So Apple have reintroduced the full-size HomePod. At $299, the second-generation HomePod does the same thing the first one did, but now the cable detaches from the unit! There’s also a temperature and humidity sensor, so the thing can tell you (and keep track of) the current room temperature. I’m not sure that’s enough new to make it the sales success that the first-generation HomePod definitely was not.
A HomePod mini at $99 does everything the bigger one does. Price is the pain point, not sound quality. Most people who are perfect fine with streaming MP3 over a bluetooth connection wouldn’t care that the HomePod sounds absolutely amazing. $299 for a smart speaker is absolutely outrageous. The niche that the HomePod appeals to is very small. Who the heck have $600 to drop on two of them for a stereo pair? I’m told that’s the fullest HomePod experience you can buy.
It’s for that reason I bought a HomePod mini. Which I’ve since sold. The dealbreaker is these HomePods cannot accept a bluetooth connection. Sending sound to one uses Apple’s AirPlay technology. The problem for me isn’t that you absolutely need an Apple device - Mac or iOS - to use a HomePod. The problem is the AirPlay connection has to be renewed every single time. I wanted the HomePod mini to stay connected to my MacBook Pro constantly.
Unfortunately, that is not possible. Every time I started up the laptop, I have to toggle the sound output back to AirPlay - thereby waking the HomePod up. Having to do that day after day compounds it into a great annoyance. The new HomePod sadly still cannot accept a constant bluetooth connection. Shame, because all the intelligent room-mapping audio stuff is really neat.
I see you, man.