puggsly

roundaboutnow said:

Too bad about ARD being "fiddly" especially considering that it's $79. I myself don't use it, but several of my colleagues have. I never understood why Apple feels it has to charge this much for it. I mean, Microsoft RDP macOS client is free. 

Apple provides basic RDS screen sharing for free too so no need to fret about that. ARD is a enterprise tool to push settings, updates, applications and generate reports on system setup, software,and hardware config. Back to my Mac allowed for multiple macs to find each other over the internet, through firewalls and routers with zero configuration. It is freaking magic. Essentially, each Mac registers its ip with iCloud and shares it with all other macs so that when you connect it opens a vpn tunnel between the two systems and magic. That is what we will miss. 

fastasleep said:

puggsly said:

MplsP said:

I guess I'm confused. I got a pop up saying Back To My Mac was being discontinued and the info at Apple (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208922) says that screen sharing is still available. What's the difference?

Screen sharing is on your local network. Back to My Mac works over the internet with no configuration beyond signing into the same iCloud account on each system. The author does a major disservice by down playing this. Reach out to Apple and fight to get this back.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/icloud.html

Screen Sharing also works with a remote machine with a dedicated IP/subdomain. I connect to our office server all the time via command-K and vnc://subdomain.domain.com

Ya! And how many home users have a dedicated ip with a configured subdomain? Also you are only password protected on that connection and back to my Mac creates a transparent vpn tunnel. We need to encourage Apple to maintain this service. 

MplsP said:

I guess I'm confused. I got a pop up saying Back To My Mac was being discontinued and the info at Apple (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208922) says that screen sharing is still available. What's the difference?

Screen sharing is on your local network. Back to My Mac works over the internet with no configuration beyond signing into the same iCloud account on each system. The author does a major disservice by down playing this. Reach out to Apple and fight to get this back.

https://www.apple.com/feedback/icloud.html

Don't down play this! This was a great tool! It might not have been comprehensive but it just worked without any configuration. If you mom has and desktop and a laptop both signed into iCloud, her desktop would just be there on here laptop and vice versa. Better yet, by just setting up a second account on that system (which if you support another person you should) and sign in with your appleID and presto, their system showed up on your computer for support. No router's no monthly fees nobody sniffing packets. This was a key advantage for Apple that should have been expanded, not killed!
This could have been a major feature of iOS 13 if they added access through it. It was also supported (although in a too limited fashion) on their routers so you sign-in and presto you have access to connected drives. This is a major negative and we should take it lying down. Contact Apple and let them know this is not ok!

Silma said:

Still, it is not objectively a good product in its present version.
It leaks.
People that are really interested in sound will purchase real HiFi loudspeakers.
People that are more attracted to the smart, will be disappointed.
The HomePod shows how Siri is limited and years behind Alexa, Google Assistant or Cortana.
So the main market presently is the Apple customer. Which is not to be underestimated, but very small in potential volume.
Why does volume matter this time, more than profit margin ? The success of such offering resides in the capabilities it brings you, such as ordering a pizza for you.
Third parties won't develop 'skills' for a smart speaker unless the potential market for their service or product justify it.

You don’t get it!
The smart of the HomePod is Siri and Siri is already mass market. You don’t make homepod skills! You add Siri kit to your app. 
The only way this is not objectively a good product is because it is great!
Now will someone spend $350 for another way to order pizza? Hell NO! But if they are about to spend $150 on a crappy streaming speaker and they read the amazing reviews of HomePod might they step up to get a solid speaker? Sure! Siri is not nearly as limited as you think. Assuming Apple adds multiple timers to the timer app and 90% of alexa’s Advantage is gone.