HomePod

eeloe wrote: »

I'm holding off until this years event to see if a cheaper model is being released, if not, i'm gonna pick up at least 2 more for the kitchen and the landing.

This is my thinking too. I have Google home all over the place & its great, but HomePod is so much better.

The only drawback I have is my doorbell, thermometer, smoke alarms etc are all nest which obviously work really well with google but not at all with HomeKit

eeloe wrote: »

Since i got these i've completely got rid of Alexa in the house.

Siri x homekit just works so much faster for Philips Hue. Only slight annoyance is i have to use Yonomi and Shortcuts to be able to use the Logitech Harmony Hub to control the TV and soundbar, as they aren't natively supported by Homekit.

The sound from them is amazing, have one in the living room and one in the bedroom. I'm holding off until this years event to see if a cheaper model is being released, if not, i'm gonna pick up at least 2 more for the kitchen and the landing.

I think the functionality of Alexa is way ahead. More skills than Siri too.

I have a two echo plusses paired in my sitting room, decent sound and also Hue bulbs, no bridge needed due to bult in Zigbee on Echo Plus. I don't think they're slow with lights at all and also don't see the rush.

Echos are just better value and more feature packed with the Apple offering only a better sound in my opinion.

I'd love if HomePod was better, alongside Siri in general too. As it stands my Google Assistant devices at home are so much better and more accurate than Siri, and Alexa is better too.

If Apple has a failing in software, it's Siri.

iniall wrote: »

No not at all. You can have Siri in whatever voice you like. I just wouldn't advise using the Oirish one.

Cheers. So why is it not available on the Irish Apple Store to buy?

I’m considering buying it but rumours abound that a version 2 is being released soon.

Do any of you who have a HomePod see yourself ordering the mini? I’m thinking I might get a HomePod if there are some deals on Black Friday and then maybe in a few months pick up a mini or two. Or am I mad to consider a gen 1 HomePod 2 years after it came out?

prionnsias wrote: »

The HomePod is still a very good speaker although at this stage it’s fairly overpriced. For me the me the mini would make a good gift for my folks but I’d not know if I’d have much use for one. Its too early to say what the minis are like because they they haven’t been released yet but I’d say they will be good value for money, they seem to be going to toe to toe with the Amazon echo dot.

I presume the mini won't be available here like the larger homepod?

Anyone here planning to order the Mini tomorrow? Is there any hassle with ordering from the UK site for delivery with Parcel Motel?

dave oc wrote: »

Anyone here planning to order the Mini tomorrow? Is there any hassle with ordering from the UK site for delivery with Parcel Motel?

I am planning on getting 2. Planning on using PM because other options are a pain i.e getting delivered to a family member. I have heard that Apple can stop deliveries to freight forwarders but they don’t seem to automatically stop all because people on boards have been able to get stuff.

It seems to be a bit of a gamble.. worst case scenario will get it delivered from a reseller or Currys... failing that will spin up to Newry I think anybody need an Alexa 2nd gen, echo dot 3rd gen, a google home and an Alexa speaker add on?

One interesting thing I spotted today, the HomePod mini looks a lot more mini than I originally thought.

https://twitter.com/markgurman/status/1324409259904266240

Apple provide an AR model of it. Open this link on an iOS device and place it where you would in your home to see the actual size.


https://www.apple.com/105/media/us/homepod-mini/2020/d46a2713-1e83-4ac4-8c74-2a0abf9b8808/quick-look/homepod_mini_space_gray_ios14.usdz

same

I ordered through Parcel Wizard but got the order in quickly enough. Deliver is estimated between 17-19 Nov. They were charging like £4 something for day earlier delivery.

Seems like the store went offline shortly after I ordered. I forgot when I got to the order page to decide which colour to go with. I went for the black one in the end.

Metalpanic wrote: »

Anyone have trouble with it accepting a non-UK phone number? Paying with Apple Pay directly got me around the issue.

I just added an extra 0 to the start of the phone number

DubDJ wrote: »

I just added an extra 0 to the start of the phone number

i left the last digit off and in billing i was able to put in my normal number

So I've got a white HomePod Mini ordered from the UK site. But is it ACTUALLY against Apple's rules to use a service like Parcel Motel?

It's one thing to not make a product available in a certain jurisdiction, and another to actively restrict people from trying to get them.