Well, I got my HomePod tonight. Just some initial impressions:
1. Sound quality is out of this world for a speaker this size. It is unbelievable, to be honest. Clean with punchy bass from a speaker with a 5.6 inch base!
2. Apple Music commands - I tested it with playlists, albums, artists, songs, general categories like "play jazz" and it never missed a beat.
3. Airplay - like any other Airplay speaker. I tested it with my J River skill and Plex skill on the AppleTV/Echo Dot and it worked without an issue. I tested it with Tidal from my Mac....no issues. Still looking forward to Airplay 2.
4. HomeKit - Works fast with Hue Bulbs. No complaints, so far.
5. measurement conversions and setting a timer - no issues
6. trivia - pretty bad compared to Alexa and Home in this area. Not a big deal because I am keeping my Dots around for "skills" and my Home Mini is gathering dust.
7. Setup was simple. Took maybe three minutes. You don't have to put in passwords, it gets them from the iPhone/iPad.
8. Volume - loud enough for my needs (my gf has asked me to turn it down already), but no where close to a receiver.
9. Podcasts played without a problem.
10. It hears commands over music better than Alexa.
Downside is that it is so easy to use, that I have been listening to my girlfriend’s music for the last 30 minutes. It is the first time she has used AirPlay and I have had Airplay in several devices for several years.
1. Sound quality is out of this world for a speaker this size. It is unbelievable, to be honest. Clean with punchy bass from a speaker with a 5.6 inch base!
2. Apple Music commands - I tested it with playlists, albums, artists, songs, general categories like "play jazz" and it never missed a beat.
3. Airplay - like any other Airplay speaker. I tested it with my J River skill and Plex skill on the AppleTV/Echo Dot and it worked without an issue. I tested it with Tidal from my Mac....no issues. Still looking forward to Airplay 2.
4. HomeKit - Works fast with Hue Bulbs. No complaints, so far.
5. measurement conversions and setting a timer - no issues
6. trivia - pretty bad compared to Alexa and Home in this area. Not a big deal because I am keeping my Dots around for "skills" and my Home Mini is gathering dust.
7. Setup was simple. Took maybe three minutes. You don't have to put in passwords, it gets them from the iPhone/iPad.
8. Volume - loud enough for my needs (my gf has asked me to turn it down already), but no where close to a receiver.
9. Podcasts played without a problem.
10. It hears commands over music better than Alexa.
Downside is that it is so easy to use, that I have been listening to my girlfriend’s music for the last 30 minutes. It is the first time she has used AirPlay and I have had Airplay in several devices for several years.
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