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Smart acoustics from Apple was first announced at WWDC in 2017 and caused genuine interest among fans of the brand and simple music lovers.
At first glance, the HomePod was perfect: inside – seven high-frequency speakers, directed in a circle, at the top of the mid-low-frequency driver. Touchpad to activate Siri, rewind tracks and adjust volume. Minimalistic design. Great sound.
It would seem that what could have gone wrong? This is Apple, they do not have imperfect products! But, time has shown – even as it happens. And it seems it’s time to completely forget about it misunderstanding from the world of home acoustics.
The main problem is HomePod. More precisely, two problems
At firstHomePod went on sale too late. Hyp stayed around this gadget for a long time, but from the announcement to the start of sales, it took as much as 7 months. When the column appeared on the shelves, it was already January 26, 2018.
The holidays were over, the time for gifts was over, and the residents of the USA, Great Britain and Australia were in no hurry to buy home acoustics.
SecondlyThe HomePod price at the start of sales was $ 349. In the US market, Amazon Echo smart speakers are very popular, which are much more convenient, and most importantly – cheaper. The price of the issue is from $ 20, which can not be compared with the price of the HomePod.
Much more convenient and cheaper – Amazon Echo.
In the back of the head, Amazon Echo breathes Google, with its smart speakers that can also speak the weather, set music and control appliances at home. They also cost much less than $ 100.
In the aggregate of these two problems, HomePod sales have not been asked from the very beginning. Against this background, Apple’s weird policy that official sales started only in 3 countriesis not even surprising.
HomePod never appeared in Russia
We live in a wonderful time when Apple includes our country in the first wave of sales of its gadgets. And HomePod is the only device that has still not officially arrived in Russia.
Several dozens of people who could afford to buy a HomePod from “serovozov” for 35-40 thousand rubles, did this at the beginning of 2018. Personally, I don’t know anyone who boasted HomePod as a recent acquisition.
Although, right now, the column can be found for the miserable 11,000 rubles. Only the sense of it will be a little.
HomePod is very cool. Don’t buy her
If you decide to buy a HomePod now, seduced by its low price, keep in mind the main thing: the Siri integrated in the column does not understand Russian.
All teams will have to give in English. English, motherfucker, do you speak it? (c)
Also, the lack of Russian localization automatically limits the search for Russian tracks using a voice assistant. Of the 10 attempts, 9 will fail.
Well, the weather forecast along with traffic jams will not work either. For Siri, Russia simply does not exist in the HomePod of Russia.
What is the use of integrating with a smart home if there is nothing smart at home?
For several years, HomePod never delivered Flac support or integration with some other streaming service other than Apple Music.
Given that the column only works with iPhone, iPad and Mac – for owners of Android gadgets this acoustics is generally useless. You can’t even set it up.
HomePod – everything
It seems that the company is beginning to suspect something. I have not heard about HomePod for many months, no ads, no promos, no mention in the press. It seems that Apple is ashamed of this column, trying to recall it as little as possible.
Even in the design of the American Apple Store, there are no HomePod photos.
Despite the excellent sound, HomePod could not take its rightful place in the category of smart speakers. Even the most devoted fans of Apple did not want to vote in rubles for a scant functional. Is it a joke – there is no way to even rewind the track a few seconds forward or backward.
Rest in Peace, HomePod.
So, most likely this year the company will slowly remove the HomePod from sale altogether. And we will recall this unsuccessful product with a slight sense of regret. The sound is really cool at HomePod.
Press F to pay respects.