The early HomePod reviews are in, and the consensus is it sounds great, but Siri is lagging behind Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.
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Phil Schiller Talks Music, Siri, and HomeKit for HomePod in Interview
Apple has turned out the C-Suite to promote HomePod, including senior vice president of marketing Phil Schiller. In an interview with audio magazine Sound and Vision, Mr. Schiller talked up three aspects of Apple’s smart speaker: music, Siri, and HomeKit. There’s little I would call new in the interview, and when I went looking for a standout quote, it all felt like informative marketing speak. But, it’s interesting to see Mr. Schiller pushing HomeKit integration, which has largely been downplayed in Apple’s marketing message so far. One way or another, however, it’s a good read that gives a nice overview of what Apple wants us to think about HomePod.
Tech Spec Showdown: Apple HomePod vs Amazon Echo vs Google Home
Apple HomePod, Amazon Echo, and Google Home can all stream music, but how do they stack up against each other?
iPhone Home App Manages HomePod Software Updates
HomePod software updates will be managed in the Home app on your iPhone, much like the Watch app manages Apple Watch updates.
Apple In Store Pickup Available for HomePod Pre-orders
You can pre-order an Apple HomePod smart speaker today for delivery on February 9th, and you can choose in-store pickup, too.
Apple HomePod also Available at Best Buy
Looking for a HomePod but don’t have an Apple Store nearby? Best Buy is selling Apple’s smart speaker, too.
Apple Begins Accepting Pre-orders for HomePod
Apple started pre-orders for its HomePod smart speaker Friday morning with deliveries set for February 9th.
Here are HomePod's Voice Control Limitations
Apple’s HomePod is a streaming music smart speaker first and a Siri voice assistant second, which means there are some limitations you should be ready for. Read on to see what Siri can, and can’t, do on HomePod.
Tim Cook: You'll Want HomePod for the Audio Quality
Amazon Echo and Google Home have squeaky sounding speakers, so that’s why you should buy a HomePod, according to Apple CEO Tim Cook.
Buying a HomePod? Here are the Compatible iPhone and iPad Models
Apple’s HomePod isn’t a completely stand alone smart speaker, so you need to have a compatible iPhone or iPad. Here are the compatible models, along with the required version of iOS.
Apple Updates iTunes for HomePod
Support for HomePod in iTunes 12.7.3 includes menu options designed specifically to control the device.
Here are the HomePod Touch Gestures You Need to Know
Apple’s HomePod will be in stores on February 9th, and along with Siri voice control you can use gestures to control your brand new smart speaker. Read on to learn how.
HomePod Ships February 9th with Pre-Orders Friday, Stereo and Multi-Room Audio Later this Year
Apple is finally ready to deliver the HomePod with preorders for the smart speaker starting this Friday, January 26th, and deliveries starting on February 9th.
iOS Beta Shows HomePod Mics can be Disabled
iOS 11.2.5 Developer Beta includes settings for disabling Siri in the streaming home speaker so its built-in microphones won’t eavesdrop on what you say.
First Million HomePods Roll Off Inventec Assembly Line
Apple’s HomePod still isn’t on store shelves, but it looks to be getting a little closer now that Inventec has completed a production order for 1 million units.
Apple's Chinese iCloud Occupation, HomeKit Miss, Apple Parenting, Oak Island - Pop.0 ep.28
In this TMO video podcast, Bryan Chaffin and John Kheit look at Apple’s Chinese iCloud occupation and what it says about Apple. They also think Apple is just plain missing the smarthome boat, judging by what we’re seeing at CES. John goes off on a tangent rant about parenting and Apple, and for the pop portion of the show, they talk about recent developments in The Curse of Oak Island. (WARNING NSFW: PROFANITY & RANTS)
FCC Kills Net Neutrality, Samsung's HomePod Competitor - TMO Daily Observations 2017-12-15
Dave Hamilton and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to discuss the FCC vote to end Net Neutrality, plus Samsung’s HomePod competitor.
Apple Releases iOS 11.2.1 with Home App Remote Access Fix
The maintenance release specifically addresses an issue with remote access and the Home app.
HomeKit Zero Day Exploit, the iPad Computer Debate - TMO Daily Observations 2017-12-08
Dave Hamilton and John Martellaro join Jeff Gamet to discuss the HomeKit Zero Day exploit that was just revealed, plus John and Jeff get into a debate about whether the iPad should be considered a computer.
Apple Officially Delays HomePod Launch Until 2018
If you’ve been saving up your pennies to buy a HomePod before the end of the year put on your patience pants because that’s not happening.
HomePod Shipping Delay, Listener Comments - TMO Daily Observations 2017-11-17
John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join Jeff Gamet to discuss Apple’s announced HomePod shipping delay, plus they respond to listener comments to John’s macOS upgrade rant.
Bryan’s HomeKit Problems, HomePod’s SiriKit, Apple’s Product Improvements - ACM 435
Bryan and Jeff explore the good points and less-than-good points of Apple’s HomeKit, and the news that HomePod is going to need your iPhone to do some things. They also look at mounting evidence that Apple is back in gear for regular updates across its product line.
Amazon’s Key to Your Home, HomeKit Lights, Port-Free iPhones - ACM 434
Amazon Key will let delivery people into your home when you aren’t there, and Bryan and Jeff discuss the pros and cons. Jeff also gives Bryan a primer on starting off with HomeKit devices that don’t need a third party hub. They cap the show with the idea that Apple could be working towards a completely-sealed iPhone.
This Smart Camera Levitates and Rotates
Check out The Moon from 1-Ring on Indiegogo. It’s a levitating smart camera. And while smart cameras don’t need to levitate to do their thing, this one can rotate while it’s levitating, and that means turning silently. It’s controllable from a smartphone app, and features night vision, motion detection, and notifications. It will also serve as a home automation hub for Philips Hue, Amazon Alexa, Google Assistant, Apple Homekit. It has integrated temperature, humidity, CO2 and light sensors. Oh, and it looks like a frickin’ Death Star! I haven’t tested one of these things, and I don’t know if they can do everything they say they can do, but the campaign raised more than $89,000 in no time. There’s a month left, and the original goal was just $45,000. As of this writing, there are funding levels of $209 that will get you one, but there aren’t many of those left. It’s supposed to ship in March of 2018.