rare comment

Weird - the stereo separation issue has echoes of the W1 syncing issue for AirPods - harder than it looks to solve. And, in the case of HomePod, the distance between the units is variable (whereas AirPods are always the same distance from the applicable ear). For other thoughts (really just questions, no answers) on HomePod's release and features, see here: http://q10a1.blogspot.com/2018/01/lots-of-homepod-questions.html

racerhomie3 said:

I have not seen any other router with an audio jack for AirPlay other than AirPort Express. So I hope Apple keeps making them.

The AirPort family has also been crazy durable/reliable. We have AirPorts (both Express and Extreme) that have been working as access points for over 6 years straight with really minimal downtime. I bought extra Extremes and Expresses when I read about the AirPort team disbanding but haven't needed them yet. This is a seven point system wired with ethernet rather than using wifi to connect the access points to the router. And all the expresses also serve music. Really what I would have liked to see (and still don't understand why it wasn't created) is making AirPorts Apple Music servers. They are already internet connected, have audio out, etc.

rob53 said:

I checked out the Linksys iOS app and it looks very similar to all the controls the Comcast xFi shows on commercials. It demonstrates how families can see how the shutdown of Net Neutrality is going to affect them. Parental controls to shut down the kids phones at dinner and prioritizing devices. What I don't like is the requirement(?) to create a Linksys user account in order to manage it. To me this sounds like all activity might be going through Linksys and there's never a reason for that to happen. I don't believe Airport base stations have ever had this requirement and if they did it was simply your Apple ID, which already goes to the company I/we trust the most. 

"User account (created in the app or at http://www.LinksysSmartWiFi.com) connected to your Linksys product."

Of course my biggest issue with all of these routers is their cost. 

no AppleID needed for Airport. Maybe (I would hope) the Linksys account is only needed to control remotely?

At $50, if it really provides some value, this will sell well. Skin care budgets are large and cost points are high; a small (.5 oz) vial of cream can go for $75.

Other than remembering to say "hey siri" instead of "alexa" (which is not a trivial thing to remember), I suspect there isn't much of a network/incumbency effect for alexa.

I suspect this because, from what I've read and personally experienced, there hasn't been much take-up of the entrenching features of alexa and google home (smart home controls, connection with lists, etc.).  It appears that they are mostly used to set alarms, play music, etc.  Even music may not hook people too deeply in unless there are well-curated playlists as I understand that the libraries of each subscription service are roughly the same.  We are reasonably tech savvy (and, in fact, to try to understand the use cases of always-on listening, bought both an Echo and Google Home when they were each first released, as well as a dot when it was first released) but have not created an IFTTT workflow or enabled meaningful skills for either.  And, because needed, we created a dedicated google account for the Home but haven't really integrated calendars and similar.  We use both daily and heavily but almost exclusively for: radio, news, timers, alarms, and music (uploaded in the case of the Home; amazon prime in the case of Alexa).

That said, given that spending dollars are limited, purchased alexa devices have of coursed squeeze out some portion of homepod purchases.  But, if some large portion of those alexa buyers figured "I can take a risk on this as it is $30", maybe even that squeeze out is not so meaningful as we have a sharply different price point.

All of the above also means that homepod may not have much stickiness.  It will depend on how Apple handles iCloud accounts.  A home device ideally will work with multiple iCloud accounts which raises very difficult security and privacy issues.  How do I make sure that a reminder goes to MY reminders list and not my kid's?  How do I keep my notes or emails distinct from my kid's?  iMessages?  Very very tricky.