nhughes

BittySon said:

If the phone is connected to the unit's wifi, which is not connected to the internet, how will the phone then connect to the internet since wifi takes priority over cellular?

I've used many devices that rely on Wi-Fi direct, including drones and cameras, and they still access the internet fine. iOS knows the difference.

All-Purpose Guru said:

airnerd said:

Looks good. Needs a banana for scale.

Is there some reason why every single review of this thing doesn't show an item next to it for scale?  I find it really odd that I've read 3-4 reviews of this thing but I have NO idea how big it is because every single review shows the device by itself.

Take a picture of it with an iPhone sitting next to it, or a business card, or *something*.  Even a banana would work, yes, but they come in different sizes, but it would at least give us an idea.  

iPhone X for scale.

dewme said:

Does the HomePod consume one of the ten (10) device licenses authorized to access iTunes Match?

It does not.

racerhomie3 said:

Guys.
What is wrong with a MBP with an external GPU?
Is there a reason I don’t know to why they aren’t so popular.

For me, the biggest rub is you can't drive the eGPU horsepower to the MBP's internal Retina display. And because the only Retina-caliber monitors out there are LG UltraFine models that connect via USB-C and TB3, you can't use those with any eGPU rigs at the moment either, because graphics cards use legacy inputs like HDMI. So eGPU+MBP is fine for a dual-monitor setup, or with a VR headset, but I think dual monitors diminish the appeal of the Touch Bar.

Apple is getting back into the display market, so I imagine we'll see some Retina-caliber displays that connect over TB3, and maybe even have their own integrated eGPUs. Toss in an external Magic Keyboard with Touch Bar, and I'm in -- but I might be asking for too much in 2018.

rogifan_new said:

gatorguy said:

mjtomlin said:

rogifan_new said:

Where are the reviews?

They'll start coming out today. Here's two...

Digital Trends - Apple's HomePod delivers on brilliant sound, but Siri still has room to grow
Refinery29 - One Hour With Apple's New HomePod

Oddly the time allowed with the unit was limited (to an hour?) and the reviews are not at all detailed, just describes the Home Pod in broad strokes. IMO unusual for a new Apple release where there's typically a plethora of detailed reviews on sites like Wired & ArsTechnica un-embargoed just before the device goes on sale. 

Makes me wonder how confident Apple is in this product considering the rollout. 

I wouldn't sweat it. Apple took a similar approach with the iPhone X, letting some websites and YouTubers get controlled hands-on time with representatives watching over their shoulder. The product doesn't launch for two weeks, they are probably just spacing out their media strategy to remain in the news cycle.

Metriacanthosaurus said:

Please tell there is some kind of legitimate medical use for constantly monitoring blood alcohol level, and this is not just the ideal strap for someone who desperately needs a different lifestyle than a daily flirting with drinking and driving.

I reviewed the BACtrack mobile a couple of years ago, and like you, I was extremely skeptical of the product (why does a breathalyzer need to connect to my iPhone?). Admittedly some of the features of their app are superfluous or stupid, such as sharing your BAC on Twitter, and one is kind of terrifying: optional cloud storage — thankfully disabled by default.

However, there are elements of it that surprised me beyond the obvious "Am I good to drive?" scenario. If you really wanted to get metrics on how your body absorbs alcohol and how quickly it leaves your body, this is an extremely valuable tool. In that respect, it's really no different than any other "quantified self" health product.

http://appleinsider.com/articles/14/12/07/review-iphone-connected-bactrack-mobile-breathalyzer-with-healthkit-support

lkrupp said:

I’m trying to understand the relevancy of this article to the subject at hand. First impression, from the headline and first paragraph, is that a premium phone maker has failed and so will Apple if it continues this course. Was that the purpose of this article? To warn Apple about its ‘overpriced’ hardware? Could the author of this piece explain the purpose of it?

A high-profile smartphone maker is exiting the business. That's news to Apple fans, even if Vertu was not exactly a serious Apple competitor.

Our goal at AI is to always present stories in a way that allows readers, both casual and devoted alike, to put the news in a proper context. This is why the story today on a new Amazon Echo mentions the Apple HomePod in the headline. Or why the latest story on "Baby Driver" audio being edited on set with Avid in macOS mentions the specific hardware (a 15-inch MacBook Pro) in the headline. Know your audience, as the saying goes.

For the purposes of this story, a premium-priced smartphone maker is exiting the business, at a time when Apple is rumored to be pushing more into premium territory. It's contextually interesting, even if the two news items are not directly related. The story itself (including the last line of the opening paragraph) makes it clear that Apple will not be selling a $10,000 iPhone.

ireland said:

Reliable sources mix things up, too.

Don't think it's fair you deleting my comment for calling you out on including this line. It's an unjust justification for Ming-Chi Kuo getting things wrong. When he got the thinner MBP in June two years ago wrong not so much as a pip-squeak.

When he gets it right ye shout it from the rooftops—when he's wrong ye excuse and minimise. And Apple Insider isn't the only publication guilty of this regarding this guy. Some of his predictions such as Apple going higher end than Beats didn't even read right at the time. It's like a gambler only recalling his wins. Sooner or later he's no house and is forced to look at his reality. No doubt Kuo has some inside sources, but he gets things wrong and right.

I deleted it because you made a joke implying I was having sex with him. Your post is indefensible -- we don't tolerate that kind of content. 

You don't like Kuo, fine. No need to insult the reporters at AppleInsider. Cut it out or leave. 

Happy_Noodle_Boy said:

This temper tantrum aged well.
https://appleinsider.com/articles/21/04/23/apple-burns-early-adopters-loyal-customers-by-making-349-magic-keyboard-incompatible-with-2021-129-ipad-pro

mjtomlin said:

Was a typical knee-jerk reaction from over-entitled people who can’t wait to check if the issue is actually something to worry about. 

It was Apple itself that told us that the year-old keyboard would not work with the new 12.9” iPad Pro. Not a “knee-jerk reaction” or “temper tantrum” at all — we were merely responding to what the company said. If Apple had said this up front instead — that the old keyboard will functionally work but may not close perfectly — we and many others would not have made a peep. 

crowley said:

nhughes said:

foregoneconclusion said:

Big Hint: the M1 iPad Pro comes with a USB-C cable for connecting to Macs. 

It is a cheap USB-C cable that operates at USB 2.0 speeds, which significantly undercuts the capabilities of the Thunderbolt ports on both the Mac and the iPad Pro. It’s fine for charging, but is a poor data transfer cable. 

Really?  That's a pretty poor show from Apple.

Yeah, it’s unfortunate to say the least. They should ship a USB 3 cable with all pro devices, but they do not ship it with any of them, Macs included. See here:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208368

The Apple USB-C Charge Cable is longer (2m) and also supports charging, but data-transfer speed is limited to 480Mbps (USB 2.0) and it doesn't support video.