Video: Wishlist of features and fixes Apple could give the HomePod during WWDC 2018
The HomePod shows considerable promise, but even at launch, Apple's smart speaker didn't include all of the features that could help it defeat all of its competitors. AppleInsider writes up a wishlist of things Apple could change to make the HomePod even better.
After spending a few months with Apple's home speaker, the HomePod, the hardware execution remains fantastic, but the software weaknesses in the HomePod are becoming increasingly apparent. The disparity between the hardware and software got us thinking about how we would like to see HomePod improve.
To be clear, we aren't talking about a whole second-generation HomePod. This is all about improvements to audioOS, the operating system Apple created for the smart speaker.
WWDC, Apple's developer conference where it reveals future updates for all of its major operating systems, is taking place next month. As this will mark the first time the HomePod will feature in WWDC after launch, after its introduction last year, it is unclear what, if anything, Apple will say about the device.
If Apple does decide to announce updates for audioOS, here is what we hope to see.
We'd like to be able to ask Siri to turn into iHeartRadio, or pick up where we left off in our latest audiobook, or even to incorporate other third-party streaming services at all, with the HomePod itself doing the hard work of fetching the content.
Without Bluetooth or an auxiliary cable, streaming support for other services is even more important for smart speakers like the HomePod.
For example, Siri on HomePod shockingly can't set multiple timers, nor can it make a phone call, or even look up a recipe. With general use problems like these and others, this implementation of Siri means the HomePod really can't compete with the skills and abilities found in Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant.
HomePod does attempt to make adjustments to audio on the fly, but it is not nearly sufficient enough for all situations. For example, the bass seems to be far too heavy on HomePod while listening to audiobooks or watching movies.
Apple's own short-lived iPod Hi-Fi offered the ability to adjust the EQ levels, and they can also be manually fine tuned in iTunes then streamed to the HomePod, but it would be preferable to have device-specific controls rather than relying on pushing pre-adjusted content. In theory, this shouldn't be a difficult task.
When someone asks Siri to play one of their playlists, HomePod should know which user is asking, and play their particular playlist. This could be the same for adding a reminder, reading a message, or liking a song, with requests based on the recognized user, rather than all changes affecting one single user.
HomePod owners are currently forced to disable personalization for Apple Music, or risk having other users muddying up their recommendations and preferences. Despite its usefulness, this isn't the most user-friendly thing we came up with for this list.
We want to be able to ask Siri to play or pause the Apple TV or even play a specific movie or TV show, essentially acting as a hands-free voice-based remote control. HomePod could also be used to perform other actions with the Apple TV, such as opening apps or opening a live view of a HomeKit camera.
A tighter integration between HomePod and Apple TV also gives customers more justification to buy them over a competing speaker or streaming device.
HomePod has much to improve on before it is as robust as Apple's other platforms. Apple baked an A8 processor into the speaker, so it should definitely be powerful enough to meet most of our requests.
We admittedly have lofty expectations, but here's hoping that Apple surprises us with audioOS as the fifth operating system to receive a major update this year at WWDC 18.
After spending a few months with Apple's home speaker, the HomePod, the hardware execution remains fantastic, but the software weaknesses in the HomePod are becoming increasingly apparent. The disparity between the hardware and software got us thinking about how we would like to see HomePod improve.
To be clear, we aren't talking about a whole second-generation HomePod. This is all about improvements to audioOS, the operating system Apple created for the smart speaker.
WWDC, Apple's developer conference where it reveals future updates for all of its major operating systems, is taking place next month. As this will mark the first time the HomePod will feature in WWDC after launch, after its introduction last year, it is unclear what, if anything, Apple will say about the device.
If Apple does decide to announce updates for audioOS, here is what we hope to see.
More Streaming Options
Currently, HomePod will gladly let you stream Apple Music or your iTunes Match library with ease, but if you want to listen to Spotify or another service, your only option is to use AirPlay.We'd like to be able to ask Siri to turn into iHeartRadio, or pick up where we left off in our latest audiobook, or even to incorporate other third-party streaming services at all, with the HomePod itself doing the hard work of fetching the content.
Without Bluetooth or an auxiliary cable, streaming support for other services is even more important for smart speakers like the HomePod.
Smarter Siri
We have a lot of issues with Apple's virtual assistant on the HomePod. We have previously outlined many of its shortcomings, but as it pertains to the HomePod, there are a number specific areas that really need to be improved.For example, Siri on HomePod shockingly can't set multiple timers, nor can it make a phone call, or even look up a recipe. With general use problems like these and others, this implementation of Siri means the HomePod really can't compete with the skills and abilities found in Amazon's Alexa and Google Assistant.
Audio Adjustments
Aside from manually adjusting the EQ in the settings on your phone for AirPlay, HomePod desperately needs its own user-configurable settings. Other audio hardware, like the Zipp speaker we just reviewed, have different audio profiles which would also be acceptable if adapted for HomePod.HomePod does attempt to make adjustments to audio on the fly, but it is not nearly sufficient enough for all situations. For example, the bass seems to be far too heavy on HomePod while listening to audiobooks or watching movies.
Apple's own short-lived iPod Hi-Fi offered the ability to adjust the EQ levels, and they can also be manually fine tuned in iTunes then streamed to the HomePod, but it would be preferable to have device-specific controls rather than relying on pushing pre-adjusted content. In theory, this shouldn't be a difficult task.
Multi-user Support
Adding the ability to support multiple users will probably require a lot of changes to both Siri and the HomePod's software, but it would be a plausible feature to include in a future update.When someone asks Siri to play one of their playlists, HomePod should know which user is asking, and play their particular playlist. This could be the same for adding a reminder, reading a message, or liking a song, with requests based on the recognized user, rather than all changes affecting one single user.
HomePod owners are currently forced to disable personalization for Apple Music, or risk having other users muddying up their recommendations and preferences. Despite its usefulness, this isn't the most user-friendly thing we came up with for this list.
Device Integration
Apple excels when it comes to integrating their products, which is why many users choose Apple over its competitors. HomePod can be used as an AirPlay speaker for the Apple TV and ultimately two of them can be used for stereo separation to improve a user's home cinema setup, but that is where the partnership ends.We want to be able to ask Siri to play or pause the Apple TV or even play a specific movie or TV show, essentially acting as a hands-free voice-based remote control. HomePod could also be used to perform other actions with the Apple TV, such as opening apps or opening a live view of a HomeKit camera.
A tighter integration between HomePod and Apple TV also gives customers more justification to buy them over a competing speaker or streaming device.
HomePod has much to improve on before it is as robust as Apple's other platforms. Apple baked an A8 processor into the speaker, so it should definitely be powerful enough to meet most of our requests.
We admittedly have lofty expectations, but here's hoping that Apple surprises us with audioOS as the fifth operating system to receive a major update this year at WWDC 18.
Comments
Jobs seemed to manage both, yet has the current management forgotten this in favour of shareholder interests and old school business ethos...?
Would customers benefit from an Apple (or certain senior Apple policy makers) pentalobotomy...?
...and as they say some manual (user again) controls, and less privacy risk without Siri (although auto audio EQ is intriguing, with an off switch) or all roads leading to Apple's servers, perhaps at a lower price ?
Are we at risk of one good hack, a slip or EULA change or a Patriot Act override enabling a Panopticon surveillance state potential...?
I want automatic connect function that let you set a main device & HomePod will always be connected to this one. Says you set Apple TV as your main device, every time you play something on it the sound will come from HomePod unless you specifically tell it otherwise. You can AirPlay from other devices as usual of course but once you finish it it will revert back to that main device.
With all the ranting and raving about sound quality, I expected to be blown away. After using HomePod for a few days, I was totally underwhelmed. I did like the way Siri works with Apple Music, though. They did a good job there.
Sound quality is highly subjective. If all you have are Sonance and Sonos speakers I'm not convinced you've necessarily heard good speakers either. It sounds like you're just saying the HomePod doesn't sound like what you're used to. That's certainly a fair assessment. HomePod is going to sound great to people used to cheap stuff, not sound as good to people used to really expensive stuff, and for those in the middle it will be a coin toss.
I definitely like mine, and almost certainly will buy another, maybe two. Maybe three. It depends on how well AirPlay2 works. I've been waffling between buying one really good audio system (I'm eyeing spatial audio M4's), or a house full of wireless speakers. Lately I've been enjoying the sheer simplicity and convenience of the HomePod more than I've enjoyed my existing audio system. I listen to music much more now that I did before buying the HomePod.
HomePod has its flaw but sound quality (or the setup) isn’t one of them in my book.