“The HomePod ads — featuring a black screen with the word HomePod across it and a clip of a popular song — are reminiscent of the iPod silhouette ads of old. In each ad, the word distorts, bounces, and otherwise dances to the music until the device briefly appears and gives way to the Apple logo,” Michael Simon writes for Macworld. “The commecrials are effective and bold, and cut right to the chase, much like those iconic iPod ads: HomePod is built for music.”
“If anyone rushed to Apple.com to buy a HomePod after seeing one of the Grammy ads, they might be in for a surprise after it arrives on February 9, especially if they missed the disclaimer at the end of the commercial: Requires compatible Apple device,” Simon writes. “More than any other Apple product on the market today, HomePod is indelibly tied to Apple’s iEcosystem, so if you have an Android phone, you’re out of luck, even if you happen to subscribe to Apple Music.”
“It all reminds me a lot of the early days of the iPod: A high-priced device that only works with Apple products,” Simon writes. “But while the strategy might have worked back in 2001, it’s going to be a much harder sell now.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: No. There are about a billion more Apple device users today than there were when iPod launched.
Apple’s HomePod can be used as as a Wi-Fi speaker for Spotify, Google Play Music, Amazon Music, etc., thanks to AirPlay.
As always, Android settlers won’t know what they’re missing in terms of ecosystem integration and ease-of-use. When and if Apple opens HomePod more to Apple Music subscribers on Android (Simon notes that Google’s Play Store app has between 10 million and 50 million Apple Music downloads and more than 200,000 reviews), it’ll be icing on the cake. Apple could certainly have plans for HomePods to fill in other price points (like iPod mini, iPod nano and iPhone shuffle did) in the future, too.
Obviously, Apple is behind on HomePod. We don’t even have multi-room or stereo capabilities, yet! We expect Apple has plans for HomePod features and devices that have not yet been revealed.
SEE ALSO:
How Apple’s HomePod will handle software updates – January 30, 2018
What Apple’s HomePod 2 should offer – January 29, 2018
Apple debuts four commercials for HomePod’s debut – January 27, 2018
Apple’s HomePod is actually a steal at $349 – January 26, 2018
Digital Trends previews Apple’s HomePod: Impressive sound coupled with strong privacy – January 26, 2018
Hands on with Apple’s HomePod: Attractive, ultra-high-quality speaker, an excellent Siri ambassador – January 26, 2018
Apple’s HomePod, the iPod for your home – January 25, 2018
One hour with Apple’s new HomePod smart speaker – January 25, 2018
Apple’s iOS 11.3 beta delivers AirPlay 2 with multi-room playback – January 25, 2018
How Apple is positioning the HomePod and why – January 24, 2018
How I got talked into buying an Apple HomePod despite my reservations – January 24, 2018
Tim Cook says audio quality puts HomePod ahead of ‘squeaky-sounding’ competition – January 24, 2018
Apple’s HomePod arrives February 9th, available to order this Friday, January 26th – January 23, 2018
Apple delays HomePod release to early 2018 – November 17, 2017
Apple reveals HomePod smart home music speaker – June 5, 2017
I am split on this point. This is one case in which the “walled garden” strategically hurts Apple. Its true that Apple has many more users, now, than before. Hard to compete with Sonos, though, which is so inclusive and which aggregates so well. But other companies like Bose do the same thing. They may not have leading market share for all smart speakers but they have a leading share in the profitable segment. So I suppose Apple, like always, understands the growth-share matrix and how to strategically own the best customers for long term sustainability.
This is going to be a very important year for Apple in terms of product. They’re facing a very saturated phone market which Apple doesn’t seem to acknowledge. Then there’s the expensive shipping iMac Pro and the new Mac Pro expected to ship in 2018.
Not helping is the HomePod, an expensive device years in planing with a release date that was postponed from 2017 to 2018. When it ships, owners will have to wait later in the year to receive an update that will allow the device to operate as advertised.
There’s a lot of unorganized thought at Apple.
What I don’t understand is….why are they holding back the software…The missed the Christmas boat, you’d think they’d release it with all the capabilities they have…maybe that is what they did…but to not offer even stereo now seems odd if they wanted to make a big splash…
They are holding back the software. It’s simply not ready for release. Why? Nobody but Apple knows.
See Apple Maps, software has gone to hell at Apple.
Because they don’t know what they’re doing. Simple
Apple at one time use to release software that was more finished than the competition not anymore.
of course you know best
The last OS release was one of the worse, Cook is always sorry.
Don’t worry Apple fans! Tim Cook will make Home Pod the envy of all. Ignore Home Pod’s limitations and inadequacies. These are mere illusions. Just wait. The true essence and power of Home Pod will come. Patience, patience. Buy now, buy now. Please, buy now.
Get used to it, this is Tim Cook’s culture at Apple, Tim Cook’s legacy. Cook’s not gonna change, he’s functioning a maximum capacity. The problem is Cook’s best isn’t good enough. Apple board has a decision to make: accept the current brutal reality or find someone else.
I say again, as I have said on a few other reports about the HomePod…
HomePod in 2018? Nope. HomePod in 2019? Maybe.
For now if you want multi-room, stereo, home theater (including a massive sub) there is just one word — Sonos. It has everything except Siri. It does support Alexa which we all know has a lot more users than Siri.
So maybe 2019. Let’s sit back and watch…
Tim Cook needs one more year to get it right? I thought that after finally announcing the release date that all the useful functions were incorporated and all the major bugs were eliminated.
The problem with the HomePod is “the check is in the mail” feature wise. That and the ridiculous price.
Still like the description of a toilet paper roll in pantyhose. Or a bundle of yarn.
The song in the commercial is not popular. It is offensive to the idea of music.
“A high-priced device that only works with Apple products”
Reminds me, to a tee, of the last paragraph from a Wall Street Journal article on the then newly released iPod. That one lives in infamy.
iPod succeeded because of iTunes, and iTunes was based on software that Apple bought and modified slightly. HomePod is the 2018 version of the HiFi product that Steve Jobs himself introduced in 2006. It flopped.
How do you spell niche again? HOMEPOD
I would be much more interested in having my most powerful computing device (my Mac) as the “hub” for my home, with my iPhone and potentially a Homepod, interacting with it. At this point the devices don’t communicate much. There’s iOS, around which everything revolves, and Mac OS as the ugly stepchild in the corner.