jbdragon

I have a couple Homepod's and they are nice devices. With 2 as a Sterno Pair they sound even louder, and you can really hear the separation from left to right. They sound fantastic. I guess you can link them to your AppleTV for TV Speakers, though that would only work when using the AppleTV, seems a waste when you could just get a soundbar for your TV.

My new Samsung 75" QLED TV has built in AppleTV+ and AirPlay2. Of course going 4K, I needed a replacement Surround Sound Receiver which should show up today, a Denon AVR-X3600H. That I know supports Siri and AirPlay2. I want to get some new Speakers also and with Atmos. For Christmas I had my 2 HomePods linked to the AppleTV playing Apple Music Christmas songs throughout my house all in Sync. At first it was a bit out of sync. But once I looked up online, I found out how to sync things up which was pretty simple and then all was good.

While a HomePod Mini may come out? I think Apple is still going to charge way to much for it. It's just not going to be anywhere near $50. I think it'll run $149-$199 knowing Apple. I think it'll be on the high end.

Apple needs to open it up to be more of a Smart Speaker. Apple limits it. As typical of Apple, it's the same old device year after year with very little of a price drop. it's not like Apple releases a new version every year. It's been over 2 years and it's the same old HomePod and still only the 1. Google has what, 3 of them? So they cover all the price points. Amazon has to many to count. I have one of their Echo Show 8's. That is my bedside alarm clock. So I'm talking to Alexa because Apple has nothing but a Homepod in this area and I want a Display. The Low price point makes it a winner. Can you imagine using a iPad for a bedside alarm clock. Expensive and a waste. It works with Apple Music which is my default. I have a Echo Dot 3rd generation, and Alexa built into my Ecobee 4. You almost can't get away from Alexa it's all over the place.

it was Apple who came out with Siri FIRST before Google, Before there was a Alexa. Then Apple wasted their lead. While I prefer my Apple Watch for Siri control as it's always with me. Not having anything low cost in this area is greatly hurting Apple. Sometimes I wander if Apple has any kind of goal. Am I making a mistake having a growing Homekit house, so should have I went with Alexa? It's like Apple doesn't care. They throw something out there, great, and others then follow and Apple doesn't seem to do anything past that point while everyone else is. I don't know if Google is pushing much more that Apple, but Amazon, Push, Push, Push.

I had gotten the new Echo Show 5, it was a little small, but the 8 wouldn't be out until late in the month last year. I used the 5 for a few weeks, easily returned it and got the Echo Show 8, which is a nice size for my bedside table. I can have it wake me up in the morning playing some Apple Music. It's really nice saying "Alexa Snooze" or "Alexa Snooze 5 minutes" Don't have to reach out to hit some button. Maybe I'm more old school and people just use their phones for Alarm Clocks?

CheeseFreeze said:

The App Store is hugely anti-competitive. 

A 30% cut is ridiculous in 2020, and their ability to push their own software and reject others is also a clear example of that behavior, including the fact you can’t change your default email client, music software, navigation software, etc. Being a ‘third party’ always is second to ‘first party’ Apple. 

You do know that Google and Amazon also charge a 30% cut!!! Yep!!!  

Or you as a company can do what HBO, Amazon, and others have done.  Sign up at their web site directly.  You can even use Safari on your iOS device.  Now Apple is hosting these apps and getting nothing from them.  Every new Update, everyone is downloading it.  It costing Apple money.  I just don't think it's a big deal.  I think people are smart enough that if they can't log in from the app, that they should go directly to the company's app page and create an account there.  Pay there of course.  Then you can just sign into whatever app they have.  I don't see it as a big deal.

gatorguy said:

Fun Fact: The company in the photo, Magic Leap, has been approached by Apple, Google and Facebook in the past regarding a potential acquisition. All walked away.

Magic Leap now may completely go under and the assets snatched up for a bargain price. That they still believe they're worth as much as $10B and looking for a suitor willing to pay it is silly. 

NO wonder they're failing. Who would want to wear those ugly things around?

I generally use a t-tip to carefully get the ear wax on the speaker grill. Then I use wet wipes to wipe down everything else. It's only moist and drys pretty fast.

gutengel said:

If this happened on iPhone, people would be loosing their minds saying that Apple is violating their privacy and trust, and the stock price would've taken a hit as well...

Does this mean Samsung knows where everyone's phones were around the world at the time of doing this?