HomePod

Airplay 2 removed from today’s beta releases
https://9to5mac.com/2018/02/20/airplay-2-removed-11-3-beta/

i got my space grey HomePod about two weeks ago. It's in the sitting room (on a glass surface) and I've mostly been very impressed. The sound is probably as good as I was expecting, while Siri is probably as hit-and-miss as I was expecting. The mic though is something else. I can't set a timer on my phone in the kitchen now, because the HomePod in the sitting room hears me and starts the timer there. That's through two (open) doors and across a hallway...

I've rooted my Apple TV's sound through the HomePod and it sounds so much better than my TV speaker - the bass, especially, can be room-shaking, but the whole soundscape is so much wider and clearer than before.

I'm delighted with it, I have to say. When AirPlay 2 finally comes out, I might be tempted to get a second one...

I received Space Grey today, I think it looks good, but as always, it’s down to personal taste.

Suarezistheman wrote: »

How does the Space grey look? Debating which colour to get

Space grey looks really good and works with the TV unit it’s sitting on. Haven’t seen the white in the flesh.

Airplay 2 is not included in the update

I love the HomePod, but it’s severely limited in Ireland.

And I’m a big Apple fan, deep in the ecosystem, but I have to say, Alexa seems a lot smarter than Siri.

AidenL wrote: »

I love the HomePod, but it’s severely limited in Ireland.

And I’m a big Apple fan, deep in the ecosystem, but I have to say, Alexa seems a lot smarter than Siri.

How is it restricted in Ireland compared to other countries?

Siri is definitely the weakest of all assistants.

Blazer wrote: »

Apple's detail to privacy is one of the main reasons Siri lacks behind.
Both google and Amazon are far more invasive at gathering information and capturing basically everything. Hell Samsung at one stage on their tvs were capturing all conversation spoken while the tv was powered on and transmitting it to a 3rd party without any security protocols in place.
I trust Apple with my data whereas the likes of google/facebook etc..not a chance.

Yes Apple has to do a lot more processing on device so that clear user data is not visible to them, whereas Google being Google they are happy to gather as much user data as they can in their severs with a way for them to access it, which means they can leverage that huge dataset in a world class data center to optimise their product.

In that trade-off I also clearly favour privacy.

Suarezistheman wrote: »

When is this available in Ireland?

I don't think there is a date yet .. but parcel motel from Apple.co.uk or a spin up to the apple store in Belfast

murpho999 wrote: »

Parcel Wizard is better. Same price as Parcel Motel but they deliver to any address you want.

Link here

Depends for whom, both have their own advantages.

In my case there’s a parcel motel locker 2 minutes walk from my place and it’s more convenient than a courrier service which requires to be at home the whole day or pick-up thebdelivery from a depot somewhere not too convenient (my office is not too keen on accepting personal deliveries).

Anyone get a home pod & recommend over Sonos?

I currently have two Sonos but the extra interface & non counting of plays annoys me. Considering selling them & getting a homepod instead.

Can you play from your iTunes library ?

Does it register the play counts? I listen to podcasts and the Sonos doesn’t count them which means they stay as I played on my phone. Which pisses me off no end.

Those of you that have one, which delivery service did you use?

Afaik Apple don’t allow the use of P.O. boxes or delivery services.

Is there anything about AirPlay 2 that's good for those of us who only have one HomePod?