Apple takes another bite of the market with Apple HomePod
When Apple first started selling their HomePod in February, early buyers reported that it had the best sound they’d ever heard, but they didn’t like the fact that Siri didn’t function as well as it should. Keep reading for the pros and cons of the HomePod – and why you should consider investing in it.
The appearance of the HomePod is actually quite impressive. Standing at seven inches in height, it’s a cylindrical wonder of the modern world, with the classic speaker material used to cover the tech inside. It’s filled with speakers, microphones and sensors which work together intricately to create an immense sound.
Due to this, the HomePod produces sound unlike any other Bluetooth speaker on the market currently. You can turn it up loud enough to fill a room impressively, but it doesn’t distort the music. However, older pieces of music don’t tend to work as well. The best part is that the sensors will adjust the sound so it fits the space you’re in. Unfortunately, if you try to play anything other than Apple Music, the sound quality is comparably poor.
Siri is another downside. Even though you can ask it to make playlists, play different songs and find your favourite artist, it doesn’t do much else. Siri can’t hear you across a room when a loud track is playing, nor can it handle some basic commands. However, it can send messages, read the news, play podcasts and even give you an update on the weather without the touch of a button.
The HomePod can also activate smart home technology, something we have previously only been able to do on the HomeKit app on iOS. This means that you can simply say, ‘Hey Siri, turn off the lights’, and if you have smart lightbulbs they’ll turn off. You could also turn off some lights and turn on others, which you could use for creating a disco atmosphere.
An additional minor downside is that the HomePod has been reported to leave white marks on wooden surfaces - Apple explained that this is because it has a silicon base that minimises vibrations.
The HomePod costs £320, so it’s no small investment. However, if you’re serious about your Apple Music and really want the latest technology, it’s well worth the price tag.
Alfie Lovett, Year 7
The appearance of the HomePod is actually quite impressive. Standing at seven inches in height, it’s a cylindrical wonder of the modern world, with the classic speaker material used to cover the tech inside. It’s filled with speakers, microphones and sensors which work together intricately to create an immense sound.
Due to this, the HomePod produces sound unlike any other Bluetooth speaker on the market currently. You can turn it up loud enough to fill a room impressively, but it doesn’t distort the music. However, older pieces of music don’t tend to work as well. The best part is that the sensors will adjust the sound so it fits the space you’re in. Unfortunately, if you try to play anything other than Apple Music, the sound quality is comparably poor.
Siri is another downside. Even though you can ask it to make playlists, play different songs and find your favourite artist, it doesn’t do much else. Siri can’t hear you across a room when a loud track is playing, nor can it handle some basic commands. However, it can send messages, read the news, play podcasts and even give you an update on the weather without the touch of a button.
The HomePod can also activate smart home technology, something we have previously only been able to do on the HomeKit app on iOS. This means that you can simply say, ‘Hey Siri, turn off the lights’, and if you have smart lightbulbs they’ll turn off. You could also turn off some lights and turn on others, which you could use for creating a disco atmosphere.
An additional minor downside is that the HomePod has been reported to leave white marks on wooden surfaces - Apple explained that this is because it has a silicon base that minimises vibrations.
The HomePod costs £320, so it’s no small investment. However, if you’re serious about your Apple Music and really want the latest technology, it’s well worth the price tag.
Alfie Lovett, Year 7