HomePod. The new sound of home.
HomePod is a breakthrough speaker, the ultimate music authority built to bring out the best in Apple Music, and an intelligent assistant that controls your smart home accessories, all with just your voice.
Apple Homepod $398 (Was $499) @ Harvey Norman
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Pricebeat on 02/08/2018 - 12:35 harveynorman.com.au (3145 clicks)
Last edited 02/08/2018 - 12:57 by 1 other user
Last edited 02/08/2018 - 12:57 by 1 other user
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That will be an expensive mistake
Ah yes, Apple’s “high end” desktop computer that hasn’t received an upgrade in 5 years.
Can't improve on perfection eh?
Cuz it's high end. It normally takes 6 years to be a "Low end"
Appropriate tbh
I love it when Siri whispers sweet nothings into my butthole.
A toilet roll is more useful.
If only amex credit was still on offer, great speaker
Wow… thats one expensive google home/amazon echo competitor…
You just described an Apple product
Priced against the Google Home Max, which is almost $600.
calm your farms apple people :) didnt even know about the home max so to me it was a google home look a like with siri.. sheesh…
The Home Max price is also ridiculous. No doubt it will be heavily discounted before long - I can't imagine they've sold many at that silly price.
Good way to cash in on early adopters, but agreed, considering sound quality reviews aren't very good (it's louder but not better) it's not a good price.
Apparently it's not actually released in Australia until next week and it will be $550. But at that price two Sonos Ones will be the better audio quality.
Also sounds much better than the other 2. It's more of a good speaker with assistant capabilities, rather than an assistant with sound.
The amazon options have a 3.5mm jack though. So I can just use my existing speakers to it. Seems better to me
As others have said, you buy it for the sound, not the assistant capabilities.
Wouldn't get one myself personally, but that's the way I see it.
@swanny246: For $500 you can definitely get a far better speaker set up than the homepod. If you're buying it for the sound and not the assistant aspect, you're still doing it wrong.
Any examples (serious question) - keeping in mind the compact nature. I've seen amplifiers + bookshelf speakers posted elsewhere in this thread, that's a fair bit more room needed. I'm tempted to replace my mini HiFi with one.
@Randolph Duke: If you want a complete compact nature, both the Sonos play 1 and play 3 offer better sound quality, and are much cheaper.
Hell I'd even choose the UE Boom 2 or Megaboom(there is the amazon Blast assistant versions too), even more compact and has the added benefit of being able to take it with you. The megabooms sound is fairly comparable too(slightly less bass, but not noticeable unless you prefer really bass heavy electronic music).
Definitive Technology w7 speaker is also cheaper and sounds better.
the Samsung 360 speakers sound better too.
Most of these options are cheaper, and offer more input options, and don't lock you into the apple Eco System. I have no problem with using Apple products, but the Homepod doesn't offer any features that make it the choice over the other options out there.
The old official iPod Dock was also a beast. Very big, heavy, and rated as hifi quality sound. It didn’t sell very many though.
That was Bose bro not Apple.
As it has to be, given how poor Siri is.
Have you heard it? The HomePod is costly, but the audio quality is excellent.
I'd probably say SONOS one is better sound-wise, for less.
You can probably say anything, every critic opinion and review I’ve read has cited it’s pretty undisputedly better sounding than any other smart speaker on the market atm. If it functioned better with Spotify etc I would purchase in a heartbeat.
it’s pretty undisputedly better sounding than any other smart speaker
Just a hunch but it probably doesn't sound better than the B&O BeoLab 90 :P
You can probably say anything, every critic opinion and review I’ve read has cited it’s pretty undisputedly better sounding than any other smart speaker on the market atm.
You might want to read a bit more.. :)
https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/16/homepod-listening-tests-r…But it’s worth exploring why there’s been so much difference between the early, universally positive HomePod sonic reviews and the less enthusiastic ones that have followed from members of the public. Specifically, I’d like to fill you in on some details that will help explain why something as simple as a speaker can generate such polarized opinions between “expert” reviewers, “audiophiles,” and regular people.
Over the course of his articles, Pogue first hinted and then fully explained that Apple required early reviewers to attend a special listening session comparing the HomePod against three competing speakers. Apple selected the tracks, and in an important detail most reviewers probably didn’t realize, played them over different audio connections ranging from Wi-Fi to Bluetooth, Ethernet, and audio line-in.
@Chewiebacca:
I've read most reviews prefer the SONOS one, simply because the sound is more balanced. Though apples has the bass
@Chewiebacca: This might be coming soon in September with iOS 12. They have Siri Intents now and Spotify can support it if they update their app.
Great discount for this product. This competes with the SONOS so similar price range there. Sound quality seems to be raved on about by people, it just doesn't have many connectivity options. Only AirPlay? What were they thinking? No regular Bluetooth or Aux input really blows.
They were thinking that anyone who owned an expensive product like this would think twice before moving to Android. The same idea applies to iMessage. Ecosystem lock-in is a vital part of Apple's strategy for customer retention.
Ecosystem lock-in is a vital part of Apple's strategy for customer retention.
As it is with Google.
Sure, but at least you can use some of Google Home's functionality from an iOS device. Can't say the same for the other way around.
but almost all google apps are available across all major mobile phone platforms?
Hate google but loves android.
I have many junk email to start android & play store but not limited by choices.
Google Home and Home Max still have Bluetooth though (Aux as well on the Max), and the app is available on almost every platform. I'd almost consider the homepod at this price if it had Bluetooth and an Aux in.
#reflexivefanboiism
Can airplay from a pc or Mac at least. There’s some hacky Android Solutions for it too.
Discounts already? That's unusual for an Apple product
It's because they're overpriced for what they are and aren't selling. They're even frustrating for those well and truly locked into Apple. They want to use Spotify with it.
It works but you have to use a workaround which a typical Apple user won't know about or care to do.
I agree. Wish it would support Spotify. Fortunately I have an Apple Music subscription too but I'd probably cancel it if it wasn't for my Homepod.
No spotify? For real? That's so trash and I used to be a huge apple fan boy. Why would anyone choose this when you can have all options on other speakers.
Because Apple are banking on people wanting another Apple product and hope that they'll subscribe to Apple music to do so.
It does Spotify over airplay, just doesn't work with voice control like it does with Apple Music.
@jackbauer24: I mean that's a little better but soo urgh lol i don't even know sometimes I wonder what things would be like if Steve jobs was still alive
Using Airplay isn't a 'workaround', it's a little button that's present in every single media app on your Apple device that everyone who owns an Apple device will know how to use. Say what you like about Apple but the way people go out of their way mischaracterise its qualities to sound like shortcomings is just pathological.
I'm sorry but this is a smart speaker which the main selling point is voice control. If you can't do that on spotify and need your phone on you all the time around the house I don't see the point.
So you can tell Siri (the main interaction method for the HomePod) to play music from Spotify?
Does it show up in the main devices list for AirPlay?
Do you have to use your phone to get music out of the HomePod?
If so, then it's a workaround and not natively supported.
I love Apple gear, and use it almost exclusively… but I can't bring myself to buy this product even at this discounted price. It just doesn't feel like a complete product as yet. By all accounts the hardware itself is great, but the software features just aren't up to par. They shot themselves in the foot when they didn't even include bluetooth connectivity, which would have allowed them to get away with the lack of features somewhat.
That's exactly it. I'm sure the hardware is excellent, but the software limitations kill it. Real shame
more like HN offloading it though, not discount from Apple.
Funny you say that, I bought one from Catch for $376 when they had a discount code error and when it arrived in the Catch box, inside was a Harvey Norman box.
Usual Apple bashing posts incoming
It's weird they like hunt for anything Apple and just sit there and wait just to bash on w/e the deal is lol I find it incredibly strange.
It's insecurity, I find Apple products to be amazing, but also critical of their pricing and do not fault people for having some annoyance, but it's an Android boy thing, you have to hate Apple, you can't simply enjoy your own product and leave Apple fanboys be (yes they are poorer for forking out so much, that's on them).
It's not exactly a one way street..
It's mostly one way, srsly.
Been on this site for years, barely (if any) do I see an Apple Fanboy ranting on one of the million Android deals that keep coming up. But oh my, every single Apple product has an Android boy saying how overpriced/overrated Apple is.
There's no right or wrong, everyone is entitled to like one or the other, the important thing is, deals are posted here on this site, for lovers of both.
@tightm8: Well, most of the android phone deals that come up on ozb are budget oriented phones. It's pretty hard to make a case of budget phones being overpriced/overrated. But you still see people bringing issues up about these budget phones here and there.
Android phones do get criticised, people call it for what it is for the most part. (latest example I've come across https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/393316). There's definitely a good amount over the years I've been on ozb.
Difference is, apple has a much more loyal user base and more users for the most part (for good reasons) so you tend to see more people being more defensive about it when something is brought up
Been on this site for years, barely (if any) do I see an Apple Fanboy ranting on one of the million Android deals that keep coming up.
Do be aware of confirmation and sampling bias.
There definitely are people hating on non-Apple products, but if you don't read all the comments on all the deals, your views will be skewed. If you're more interested in Apple products than Android products for example, you'll naturally read more Apple deals along with their associated negative comments, compared to Android deals.
Also don't forget that you're on a site where everyone is after a bargain. Not everyone puts much value into the Apple name, software, or camera - there are plenty of far cheaper non-Apple options that get the job done perfectly well for them, which makes all Apple products comparatively very poor in value.
Except in this case, it is entirely deserved. Overpriced, missing features…what's to like about this thing?
This speaker beats everything in it's price range at accurately producing sound without having to buy very expensive speakers and then acoustically treat the room they are placed while taking a huge amount of time to set up the speakers properly. Alternatively you could pay a professional thounsands to do this for you.
All of the requirements to have this level of accuracy in a normal system it does through quite innovative software techniques, and they are the first company to produce anything like it. I haven't owned a single apple device since the original iPod classic and the capabilities of this speaker are convincing me to buy one.
If you don't care about sound accuracy then don't buy them, but for what you get in such a small and relatively cheap package they are extremely high value.
Hah. If you don't own any apple products that support AirPlay, I hope you're willing to sign up for an Apple Music subscription.. because that's the only way you'll get it to play anything.
I love Apple gear, but this thing really is rubbish. I'd suggest holding out for V2.
It’s not rubbish at all, it’s just way too far within Apple’s walled garden. I have a 2018 MBP, Apple Watch, iPhone X, and I still wouldn’t buy this because I use Spotify extensively on my PC etc and to share playlists with my S/O (who uses Android).
It’s an amazing speaker, but it needs more compatibility to work in the ‘smart’ department.
@Chewiebacca: Agreed. $400 would be temping if it were a little more open in its compatibility and features.
Your response only proves my point though… I'm fully committed to their ecosystem of products, I'm using a 2018 i9 MBP, IPhone X, Series III Apple Watch, multiple Apple 4K TVs and Mac minis… and much of my home is running off of Homekit. I've got 700 movies in iTunes and my entire audio collection… Yet I'm not buying this product. We're the intended audience for this product, and we have no interest in buying it… how does that make it anything but rubbish?
As I said in another comment, the hardware in this thing is brilliant.. No one disputes that. But it isn't feature-complete, and the software side of things missed the mark so completely that I'll be waiting to see what V2 looks like. As it stands today, Apple would require me to get an Apple Music subscription to play music I already own and bought from iTunes. Every other Apple product I own will let me stream it without one, but their smart speaker won't without a subscription (or me streaming it from another device).. It's a joke.
You are so clearly wrong and the evidence is literally in this thread you're posting in. You aren't the intended audience, at all, not even a bit. I am fairly sure the intended audience of this product is intended to pull people into the ecosystem that aren't currently already. That's right, the product is so good for the price they are trying to CONVERT people that want good sound quality for cheap into the apple ecosystem, which is why they locked it down so much. You clearly don't care about the clarity of your music, therefore you're not the intended audience.
This is a speaker, first and foremost. That is why it was built.
Anyone in this thread that says they thought the sound quality wasn't that great are also not the intended audience, those people enjoy warm sounding bass heavy (highly eq'ed) music, which is not what this speaker was designed for.
Come on man.. You honestly believe that a $500 smart speaker whose defining feature is Siri integration isn't intended to be purchased by people that rely heavily on Siri? That a device that only allows streaming over AIrplay, isn't intended to be used by people that have Airplay supporting products? Really? If you buy this product and you're not already part of the Apple ecosystem, you literally can't play anything through it without a monthly subscription.
I don't know why you've decided what my musical tastes are based purely on the fact that I didn't rush out and buy this particular product, but I've said repeatedly that the hardware in this device is brilliant and it's a great speaker… but it's a rubbish product overall because of the software. Hell, all they need is bluetooth connectivity or to allow me to play my iTunes library without an Apple Music subscription and I'd buy one tomorrow. Until they have those basic features though, it's not a feature-complete product.
I also have to add.. the suggestion that people aren't audiophiles if they don't rush out and buy a speaker that without other apple hardware only plays music from one source (Apple Music), has no inputs or outputs, relies entirely on an internet connection, relies entirely on an online service which you could lose access to, and won't work with any current audio gear in existence, is absurd.
"or to allow me to play my iTunes library without an Apple Music subscription and I'd buy one tomorrow"
You should probably look at this deal then as it is pretty cheap, because you can airplay your itunes library to the homepod.
From my point of view, I’m not too fussed about Siri integration; it supports AirPlay which is good enough for me.
Yes, I know. I mentioned it in my earlier post which you also ignored.
“As it stands today, Apple would require me to get an Apple Music subscription to play music I already own and bought from iTunes. Every other Apple product I own will let me stream it without one, but their smart speaker won't without a subscription (or me streaming it from another device).. It's a joke.”
I’m specifically pointing out the fact that you have to pay a subscription to stream iTunes music you already own to the device directly. Something you can do on AppleTVs and every other device. If you have to stream via AirPlay, it makes Siri completely irrelevant, it just turns it into a $500 dumb speaker.
It’s rubbish.
@Timothy-1: lol clarity in music…
People that care about music and actual quality would not get something like this or any of its competitors. This market isn't here for quality sound first and foremost they want the smart features. They want decent sound but they want the ease of modern techWhy do you think Apple stopped making speaker docks? Apple wanted a bite of the Google home market.
Quality lol floor standing or gtfo man
Is it a technically well designed piece of hardware? Yes. Where it fails? Pathetic software design and integration. If Apple is hoping to CONVERT people into the Apple Ecosystem with this then they are deluded. Maybe Version 2, or Version 3 but this first attempt? Nope.
Does it sound decent? Yes, for a smart speaker. Compared to a proper audiophile setup? Nah. Maybe it is a big deal for someone who has never moved out of using iBuds lol
@Timothy-1: serious question; can you ask the speaker to play music from your iTunes library without using a phone or computer? The nice thing about the Google gear is that once the music is in your library you don't need to use any extra hardware (phone or computer) to have music playing.
If you have to stream via AirPlay, it makes Siri completely irrelevant
Yea because you can only use Siri to play music, right?
If I want to play music without an Apple Music subscription, I have to do it from my phone via AirPlay. If I want to use Siri to control my music, it needs to be Siri on my watch / phone. At which point, Siri on the HomePod becomes completely useless and the HomePod becomes a dumb speaker.
I don't know why anyone is jumping through hoops to try defend this product. I love Apple gear as much as the next guy, but this product just isn't up to scratch…. It launched without the ability to pair two together to do stereo or multiroom, which was later patched in. It still doesn't support multiple users so it can only have one person in the house that its "paired" with. It can't be used to directly answer and make calls, though apparently that's being added at some point as well.. If you use it with your AppleTV it unpairs itself every time and you need to reconnect it.. The product just isn't finished. It could be a great product one day, it just isn't yet.
You mean anti-Apple circlejerk.
To make this product sell, Apple only needs to do 3 things. Make Siri Smarter (alot smarter)!, add inputs and outputs, and allow bluetooth streaming from any device. But because it's Apple, they won't, and this product wont move.
They will never add inputs/outputs. They are moving to a cable-free future.
They should have added Bluetooth as an option. Would've sold far better.
How long is this on sale for?
Until someone buys.
I'll pay that one.
It's a nice speaker. Good deal for the price.
$500 speaker with no bluetooth…
Aye, only the deeply indoctrinated could stomach that
Yeah, something very deep is going on with anyone who purchases one of these.
If you're in the Apple echo system, lack of Bluetooth won't be that big a deal (but I understand why people point out it should have it and it would be limiting sales substantially).
Did you not notice the discounted price?
It does have Bluetooth. It just hasn't been enabled for streaming yet.
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It sort of looks like a toilet paper roll.