Michael Simon, Macworld:
Apple is betting big on HomePod as an audiophile device.
I’m going to post separately on this, but suffice it to say that I think audio quality will make or break HomePod. From everything I’ve heard and read (from people who either worked on the tech or have heard it in person), it sounds like HomePod audio is impressive as hell, surprisingly so.
And that’s not likely something you’ll be able to go out and listen to in a crowded Apple Store. If the sound is as impressive as it sounds (sorry), you’ll be reading glowing praise in the blogosphere, it’ll be a grass roots effect.
After more than three years, the best way to stream your music library inside your house is still through your television. HomePod will change that with full Apple Music integration, complete with support for Siri commands and playlists. Apple also says it will learn your tastes based on the songs you like (by saying, “Hey Siri, I like this”), and adjust your playlists and recommendations accordingly.
To me, the friction of teaching Apple Music my likes/dislikes, of tuning my musical preferences, is a big problem. While I would love to be able to edit my model in some way, being able to like/dislike without having to dig through an interface, is a terrific step forward.
There’s a lot more to Michael’s article, well worth the read.
Indeed, Dave hits it on the head. It’s a palaver to fine-tune the recommendations an Apple Music.
I disagree with any use of the term “audiophile” to describe the HomePod or any similar speaker. It’s a speaker, in mono, that might sound good, but to get stereo, you’ll be paying $700, and you can get a very good amp and pair of speakers for that price.
Hasn’t the past decade shown that betting on audio quality as a differentiator is a loser in the mass market. Sounds good enough is all they want. Look at Bose vs. B&O or Pono.
Something I still haven’t seen addressed anywhere: Is homepod any use at all for those of us who still get and play our music through Itunes? Or is it only good for Apple’s streaming music service?
I second that question.
The best way to stream your music library inside your house isn’t the Apple TV. It is (and will remain so until HomePod gets multi-room) using iTunes to stream to multiple Airplay speakers, which can include your TV.
It’s just an AirPlay-enabled speaker with Siri built in, so yes, perfectly useful if you’re using iTunes (or anything else that supports AirPlay) for your ripped/purchased/downloaded music.
“After more than three years, the best way to stream your music library inside your house is still through your television.”
Who thinks that’s the best way to stream your music library?????
I agree with Meaux that betting on audio quality has been a losing proposition.
“After more than three years, the best way to stream your music library inside your house is still through your television”
Huh? i have been using apple music through my sonos’s for about 2 years! No, through your television is NOT the best way to listen to apple music and it never was.
Non-starter for me without Spotify integration. And BTW: The best way to stream music is through a Spotify/Airplay compatible receiver and decent speakers. You can also use a small amp + Airport + Speakers. I have built this combination into my kitchen ceiling. Who would use a TV? That’s crazy. Via this setup I have a cheap and working multiroom solution that’s been working for the last three years. Multiroom via MacBook Pro/Spotify and AirFoil.
After more than three years, the best way to stream your music library inside your house is still through your television
… huh.
I guess, in context, he must mean not so much “the best way to make the noises come out” (because TVs are abysmal for that, without an attached sound system) as “the most convenient interface”?
Which seems odd, since “your phone, streaming over bluetooth” seems far superior to me?
Hell, you can get an amp, speakers, and bluetooth dongle so you can stream all that music from your phone for half that* – the cost of one HomePod.
The HomePod’s advantages will be Siri, other integrations, and “good enough for 99% of the market” music output; audiophiles or even “serious enough music people” are rounding error, especially in the age of ubiquitous headphones.
(* And I mean “good enough that you’ll never notice the lack of another $350 spent on it”, not “quality doesn’t matter, just low price”.
We live in a golden age of audio quality vs. cost.)
Looks like it’s useless if your music library is mostly CDs ripped to Itunes:
https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/23/homepod-can-play-purchased-itunes-music-podcasts-and-stream-beats-1-without-apple-music-subscription/
Until they add the ability for it to be a speaker for the media on my computer that I own, no sale.
Sadly, it seems that someone in Apple thought it would be a good idea to make it be an apple music only appliance:
https://9to5mac.com/2018/01/23/homepod-can-play-purchased-itunes-music-podcasts-and-stream-beats-1-without-apple-music-subscription/
So that’s a definite nope for me.
I was afraid to hear something like that.