“Consider Apple’s release of a new music-oriented device priced higher than its perceived competitors–which have already established an enthusiastic audience base over the past few years. How can it possibly survive in such a difficult position? The answer was: by being better in key ways that matter to users. iPod went on to become a legendary franchise in personal audio. Now Apple is doing the same thing again in home audio with HomePod.”
Writing for Apple Insider, Daniel Eran Dilger makes the case for Apple’s possibly-better-late-than-never HomePod speaker system. It may be late to the party, but could it transform the market place as did the iPod in 2001.
It’s a good argument. By concentrating on music, the HomePod could well repeat the success of the iPod — a device which we need reminding was the very basis of modern-day Apple. In 2001 Apple was the small print at the bottom of the annual world computer report.
Foundation
The launch of the Jonny Ive-designed iMac in 1998 had certainly staved off disaster and formed a good foundation for a stable but niche computer manufacturer. The iPod changed all that. It was the iPad that begat the iPhone, the iPhone that begat the iPad. They transformed Apple from a small company into the world’s largest tech power house.
But the iPod, just like the HomePod, was late to the market. Mobile music had been around for over 20 years since the launch of the iconic blue and silver Sony Walkman in 1979. This was followed by the MiniDisk player and, later, by a raft of solid-state music players. But feeding these new streaming players needed commitment. Tracks had to be downloaded despite the active opposition of the music industry. It was by no means convenient and was of limited appeal to the general consumer. The iPod changed all that. It was good looking and easy to use. But, above all, Apple set about providing the supporting ecosystem which made it easy for users to stock up with music without worries about licensing or breaking the law. Steve Jobs’ success was in persuading the major music labels to agree to on-line distribution through the Apple music store.
Written off
At launch the iPod was written off by the professionals as too expensive at a time when you could pick up a solid-state music player with larger capacity for a third of the cost. In the same way, some pundits are writing off the HomePod for the identical reason —£319 here in the UK seems a lot of a smart speaker and the Echo Dot is a sixth of its price and answers all the fancy commands.
Yet to a certain degree I agree with Dilger. The HomePod offers excellent reproduction and has all the credentials to become the iPod of the home. It brings the same voice activation and control that Amazon and Google offer with their smart speakers but, crucially, it offers integration with the Apple ecosystem which is supported by the wealthiest consumers in the world.
I have enjoyed playing with the Amazon Echo and Dot over the past year. Everyone loves talking to Alexa. But the sound from the Echo is nowhere near as good as that we can expect from the HomePod. Admittedly, you can hook up a pro sound system to any of these smart speakers, but it isn’t the same as having an all-in-one high-fidelity component.
Seamless integration
The lack of integration with Apple has also been a disappointing aspect of life with Alexa. Ask her to set up a reminder task and it has to go to the Alexa app or a third-party to-do list. With HomePod and Siri my to-do reminder can go straight to Apple Reminders and then seamlessly into Things 3, my chosen task manager. And I can access my Apple music. Apple has 30 million music subscribers, providing a ready market for the HomePod. While this total falls well behind, say, Spotify with its 60m subscribers, I prefer Apple music for its seamless integration with my iPhone, iPad and iMac — not to mention my new HomePod when it arrives. Apple customers tend to prefer to stay with Apple and that’s why my money is on the HomePod.
Whether or not Dilger is correct in predicting that the HomePod will transform the home speaker market in the way that the iPod changed portable music forever, I am sure that it will succeed as a product. It’s late, it’s relatively expensive, but that won’t stop it selling like hot cakes.
See the full story in AppleInsider
Macworld on the HomePod
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I held out for the HomePod and pre-ordered one. We have Alexas around the house but for music, which will be my primary use, they don’t cut it. But I think for most consumers Alexa is perfectly fine. My kids love it!
The Apple ecosystem was key for me too. Playing music from various devices and sources (iTunes, Bandcamp, Tidal etc).
I’ve also noticed Siri evolving recently. That may be driven by HomePod. Certainly, for some people, the device will expand their use of Siri. As one example, a few weeks ago, if I asked Siri to send a text message, upon sending it she’d state a very confident “Done!”. Now instead, she states a more gentle, friendlier “Ok, I’ll send it”.
My kids growing up, talking to devices… sets a high bar for the future!
BTW have you heard about Amazon declaring they want to start their own healthcare system outside of the third party insurers here in the US. Perhaps someday Alexa can make doctor appointments and refill prescriptions! Amazon is up against a lot in this endeavor but I’m glad to see someone in America trying to do something, anything.
Anyway, looking forward to some HomePod music!
Mike, when I see things like this, I always ask ‘is this another infant start up technology that I don’t need?’ I have not used Alexa. Siri put me off by not understanding my Irish accent and, as you know, I don’t have a very strong one. My car also talks to me, but it could be Siri via Apple Car play rather than some German bloke moonlighting in English for Audi. Anyway, whichever it is, my car cannot understand me either. At home, I remember some things and my wife remembers the other half of the things that we have to remember and, somehow, we usually manage to muddle through. I would talk to Alexa, or whatever her Apple counterpart will be called, but I’m not sure that my wife would talk to him or her. Even if she did, would this, let’s call them, ‘cyber-person’ on the table know whether my wife or I was asking the question, as we have quite different tastes and priorities? I’m just thinking out loud, of course.
William
William. I am sure Siri has become more proficient with Irish accents since you last tried. He/she probably speaks Irish as well these days. Since I’ve had Alexa in the home I have been surprised how many people —from four year olds to geriatrics (ie, a year or two older than me on an ever sliding scale) have gone home and purchased her. Everyone loves her.
I presume that means also that it can learn the voices of two people, but probably not the preferences. I would not be surprised about the Irish language. My keyboard has come up with keys marked in Irish recently eg instead of ‘return’ it now says ‘ar ais’ , pronounced ‘air ash’, which means ‘back’ often used with the Irish verb for ‘to go’. I did look at Sonos equipment some years ago and ended up with traditional B&W hi fi speakers, but I do have Air Play and a Wireless Bose Speaker, but, like Siri, communication is not the strongest point of such wireless devices and interruptions and ‘cannot finds’ are the order of the day. Often it is quicker just to put on a CD. Sleeve notes are important too and, as a life-long fan of jazz and blues, it is essential to know if Blind Joe ‘Whats His Name’ was playing piano on that session from September 1938. A bit like collecting and using vintage Leicas, really. I don’t count myself as a Luddite, though, and I may interview that Apple thing for a position in my household in about a year from now.
William
So, there’s a bit of marketing confusion to me and I suppose that it’s intentional. Our initial ‘impression’ is that it is an Alexa competitor, which it is, but obviously it’s moving into the Bose and Sonos home audio market.
Yes Apple is definitely positioning the HomePod as a high-quality speaker in the Sonos and B&O mould. Its big attraction will be the eco system.
Mike
I agree with you. It would be foolish to bet against Apple’s future in this market Their expertise lies in delighting customers. The homepod I expect will do just this with superb quality sound which will render the £350 (or thereabouts) price excellent value in itself. Apple are therefore offering a superb product which will also integrate fully into the whole Apple ecosystem: IOS, voice control, home hub etc. Those who experience it will want one. It will be a success.
I still have my 2003 click wheel iPod. Apple have a stellar track record since then. I’ll put my money on them.
David
If it is priced right,maybe it will be a home run, sales of I phone X have not produced the windfall they expected and Apple is expected to cut production in half.