Leaker claims 'HomePod mini' is coming, 'HomePod 2' is not
According to an often reliable leaker, there will be no updated HomePod from Apple this year, but a smaller version is close to shipping.
Apple HomePod
Ahead of Apple's "iPhone 12" event, a leaker has quashed hopes that Apple would reveal the next generation of its HomePod smart speaker this month -- or this year. Reportedly, there is a "HomePod mini" on its way sooner, though the leaker does not specify whether that is expected to be included at the "Hi, Speed," launch.
Leaker l0vetodream has a generally good track record for reports on forthcoming Apple products. Most recently, that has included the seemingly later confirmed claim that Apple will use the name "iPhone 12 mini" for its smallest new model.
Backing up the expectation that at least some form of HomePod will be included in the "iPhone 12" event, Apple has dropped all third-party speakers, and headphones, from its stores.
The AppleInsider guide on what to expect -- and not expect -- at the event lists HomePods as only a possibility. However, persistent rumors do point to a smaller version being prepared by Apple.
Stay on top of all Apple news right from your HomePod or HomePod mini. Say, "Hey, Siri, play AppleInsider Daily," and you'll get a fast update direct from the AppleInsider team.
Apple HomePod
Ahead of Apple's "iPhone 12" event, a leaker has quashed hopes that Apple would reveal the next generation of its HomePod smart speaker this month -- or this year. Reportedly, there is a "HomePod mini" on its way sooner, though the leaker does not specify whether that is expected to be included at the "Hi, Speed," launch.
there is no HomePod2 this year
only have mini one-- (@L0vetodream)
Leaker l0vetodream has a generally good track record for reports on forthcoming Apple products. Most recently, that has included the seemingly later confirmed claim that Apple will use the name "iPhone 12 mini" for its smallest new model.
Backing up the expectation that at least some form of HomePod will be included in the "iPhone 12" event, Apple has dropped all third-party speakers, and headphones, from its stores.
The AppleInsider guide on what to expect -- and not expect -- at the event lists HomePods as only a possibility. However, persistent rumors do point to a smaller version being prepared by Apple.
Stay on top of all Apple news right from your HomePod or HomePod mini. Say, "Hey, Siri, play AppleInsider Daily," and you'll get a fast update direct from the AppleInsider team.
Comments
Which adds up to mean it doesn't work often enough that if my phone is in the same or next room, it takes less time to go and get it and use Siri on my phone directly, or just use the UI. There are non-Siri related issues too, both of mine seem to have lost their auto gain settings, because when using Facetime Audio people complain they can't hear me. Also the audio stream regularly stops for a bit and we lose each other for 5-10 seconds. No such issue with my phone on the same network. Oh and the activation light being on the top is dumb, because you don't know if Siri has activated unless the HP is lower than you are. This is all really unfortunate, because it has really soured my view of the HP which is potentially a great device.
I love the HomePod for what it is, a great sounding way to consume Apple Music in a large space, and even more so when used in conjunction with an Apple TV. The problem that I have with HomePod is that it isn’t inexpensive enough to use as a primary HomeKit peripheral, i.e., a secondary role played by Echo Dots in an Amazon/Ring home automation and security installation. Price is also key. I have no problem putting a $30 Echo Dot in my garage or shed for background listening and Alexa Guard functionality. Hate to admit, but once Echo devices became Apple Music compatible any residual desire I had to purchase a second HomePod vanished. Poof! If I had a TV and Apple TV in a bedroom perhaps I’d seriously consider getting another HomePod and a mini would be a good option.
I have no problems with Siri on HomePod. I’m just not sold on HomeKit. Apple needs to flesh out the device options and needs to develop or partner with others on the services side, like professional safety and security monitoring. The Amazon-Ring mashup was a little shaky at the start, but it’s hitting its stride and pushing out compelling second generation (and beyond) products and services while Apple (HomeKit) is still watching from the sidelines.
Still, might move the larger one down to kitchen and get a smaller one for the office.
I do miss the quality of the audio, but the inability to roll back the OS, the lack of a fix, and the denial of responsibility have caused me to bail on the HP. After 30+ years, perhaps this is the start of my abandoning the Apple echo-system. Time to break out the C-64!
Does anybody need a large, black paperweight?
Siri or do it via the Home app w/ 100% success. Only happens with the lights in my kid’s bedrooms. No matter how many times I’ve unpair or reset everything, the issue with Alexa & the Hue lights in those 2 rooms always come back. If the “Mini” is real and around $99, I’ll buy 3 and remove Alexa/Echo’s altogether from my home.
I used to get movie times, but that hasn’t been useful since the lockdown started obviously.
I would be shocked if Amazon made a penny on a $40 Dot (maybe now, after years of amortizing costs), and the constant supply of “refurbished” Dots indicates and unending stream of DOAs exchanged though Amazon and refurbished.
We had a Dot, fairly early on, an impulse buy at Best Buy for $25. It was clearly a Trojan Horse to get Alexa into the household and create a ubiquity with other IoT appliances. It began to creep me out that it was always listening—and we experienced the incredibly spooky spontaneous “laughing” from Echo, in a quiet room with no input—so we turned off the mic, and that defeated the purpose of having the Dot in the first place. I lost faith in Amazon’s ability to put my privacy and security over its need to monetize everything it can see.
HomePod has been far from perfect, but the sound quality is excellent in my 2000s-era home (Great Room design with living space and open kitchen in one room, hard surfaces throughout). The far-reach mics pick up our requests from the next room or over ridiculously loud music. Most importantly, Mrs Kaplan can use it, and she tells me constantly she wants her next phone to be a Jitterbug because she gets burned out on tech. I have rudimentary HomeKit tools, and she can turn lights off and on and feel like a boss.
I really prefer anything PoE because it’s a low-voltage single cable solution and very reliable compared to WiFi. I don’t see a lot of HomeKit devices that support PoE. On the other hand I’d also prefer to have a homogeneous Ethernet based networking solution that HomeKit supports natively rather than relying on gateways and bridges to other wireless sensor networks like Zigbee and Z-Wave +. With no perfect solution available you have to choose the one that has the fewest compromises for your specific needs.
If I need to upgrade in a few years I’ll definitely revisit the HomeKit option again to see where it’s at and hopefully they’ll be a much broader selection of devices.