Apple HomePod

Dave M

Just back from Curry’s and my new HomePod. Set up in a couple of minutes. Sounds great to me. Looks fab. Will be selling my Sonos 1 as keeping HP. Had a nice little discount voucher from Curry’s and have all Apple stuff so couldn’t resist!

Faust

Glad you're happy with your purchase.  I'm not sure though why so many people appear eager to tie themselves in so completely to one manufacturer.  A huge mistake in my opinion as it leaves the consumer with 'Hobson's Choice' and thus higher prices.

Me, I spread my purchases across a plethora of suppliers, e.g. MS, Apple, Sonos, Samsung, Humax etc. etc.  Everything still works and I'm able to source best value for money.

Jimmer

Thanks for that. I will have to give it a little time to receive updates and see what direction they are heading. Currently have Apple Music and the tv's are run solely with Apple TV along with phones and laptops etc being Apple. We are basically an apple household and I really wanted to be able to replace the Echos with this. Not quite yet though.

Inked

The HomePod is hardly tying anyone into anything that they aren’t already invested in though.
You have to have an iOS device to set it up, which likely means you already have some iTunes based music.
It’s made to work with Apple Music but as that can be cancelled at any time people are always free to buy a different device to use a different service in the future.

I’m sure that Apple will open up the HomePod in the future to be able to use other services.

Bl4ckGryph0n

When Apple Match was introduced I had more tracks then the system could cope with. IIRC the limit was 25,000. Nowadays it no longer exists. My point being even if I was going over my personal selection of about 65K tracks I had purchased at the time a normal user interface wouldn't work either.

Now with Apple Music I have access to my own 65K tracks plus an additional 40M I think. And growing every single day.

So yes, I fully agree it is impossible to remember them all and ask for them individually.

And that is where metadata comes in. The HomePod itself made a list for me based on previous habits. Some were sh*t, some were nice surprises.

But I can also create lists like what do I rate but haven't listened to for a while. Or when I like something from my own collection, what is there in the 40M other songs that I might enjoy.

To me it is like a discovery tool. To me that is fun, some I like, some I don't. I appreciate it all though.

Bl4ckGryph0n

Some people don't feel like they are tying themselves in. Also, openness and upgradability present its own challenges regarding integration, or lack thereof, or any workarounds.

Sure a friend may come around who'd like to play their music from their phone.  And unless I let them not only on our guest wifi, but has to be on our private wifi they can't airplay to it if they used apple. And most definitely not if they use android or windows or blackberry.

Quite nice actually, great excuse not to listen to their music [emoji4] or have them take over our audio system.

Our system is for us, we buy it for ourselves not for others.

Faust

Perhaps it's an age thing but I don't want suggested play lists. I like to browse iTunes or Music Bee and look at my music collection including album art work.

Besides using something like a Homepod Echo etc. would be a step down the audio quality ladder from the Sonos Playbar or my Denon system. Perhaps if you don't already own decent speakers then something like the HP would be okay though.

Faust

You may not feel you are tying yourselves in to one manufacturer but there's no getting away from the fact you are.  

Mind you as someone in their sixties we don't really get friends coming round wanting to play their music on our system. That part of your post made me smile.

Faust

That for me (and a number of reviewers) is one of the biggest issues with this product i.e. you need another iOS device to use it. My iPhone 7 will probably be my last. I've fallen out of love with Apple's business model.  I no longer use my iMac, ATV is ancient and I sold my iPad. I do use iTunes on my home built PC though.

Inked

I’ve never understood this argument, you can use most Apple products without being any more tied in to Apple than you would using Android or Windows. Other than apps, you don’t have to use their content at all.

Then a product like this isn’t likely to suit you. Buy something that does or stick with what you have, simple, there is something for everyone out there.

Again, buy something that suits you. Apple don’t have to make a product that has to suit everyone.
That doesn’t make the HomePod bad any more than a 2 seater sports car could be deemed bad just because it would be thoroughly unsuitable for my needs.