danvm

It would be impossible to cobble a similar platform out of the terrible speakers built into existing Echo and Dot appliances, and neither Amazon, Google, Samsung, Spotify or other speaker makers really have to clout to produce such a sophisticated, premium speaker and sell it to a critical mass of users globally.

Based in many reviews, the HomePod sound quality is very similar to the Google Home Max, and I wouldn't consider neither of them premium speakers.  And to say that Samsung is not capable of doing sophisticated premium speaker is non sense.  They own Harman Audio, which includes companies like Harman-Kardon, AKG, Infinity and Revel, among others.  Those companies have years of experience in the audio market.  We'll have to see the results of the final product, but I wouldn't count them out.  

dewme said:

jdgaz said:

" ....have given the HomePod good grades for audio quality, but sharply criticized Siri as weak next to the AI assistants in...." Honestly when I want a speaker the first thing I gauge is sound quality. So, in my book Apple focused on the most important thing a speaker can do, that his deliver sound. Siri will come along and be just fine. And it will lily not invade my privacy or deliver purchases to my door that I didn't really want.

Yeah, the parroted whining about Siri is getting stale, but it's one of the ways Apple detractors can make themselves feel better about criticizing a speaker from Apple that blows away the competition on the most important reason people buy speakers. It would be the same as auto reviewers downgrading the latest Corvette Z06 because they don't like the cupholders or navigation controls. 

macgui said:

danvm said:

I even read a review that mentions it may be similar to a Sonos Play:5, which I love, but still behind to many other high end options.  

Holy Crap! What a revelation! 

'...still behind to [sic] many other high end options'. You mean just like the Sonos Play:5?

Everybody is through around their own definitions of 'high-end', 'excellent', and 'audiophile', it seems, wanting to through oranges in to the Apple sauce.

'I even read...'. Talk about unequivocal peer review! News flash: the HomePod is not meant to compete with B&Ws, Martin-Logans, Bozak CGs, Focals, or whatever names fauxiophiles want to drop. I do expect the HP will hold its own with most if not all the Sono line in terms of musicality. 

The embargo on advance HPs has been lifted and we're starting to see very favorable reviews. I look forward to any honest object review whether positive or negative (ok the last not so much but honest is honest). I'll pass on the 'Will it blend' crap and not bother with any goof who wears his ballcap backwards and shouts.

skinzy said:

jdgaz said:

" ....have given the HomePod good grades for audio quality, but sharply criticized Siri as weak next to the AI assistants in...." Honestly when I want a speaker the first thing I gauge is sound quality. So, in my book Apple focused on the most important thing a speaker can do, that his deliver sound. Siri will come along and be just fine. And it will lily not invade my privacy or deliver purchases to my door that I didn't really want.

This is correct!  I’m an audiophile and can’t wait to get mine on Friday.  Don’t know if mass market feels the same way?  For a lot of folks music is just background noise.  For me it’s life’s blood.

ajl said:

danvm said:

ajl said:

All games (applications as well) in Boot Camp can be maxed out to 4K not because Boot Camp drivers, but simply because Windows can manage up to 4K resolution.

Looks like Windows 10 goes higher than 4K resolution,

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2900692/microsoft-to-support-8k-video-resolutions-with-windows-10.html

Looks like.

There are a plethora of older sites telling that Windows 10 will support over 4K video resolutions (a leap between 4K and 8K and only in displays larger than 27 inches), but I wrote manage: https://www.thurrott.com/windows/windows-10/83964/microsoft-may-never-fix-high-dpi-issues-windows-10

Maybe I'm wrong, but actually Windows does not support 5K resolution.