Apple has acknowledged that the HomePod’s silicone base can leave behind a white ring on some oiled wooden surfaces, of the kind often found in high-end furniture, after various reviews remarked on the issue.
Harking back to Steve Jobs’ infamous “You’re Holding It Wrong” reply to iPhone 4 antennagate to a user via email: “Just avoid holding it in that way,” Apple has updated their “Cleaning and taking care of HomePod” support document with the following advice:
It is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-damping silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces. The marks can be caused by oils diffusing between the silicone base and the table surface, and will often go away after several days when the speaker is removed from the wooden surface. If not, wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth may remove the marks. If marks persist, clean the surface with the furniture manufacturer’s recommended cleaning process. If you’re concerned about this, we recommend placing your HomePod on a different surface.
https://twitter.com/viticci/status/963832334846918656/photo/1
#homepod left rings on my wood furniture in less than 20 minutes of use. Thanks #apple I am glad a paid $400 to make perfect etched circles on my more expensive furniture. Guess I can not move it now to cover up the mark. Evil geniuses you are. #applesupport pic.twitter.com/eZng16barS
— Guy San Francisco (@Guyinsf415) February 10, 2018
MacDailyNews Take: Once again the pitfalls of secrecy are exposed. That Apple tested HomePods in employee’s homes where, one might assume, much high-end, well-oiled furniture abounds (from Jony Ive’s multi-million-dollar mansion on down the line), and not one Apple employee noticed (or, if they did, felt the need to mention) this issue shows that Apple’s testing sample was again too small and/or not rigorous enough.
If you’re experiencing HomePod rings on wood, check out Bonavida’s Leather Coasters ($16.95 via Amazon) which, at 4-inches in diameter, are the perfect size for HomePod’s silicone base.
SEE ALSO:
Professional-grade audio testing gears proves Apple’s biggest claim about HomePod is legit – February 14, 2018
Magazine dedicated to comparing vacuum cleaners for geriatrics can’t hear Apple’s HomePod’s quality sound – February 13, 2018
Steve Crandall: Apple’s HomePod is the next big step in home audio – February 13, 2018
Apple HomePod: The audiophile perspective plus 8 1/2 hours of measurements; HomePod is 100% an audiophile-grade speaker – February 12, 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
It turns out Sonos 1 speakers do the same thing when placed on oiled, non-varnished furniture.
Where’s the outrage directed toward Sonos?
spoken to Apple’s credit. The teacher or expert always receives the most criticism.
Okay… they both should be skewered!
Does that work for you?
Who cares, it shouldn’t happen period. Poor decision making on Apples part. Let Sonos address their own issues or not. You are ridiculous it’s not about making comparisons.
Maybe people expect Apple to learn from Apple’s mistakes and the obvious failures of Apple’s competitors. It seem Apple is profoundly oblivious and error prone.
I don’t measure Apple against Sonos. I measure Apple against Apple.
It’s mdn, isn’t it?
Put it on a doily, coaster or any other funiture protector of your choice dummy.
iDoily – LOVE IT, please include one in the box Apple!
🙂
Or design a device that doesn’t mar one’s furniture in the first place.
When they get served with the inevitable class action lawsuit from ringgate I can almost see Tim Cook rolling his eyes and saying to Jony Ive – “Why do we bother to make ANYTHING…”
Simple solution, in line with all the other intentionally crippling design decisions… It will only work on an Apple branded table!
Otherwise you get a ring! Shipping by some Christmas.
Would have to agree and I have two HomePods and not seeing the issue. It shouldn’t happen period.
White and red rings used to be a common issue on woodies but the red ones are less of an issue now that lipstick can be easily removed.
How has the greatest portion of the “high-end?” Who is thought of as innovative? Who has a legacy of being fastidious and detailed with design choices? If not Apple, who has the bank and experience to research such things? I’d say Apple knew, or should have known HomePod customers were much more likely to rest the HPod on nice wooden surfaces, vs laminate covered fiberboard. Yeah, I know the customer (what a dummy) should have a cool “doily” or a colorful sock nearby.
They need to start including a bumper case.
The whole problem is caused by a silicone “bumper” on the bottom!
BTW, Sonos 1 has the same issue…
Apple on HomePod:
Physics. It’s a m****rf****r.
The Sonos, the Echo, the Google Home, the UR Boom 2, and literally every other speaker I’ve ever fucking used in the last 3 years has done this… why the fuck do people lose their minds when it comes to Apple? I like their statement, I liked when Steve got frustrated with that misleading iPhone 4 bullshit and said what he said, I like combative Apple when bullshit starts. Again a non issue blown completely out of proportion by, most likely, Google/Amazon, as they know their sham sales are about to evaporate when HomePod takes over the market… the fear is palpable.
Love mine. Surfaces in my house is either Glass, Metal or Granite.
have one no marks… stop covering you furniture in pledge which makes it oily and collect dust anyways and wipe them down with a non silicone based solvent. Additionally they just told you how to remove it as it IS NOT damaging the furniture it is interacting with the chemicals you are using to “protect” the furniture which are useless in the first place.
Wait a minute…. MDN’s comment is to purchase a SILICONE coaster? I thought the whole issue its that the SILICONE is reacting with the finish on your table… Wouldn’t these coasters leave big white circles? They are SILICONE….
I suggest just buying furniture with a random pattern of rings like that already on it.
The guy above who put it on his butcher block counter, called that his “expensive furniture “! What?
Contrary to common belief, you shouldn’t be oiling your wood furniture, cause it’ll only dry out after a few days. Apparently the ring accelerates the drying. You should wax your expensive wood furniture with beeswax. I have my HomePod on an antique rosewood table that has been waxed and it’s fine.
Exactly. Using pledge or some other Murphy’s oil on your wood furniture doesn’t do it any favors. Bees wax is correct as is laquer in layers.
Anyone with a functioning brain knows to put a coaster or protective cloth item under electronics when putting them on wooden services. The only finger pointing should be at the person in the mirror!
Your placing it wrong. Hmm…sounds like Microsoft, on Windows 95 systems: “You’ve shut down your computer wrong” blaming the users for a system crash. Apple, you can do better than that. At least provide free coasters. I’d just return the piece of junk and more right one.
Oops, someone dropped their HomePod on a glass table, Glass Broke.
Its Apple’s fault for not telling them that it would break glass if accidentally dropped.
Oops, someone drops their HomePod and it hits their foot breaking their toes.
Its Apple’s fault for not telling them that it would hurt and harm their foot if dropped on it.
Darn it Apple I left my Coffee Cup sitting on the coffee table and it left a ring.
It’s Apple’s fault for not telling me that would happen..
Plastic breaks, metal bends, glass shatters, objects leave marks,
That’s just life and Physics.
Physics suck. And people Work Overtime to find something to complain about.
So, let’s say you spent $1,500 on a brand new wood table. And since Apple specifically didn’t tell you “Don’t place on wood” you went ahead and did and your new expensive table is ruined. So your OK with that?
And if you set your coffee cup or water bottle or drink glass on the table and it leaves a ring.
Are you gonna complain to the Maker of the coffee cup or water bottle or glass maker that they should have warned you that could happen.
If a child marks all over the table with crayons are you going to complain to the crayon maker that they should have warned you that could happen.
Exactly. It’s because people are using oil products like pledge to polish their wood furniture when they should not. Everything leaves marks on the table when you use these products. All you need is a damp cloth with water. I have a beautiful very old antique wood dining room table. When I oiled it, itgot covered in marks from place mats, coasters, you name it. I spoke to the antique dealer and he said do not use any product on this beauty. Use a damp cloth to clean it once in a while. Never had an issue in 12 years since.