePod ... if you go into your Home app and configure your home to allow speaker access to "Everyone" that lets others (even you) play to the HomePod from another device without using a Wi-Fi network. I'm doing this now since I don't currently have internet access in my new home.
That’s great. So, if I’m following correctly, we could get my wife a HomePod, configure it at home but then she could take it to work and play her iPhone’s music library through the HomePod over Wi-Fi (but not connected to a Wi-Fi network. Correct?
Edit: I suppose I could try this at home by forgetting our Wi-Fi network on pretty much any device, leave Wi-Fi on and trying to stream to the HomePod.
I tried it by unplugging the wifi system in my house and it worked without any Wifi, it used iPhones hotstop.
It’s my birthday today so I’m having fun but anything is possible, right?
Sooo, you’ll be changing your name to “Rob54”?
I don’t think this is currently possible but I’d like the ability to stream to a HomePod from my iPhone (or whatever) using an ad-hoc Wi-Fi network, similar to how AirDrop works. As far as I know, HomePod needs to connect to Wi-Fi to work at all. That is a limitation for someone like my wife who would love to have a HomePod at work but she can’t get access to their Wi-Fi with a personal device.
However, you don't need Wi-Fi at all in order to play to your HomePod ... if you go into your Home app and configure your home to allow speaker access to "Everyone" that lets others (even you) play to the HomePod from another device without using a Wi-Fi network. I'm doing this now since I don't currently have internet access in my new home.
That’s great. So, if I’m following correctly, we could get my wife a HomePod, configure it at home but then she could take it to work and play her iPhone’s music library through the HomePod over Wi-Fi (but not connected to a Wi-Fi network. Correct?
Edit: I suppose I could try this at home by forgetting our Wi-Fi network on pretty much any device, leave Wi-Fi on and trying to stream to the HomePod.
I tried it by unplugging the wifi system in my house and it worked without any Wifi, it used iPhones hotstop.
Interesting. I tried it on an iPad, forgot the Wi-Fi network and was still able to stream from the iPad’s music library to the HomePod. However, the HomePod was still connected to my home Wi-Fi. Are you sure it needs the hotspot to work? I’m hoping no and that it’s similar to AirDrop. As long as there are at least two iOS devices near each other you need absolutely no Wi-Fi network to AirDrop files between the devices. It works out in the middle of a National Park with no Wi-Fi, no cellular, no anything. It would be great if it’s the same with HomePod.
I don’t have Apple Music as I get all my streaming free as part of Amazon Prime. I don’t use “hey Siri” because I’ve had 2 years of saying “Alexa” which is a hard habit to stop.
So currently, for me, the HomePod is next to useless as a stand-alone unit.
Even the simple ability to stream radio stations would be a bonus.
Comments
Yes you can, but you can't stream from the device which is creating the hotspot. Well, you can but playback will pause fairly soon. But should be able to play on its own from the hotspot, and you can play from an iPad, Mac, PC, or other iPhone which might be connected to the hotspot.
However, you don't need Wi-Fi at all in order to play to your HomePod ... if you go into your Home app and configure your home to allow speaker access to "Everyone" that lets others (even you) play to the HomePod from another device without using a Wi-Fi network. I'm doing this now since I don't currently have internet access in my new home.
Edit: I suppose I could try this at home by forgetting our Wi-Fi network on pretty much any device, leave Wi-Fi on and trying to stream to the HomePod.
I suspect, though, that must consumers would balk at buying five HomePods for the living room at $349 each. That's a lot of cash.
Five at $200 each, or two@$350 and 3@$200 would much more digestible. Perhaps if they could provide some slightly cheaper HomePods to act as the surrounds -- maybe only a 180 degree array of speakers and microphones rather than 360 degree could help them reduce the cost.
Apple, come take my money!
I don’t use “hey Siri” because I’ve had 2 years of saying “Alexa” which is a hard habit to stop.
So currently, for me, the HomePod is next to useless as a stand-alone unit.
Even the simple ability to stream radio stations would be a bonus.