The HomePod smart speaker is back for a new generation of music lovers. It now features computational audio, enhanced Siri voice assistance, sound immersion support, and smart home integration.
Apple first revealed its challenger to Amazon’s Echo at its 2017 annual developer event, but had to wait until February of the following year before it was finally available. The company followed up with a mini flavor in 2020, which proved to be much more of a hit than its bigger siblings, and the HomePod will be discontinued in 2021.
On the outside, the second-generation HomePod looks pretty much the same as before (slightly shorter and a few ounces lighter), but there are noticeable changes under the hood. In this “sophisticated design” his original seven tweeter array has been cut into his five, and his two mics are missing from his smart speaker (reduced from seven to five) . However, the single high-excursion woofer appears to remain intact.
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The speaker can determine how it’s positioned in the room (close to a wall, free standing, etc.) and adjust its output accordingly. It supports immersive Dolby Atmos spatial audio, can set up multi-room playback via AirPlay, and can even be paired with another of his HomePods or HomePod mini for stereo delivery. You can also connect it to Apple TV 4K to expand your home theater audio possibilities.
The new HomePod can recognize up to six user voices, so each family member can easily tap a personal playlist or ask Siri to set reminders and calendar events. Users can pass songs and playlists from their iPhones using the company’s Ultra Wideband technology. You can even get Apple’s Digital His Assistant to help you find your misplaced iPhone using the company’s Find My technology.
Smart home technology can be controlled via the Home app or Siri, and the speaker has built-in temperature and humidity sensors that allow users to automatically close the living room blinds or turn on overhead fans at a given temperature. can be activated.
Following future software updates, notifications can also be sent to the user’s iPhone when a fire or smoke alarm is detected. Thanks to support for the Matter connectivity standard, smart home integration should work seamlessly across compatible ecosystems.
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Greg Joswiak, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing, said: “With the popularity of HomePod mini, there is growing interest in the even stronger acoustics that can be achieved with a larger HomePod. We are excited to bring the next generation of his HomePod to customers around the world.”
The second-generation HomePod joins the mini in Apple’s smart speaker lineup and currently retails for $299.
Product page: HomePod
