HomePod

HomePod is a smart speaker developed by Apple Inc.. Announced on 5 June 2017, at the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference,[7][8] its launch was later delayed from December 2017 to early 2018.[8][9][10][11] Apple began taking orders on 26 January 2018,[12] and formally released it on 9 February that year.

Not to be confused with iPod, iPod Hi-Fi, or AirPods.

HomePod
A white HomePod on display at WWDC 2017
DeveloperApple Inc.
Manufacturer
TypeSmart speaker
Release date
Introductory priceUS$349
CA$449
GB£319
A$499
Units sold1-3 million (2018)[2][3]
Operating system
  • tvOS derivative (as of 13.4)[4]
  • iOS derivative (prior to version 13.4)[5]
System-on-chip usedApple A8
Memory1 GB LPDDR3 RAM
Storage16 GB
Display272 x 340 LED matrix
Sound7 tweeters, 4-inch (10 cm) woofer, 6 microphones
InputMulti-touch screen, voice commands via Siri
Connectivity802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi‑Fi with MIMO
Bluetooth 5.0
Direct peer-to-peer access from iPhone 5S or later; iPad Pro, iPad (2017), iPad Air, iPad Mini 2 or later, or iPod Touch (6th generation), devices running iOS 12 or later[6]
Dimensions6.8 in × 5.6 in (170 mm × 140 mm)
Mass5.5 lb (2.5 kg)
Websiteapple.com/homepod/

Designed to accompany other Apple devices such as the iPhone and Mac, the HomePod is designed to work with the Apple Music subscription service.[13] It incorporates beamforming and eight speakers[14] and is sold in two colors: White and Space Gray.[15]

The HomePod received mixed reviews: it was praised for its design and sound quality compared to other speakers of its price, and criticized for lack of third-party support and high price compared to other smart speakers. Additionally, the silicone base on the bottom of the device was found to occasionally damage wooden surfaces. As of August 2018, the HomePod had sold an estimated 1 to 3 million units.

Specifications

The HomePod has a rounded, cylindrical shape, and has a small touchscreen on its top. It has seven tweeters in its base and a four-inch woofer (Apple does not specify Hz frequency range) towards the top, as well as six microphones used for voice control and acoustic optimization. The system-on-a-chip is the Apple A8, which Apple had previously included in devices Such as the Apple TV HD and the iPhone 6.[16][17][18][19]

Siri can be used to control the speaker and other HomeKit devices, and can be used to conduct text messaging and voice calls from an iPhone. The HomePod mainly supports Apple's own platforms and technologies, including Apple Music, iTunes Store purchases and Match, iTunes podcasts, Beats 1 radio, and AirPlay (with limited third-party support for internet radio services iHeartRadio, Radio.com, and TuneIn coming in the fall of 2019), while an iOS 11 device is required for initial setup. HomePod can serve as a sound bar within a home entertainment system when selected through an Apple TV. The HomePod does not officially support audio-in from Bluetooth sources.[20][18] Andrew Faden has developed a solution he calls "BabelPod" to allow line in and Bluetooth input to the HomePod through the use of a Raspberry Pi.[21]

AirPlay 2 and multi-room, multi-speaker support were announced in February 2018, and released in September 2018 in iOS 12 along with additional features such as multiple named timers, Find my iPhone, Siri shortcuts, the ability to make, receive and screen phone calls directly on the HomePod, and the ability to search for songs using the lyrics.[22] HomePod initially lacked support for allowing multiple users to use the device[23], but multi user support was eventually added with the release of iOS 13.2 [24]

The 13.4 software update, released in March 2020, updated the OS from an iOS code base to a tvOS based system.[25]

Greenhouse gas emissions for production, expected use and recycling for the HomePod are estimated at 146 kg CO2e.[26]

Reception

The HomePod received mixed reviews. The review from The Verge praised the HomePod's automatic acoustic calibration system, and felt that it sounded "noticeably richer and fuller" than competitors such as the Sonos One (described as sounding "a little empty") and Google Home Max (described as being a "bass-heavy mess").[14] The review from Ars Technica stated that the sound quality of the HomePod was "pretty good, rich and full for its size, better than the Sonos One but probably not $150 better, [and] a galaxy ahead of the Echo."[23]

Its lack of support for third-party services and platforms was criticized,[18][23][14] with Ars Technica arguing that it gave the device "intense inflexibility".[23] Siri on the HomePod was also criticized for its limited functionality in comparison to assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant; The Verge cited the inability to actually place phone calls from the speaker (they must be made on an iPhone and transferred to the HomePod), set multiple timers at once, or distinguish between multiple voices, and only supporting basic commands when using AirPlay, among other limitations.[14][18] Multiple reminders can be used in lieu of multiple timers, albeit with less precision than a timer.[27][28][29][30][31][32] All these issues have been fixed in iOS 12, released on 17 September 2018.[22]

The Verge gave HomePod a 7.5 out of 10, arguing that it "does more to make music sound better than any other speaker of this kind has ever done before", but that consumers should consider other options "unless you live entirely inside Apple's walled garden and prioritize sound quality over everything else."[14] Wired shared similar criticisms over its lack of Siri functionality and support for third-party services, concluding that the HomePod would be of little interest to those who are not heavily invested in Apple's software and hardware ecosystem.[18]

It was reported by some owners that the HomePod's silicone base stained oiled wooden surfaces with a white "ring" mark.[33] Although Apple states that "it is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-dampening silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces", and that the marks would eventually "improve" on its own, Stuart Miles (founder of the British technology blog Pocket-lint) reported that in his experience, the stain occurred after only about 20 minutes of use on a wooden surface, and that he had to sand and re-oil the surface to remove it.[34] John Gruber criticized Apple for this abnormality, remarking that he had never seen an Apple product damage surfaces in such a manner before, and that it "seems like an issue that should have been caught during the period where HomePod was being widely tested at home by many Apple employees."[35]

Sales

Strategy Analytics estimated that 600,000 HomePods were sold in first quarter of 2018, making Apple the fourth best selling smart speaker brand after Amazon, Google and Alibaba, giving Apple a 6% market share in the industry.[36] The HomePod also has 6% market share in the United States according to a report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners and sold an estimated 700,000 units worldwide in the second quarter of 2018.[37][38] Also in the second quarter of 2018, Strategy Analytics estimated that the HomePod outsold all smart speakers that cost more than $200, giving Apple a 70% market share in premium brand smart speakers.[39] As of mid 2018, the HomePod had sold an estimated 3 million units.[40] Sales increased 45% in Q4 2018, with Apple selling 1.6 million units that quarter. [41] In April 2019, Apple reduced the price to USD $299.[42]

See also

References
  1. "HomePod will launch in Q4 this year in limited quantity". GSMArena.com. Archived from the original on 17 August 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2017.
  2. "HomePod Sales May Be Closer to 1-1.5 Million Than 3 Million Since the Speaker Launched". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  3. "HomePod Estimated to Have 3 Million Sales and 6% Market Share in United States". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  4. "HomePod now runs on tvOS, here's what that could mean". Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  5. "About iOS Software Updates for HomePod". Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  6. "HomePod - Technical Specifications - Apple". Retrieved 14 August 2019.
  7. Gartenberg, Chaim (5 June 2017). "Apple announces HomePod speaker to take on Sonos". The Verge. Archived from the original on 5 June 2017. Retrieved 5 June 2017.
  8. "Meet Apple's Echo Rival, Homepod". Fortune. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
  9. "Apple's HomePod delayed until next year". The Verge. Archived from the original on 17 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  10. Fingas, Jon (17 November 2017). "Apple delays HomePod smart speaker until early 2018". Engadget. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  11. "Apple delays HomePod to 2018". CNET. Archived from the original on 18 November 2017. Retrieved 17 November 2017.
  12. "HomePod arrives February 9, available to order this Friday" (Press release). Apple Inc. Archived from the original on 23 January 2018. Retrieved 23 January 2018.
  13. Apple inc. HomePod - Apple. Retrieved 2 February 2019
  14. "Apple HomePod review: locked in". The Verge. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  15. "Everything about HomePod". iMore. Archived from the original on 20 June 2017. Retrieved 19 June 2017.
  16. "This iFixit teardown shows the HomePod is built like a tank". The Verge. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  17. Ong, Thuy (31 July 2017). "HomePod firmware reveals more secrets of Apple's smart speaker". The Verge. Archived from the original on 4 September 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2017.
  18. "HomePod Review: Only Apple Devotees Need Apply". Wired. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  19. "Apple Home Pod Review". www.wadav.com. Retrieved 2 August 2018.
  20. "Apple clarifies which audio sources are supported on HomePod speakers". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  21. "BabelPod: Line-In and Bluetooth Input for HomePod". faden.me. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018.
  22. Engst, Adam (24 September 2018). "Apple Updates HomePod with iOS 12 for Phone Calls, Multiple Timers, and More". Retrieved 3 January 2019.
  23. "Apple's HomePod: Paying $350 for a speaker that says "no" this much is tough". Ars Technica. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  24. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204753
  25. Clover, Juli (13 April 2020). "HomePod Operating System Now Based on tvOS Instead of iOS Amid Rumors of Smaller HomePod". MacRumors. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  26. "HomePod Environmental Report" (PDF). Apple and the Environment. Apple Inc. 26 January 2018. Archived (PDF) from the original on 16 February 2018.
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  28. Dr. Drang (17 February 2018). "Timers, reminders, alarms — oh, my!". And now it’s all this. leancrew. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  29. Gruber, John (26 February 2018). "Timers, Reminders, and Alarms on Apple Devices". Daring Fireball. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  30. Mark, Dave (28 February 2018). "Timers, reminders, alarms—oh, my!". The Loop. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  31. "How to deal with Apple's inconsistent alerts system". Lifehacker. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018.
  32. Heer, Nick. "Timers, Reminders, and Alarms — Pixel Envy". pxlnv.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2018.
  33. "Apple's HomePod speakers mark wood". BBC News. 14 February 2018. Archived from the original on 14 February 2018. Retrieved 14 February 2018.
  34. "Apple HomePod review: The smart sounding speaker that's just not smart enough - Pocket-lint". www.pocket-lint.com. Archived from the original on 22 March 2018.
  35. Gruber, John (February 14, 2018). "HomePod Can Damage Wood Furniture". Daring Fireball. Archived from the original on March 22, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  36. "Strategy Analytics: Amazon's Global Smart Speaker Share Falls Below 50% in Q1 2018 as Competition Heats Up". Retrieved 18 May 2018.
  37. "Apple gains a foothold in the smart speaker market: A Foolish Take". USA Today. Retrieved 18 August 2018.
  38. "Strategy Analytics: Google Closes Gap on Amazon in Global Smart Speaker Market in Q2 2018". Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  39. "HomePod misses top 5 smart speaker list, but grabs impressive 70% of $200+ market". 9to5Mac. 19 September 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  40. "HomePod Estimated to Have 3 Million Sales and 6% Market Share in United States". Retrieved 5 October 2018.
  41. "HomePod Sales Grew 45 Percent Over Holiday Quarter, But Actually Lost Market Share". iDrop News. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 30 April 2019.
  42. Gartenberg, Chris (4 April 2019). "Apple drops HomePod price down to $299". The Verge. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
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