To keep up with the smart speakers produced by other technology companies, Apple has announced the release of their Apple HomePod. The HomePod was announced on June 5, 2017 and is scheduled to be released before the holidays in December, 2017 in the US, UK, and Australia. The device will allow consumers to play music, and do many of the things Siri helps with on the iPhone like check the weather, set timers, and send messages. In fact, Siri is the voice assistant that will be helping to fulfill users requests and answer questions. The direction Apple is taking to advertise the product is to emphasize the music capabilities and sound quality of the device. It is fit with seven tweeters, a four inch woofer, and six microphones to hear requests from users.
HomePod Versus Echo
The technological equivalent to the Apple HomePod is the Amazon Echo. In the HomePod vs Alexa (Echo) debate, price, sound quality, and features are things to consider when choosing the right smart speaker. While there are still many unknowns about the HomePod, some things, like the price, are certain. The HomePod will cost users $349, while the newer (2nd generation)
Given this price difference, users will no doubt be expecting a higher sound quality from the HomePod. Although Dolby designed the Echo speakers, the physical aspects of the devices will likely make HomePod the better speaker. Compared to Homepod’s large subwoofer and seven tweeters, the Echo comes with a 2.5” subwoofer and only one tweeter. One unfortunate aspect of the HomePod is that Apple is forcing users to play music only from Apple Music (which costs $10/month). The Echo can play from a number of music streaming apps including Spotify and Pandora.
Regarding features, Amazon’s virtual assistant Alexa has been toted as the top virtual assistant. Alexa’s capabilities within an Echo product now include making phone calls (even to emergency numbers), and placing orders on through Amazon. With a new product and new commands to learn, Siri may initially struggle to perform up to standard. However, given that the assistant increases its performance with greater use, it will likely catch up to Alexa’s standards of speech recognition and performance. One helpful feature is that, with some extra work and products, both devices are capable of controlling smart home devices. Users can turn on lights, turn off the fan, or turn the temperature up two degrees.
How To Connect Apple HomePod
Although the device has not yet been released, there is some information on how to set up the Apple HomePod. The device comes with an A8 chip, which is also found in iPhone 6 and newer devices. Some reports have noted that setting up the Apple HomePod will likely be as easy as setting up the newly released wireless ear buds, AirPods. The AirPods simply require that users open the AirPods case next to their iPhone and click a button that confirms they have been connected. The process happens relatively automatically. The HomePod will likely require the same feature, by holding the HomePod and an iPhone next to one another until they automatically connect.
Multiple HomePod Users?
The AirPods can be connected to all devices that share the same Apple ID like an iPad and iPhone. However, it doesn’t appear that they can be shared between multiple users who have different Apple IDs. This doesn’t seem like a large issue regarding ear buds because people don’t often want to share things that go inside their ears. However, it might be an issue with the Apple HomePod. This point is currently unclear regarding the device, but it makes sense that more than one user in the home would want to use the device. Two adults with different Apple IDs may or may not be able to switch off playing music. Amazon’s Echo product comes with the ability to switch between users as well as recognize different user’s voices. This potential fallback with the HomePod will likely be clarified once the device is released.