polymnia

LowRezSkyline said:

What a pointless 'story'. Why don't you guys spend time digging into why there are literally ZERO games out for OS-X SteamVR. There, see, that's something actually interesting and potentially useful.

cgWerks said:

Well, that's one way to get rid of the creatives.
I wonder how many apps will make that transition?

MacPro said:

d_2 said:

Wondering what company will build a low-cost airplay 2 compatible Wi-Fi receiver with analog audio out to plug-in to the millions of existing systems that can’t upgrade to airplay 2…

Apple should sell  a modestly priced Airplay 2 dongle that has an optical out.  Apple used to make such things for earlier audio technologies although I don't recall if it was optical or phono out.

 In fact now I think about it, even an extra Apple TV 4 dedicated to Audio would be cheaper than replacing a high end Receiver that lacked Airplay2.

gatorguy said:

StrangeDays said:

gatorguy said:

tmay said:

gatorguy said:

tmay said:

gatorguy said:

lkrupp said:

StrangeDays said:

tmay said:

gatorguy said:

So many smart speakers out there now and many more to come over the next few months. With some of them from the long-time audio companies like B&O and Bose and Sony and Pioneer and Sonos and JBL, there's no shortage of very good to great small speakers with assistant capabilities. Options like truly portable 360 sound smart speakers (ie JBL, Bose, Ultimate Ears and others) put them in a space where they aren't even competing directly with the must-be-plugged-in HomePod. 

Apple will of course be successful with the HomePod (who has their kind of fanbase?) but with a single non-portable relatively high-priced speaker that has zero usefulness to an otherwise non-Apple owner they certainly have marketplace limits.

I would use "user base" rather than "fan base" but the context comes out much different than what you intended.

Yeah I noticed the same. “But it’s a cult!” and "Mindless Sheeple fans!" is the subtext here. 

He’s crafty that in that way. Just another take on the “only stupid people buy Apple products” meme. Trolls have given up on the “doomed to bankruptcy” narrative. Too much egg on their faces. Now it’s the “Apple will succeed but only because stupid people buy their junk” backhanded slap in the face. Troll evolution and innovation at it’s finest. Somebody should write a book.

When did fan base take on negative connotations? Not anywhere but here among some tiny subset of the "fan base" with ulterior reasons for complaining AFAIK.  So which one of you aren't fans of Apple? Speak up, don't be shy....

Your previous statement reeked of "damning with faint praise", but more along the lines of, "HomePod is something only its own mother would love".

Still, I'm guessing that you feel much better with a rant about your teams's product being superior to another team's product...

You already know better and it's disappointing that you of all members here would make up claims about what someone said (easy enough to find exactly what I said) just to support an IMO very silly and very petty agenda. I've had more respect for you.

BTW, fan base is not a term that would upset anyone... normally. My college has a fan base, as does my Lightning hockey team, and I doubt any of them would appreciate that being called "mindless" for being fans. 

Try spending more time discussing what is actually said and how valid the points are rather than using letting your imagination run wild for possible hidden meanings.

Does Apple have a massive fanbase? Yes
Does that fanbase help give Apple products more immediate traction and a better chance at success than some less historically reputable companies? Yes
Are there good sounding smart speakers that Apple does not offer competition for? Yes
Does Apple have current competition in the ac-tethered "great-sounding" smart-speaker space?  Yes
Are the traditional audio companies moving into that market too? Yes
Is a HomePod generally unfit for purpose to someone not using other Apple products? Yes

So where's the disagreement. Well gosh if you can't argue the facts maybe standing on one leg and squinting real hard there might be some word in there that you can make up some negative connotation for. 

Next....

You seem to lack the self awareness to realize that you come across to myself and many others here at AI, most of the time, as a Google Fan, more so than the typical Google User, using your implied criteria.

Your casual use of "fan" as an pejorative for Apple's product successes rather than the obvious, large, and generally very satisfied user base, certainly colors any argument you make about comparative product features or advantages. Hence, why I noted that you damn the HomePod with faint praise, which you absolutely did.

I see "I'm a fan " here at AI far more than "I'm a user". Still that seems to be the only objection you've been able to put together regarding the what-you-see-as-an-offensive post? One generally innocuous word....

Were you any other forum user that may be the case. But considering the constant agenda you push for Google, and your repeated admissions and clear lack of understanding about Apple products (won't go into again), it creates a pattern. You're often a FUD dispenser, so one can reasonably attach secondary meaning to your chosen language. You never seem to like being called out for it but the pattern speaks for itself.

To you it apparently does speak for itself. I think your off-the-cuff dismissal of other AI members concerns re: Apple stuff and/or knee-jerk admonishment of even long-time Apple fans (there's that ugly word again) for questioning in the first place "speaks for itself". So what? Does what I think of your posts keep you awake at night? Ditto. Neither of us matter in the bigger scheme. Unless that was your dog I kicked during the bike ride you have no rational reason for your silly personal vendetta IMO. Apple didn't make a nickel from anything you wrote here today, nor lose a single sale from anything I had to say. Loving or hating Google also had zero effect on Apple's business. Why would hating Google be a requirement for admission to your club?

No I don't think I "push" for Google, recommend them over Apple, promote them in threads that have nothing to do with them and other trollish activities.  You find it more bothersome that I'm not a Google hater IMO. I can see the good stuff along with the (IMO) bad.

Yeah I am certainly a "fan" of many of Google's services, ie Photos, Search, Google Music, Maps and Drive come to mind. No dispute from me. But not so much a fan of Google WiFi escapades or their Safari disinformation tactics,or their develop it then drop it strategies, or their sometimes poor focus on the goal. or their siphoning of sooo much information, or their unexplainable failure to give Sun a little sumpin' sumpin' when developing Android.  I look forward to the day that giving me great personal services doesn't require keeping around great gobs of personal data to do so and to their credit they're slowly getting there, recognizing the scenery is changing. But I won't stoop to making stuff up to suit an agenda, pro or con. We should all be able to say the same. 

I get that some members might have no problem with letting FUD pass by (and often do) if it involves a perceived Apple competitor, maybe even post it themselves if they think no one will notice. make believe it's fact and "everyone knows". I don't roll like that which should be appreciated.