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34-571: The HomePod is a series of smart speakers developed by Apple . Designed to work with the Apple Music subscription service, the HomePod incorporates beamforming and eight speakers and is sold in two colors: white and midnight. It is sold alongside the HomePod Mini , a smaller and less expensive variant introduced in 2020. The first-generation HomePod was announced on June 5, 2017, at

68-491: A 2 and 20 percent discrepancy for the latter. The North American Chapter of the Association for Computational Linguistics (NAACL) also identified a discrepancy between male and female voices. According to their research, Google's speech recognition software is 13 percent more accurate for men than women. It performs better than the systems used by Bing , AT&T , and IBM. The built-in microphone in smart speakers

102-413: A 7.5 out of 10, writing that it "does more to make music sound better than any other speaker of this kind has ever done before", but that consumers should consider other options "unless you live entirely inside Apple's walled garden and prioritize sound quality over everything else." Wired shared similar criticisms over its lack of Siri functionality and support for third-party services, concluding that

136-457: A closed window, from another building across the street, using a laser. Reminders (Apple) Reminders is a task management program developed by Apple Inc. for their iOS , macOS and watchOS platforms that allows users to create lists and set notifications for themselves. The app was first introduced in iOS 5 and OS X 10.8 "Mountain Lion" and was rebuilt from the ground up with

170-530: A manner before, and that it "seems like an issue that should have been caught during the period where HomePod was being widely tested at home by many Apple employees." Apple issued a support document suggesting to concerned users that they place the HomePod on a different surface. To promote the HomePod, Apple released "Welcome Home", a four-minute film directed by Spike Jonze and starring FKA Twigs ; commercial-length versions were also produced. Strategy Analytics estimated that around 600,000 HomePods were sold in

204-535: A study by Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America released In March 2020, the six biggest tech development companies, Amazon , Apple , Google , Yandex , IBM and Microsoft , have misidentified more words spoken by " black people " than " white people ". The systems tested errors and unreadability, with a 19 and 35 percent discrepancy for the former and

238-503: Is continuously listening for "hot words" followed by a command. However, these continuously listening microphones also raise privacy concerns among users. These include what is being recorded, how the data will be used, how it will be protected, and whether it will be used for invasive advertising. Furthermore, an analysis of Amazon Echo Dots showed that 30–38% of "spurious audio recordings were human conversations", suggesting that these devices capture audio other than strictly detection of

272-469: Is not unique to voice assistants; as more and more devices come online, there is an increasing trade-off between convenience and privacy. While there are many factors influencing smart speaker adoption, specifically with regards to privacy, Lau et al. define five distinct categories as pros and cons: convenience, identity as an early adopter, contributing factors, perceived lack of utility, privacy, and security concerns. Tennant et al. explored adoption using

306-539: Is required for initial setup. HomePod can serve as a sound bar within a home entertainment system when selected through an Apple TV. The HomePod does not officially support audio-in from Bluetooth sources. AirPlay 2 and multi-room, multi-speaker support were announced in February 2018, and released in September 2018 in iOS 12 along with additional features such as multiple named timers, Find my iPhone, Siri shortcuts,

340-711: Is the Apple A8 , which Apple previously included in the Apple TV HD, iPod touch (6th generation), iPad mini 4 and iPhone 6/6 Plus. Siri can be used to control the speaker and other HomeKit devices, and can be used to conduct text messaging and voice calls from an iPhone. The HomePod mainly supports Apple's own platforms and technologies, including Apple Music , iTunes Store purchases and Match , iTunes podcasts, Beats 1 radio, and AirPlay (with limited third-party support for internet radio services iHeartRadio , Radio.com , and TuneIn ). A device running iOS 11 or later

374-464: Is used for haptic and visual feedback when handing off music from an iPhone to a HomePod. Compared to the first-generation model, it has two fewer tweeters and microphones, and only supports Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) while the original supported Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) . It also supports the Thread network protocol. An April 2023 software update added sound detection for smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Externally,

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408-576: The Apple Worldwide Developers Conference . Its planned December launch was delayed: Apple began taking orders on January 26, 2018, and released it on February 9, 2018. The HomePod received mixed reviews: it was praised for its design and sound quality compared to other speakers of its price, and criticized for lack of third-party support and high price compared to other smart speakers. The first-generation HomePod sold an estimated 1 to 3 million units through August 2018. It

442-534: The Home app. audioOS's main user-facing features are AirPlay 2 and Siri . In 2021, an Apple job listing referenced a non-existent "homeOS" operating system, echoing previous Bloomberg leaks about possible future Apple products for the living room that would merge the Apple TV and HomePod. Smart speaker As of winter 2017, it is estimated by NPR and Edison Research that 39 million Americans (16% of

476-690: The Notification Center 24 hours before the time a reminder is set for. Additionally, alarms can be set for reminders, sending a notification to users at a certain time and date, when a geofence around an area is crossed, or when a message starts being typed to a set contact. If a time-based alert is set, it can repeat every day, week, two weeks, month, or year. Reminders can be marked as completed (checked) and are automatically hidden. Lists can be synced between iOS and macOS through iCloud as well as shared with other contacts. Once shared, tasks can be added or completed by anyone with access to

510-426: The technology acceptance model and identified factors influencing expected usefulness, ease of use, and attitudes toward smart speaker devices in the context of home care support. The authors describe some of the critical challenges in designing for this context given the potential impact of the voice assistant's personality on someone's perspective of the care situation and a user's desire for intelligent support from

544-489: The HomePod are estimated at 146 kg  CO 2 e . The HomePod received mixed reviews. The review from The Verge praised the HomePod's automatic acoustic calibration system, and felt that it sounded "noticeably richer and fuller" than competitors such as the Sonos One (described as sounding "a little empty") and Google Home Max (described as being a "bass-heavy mess"). The review from Ars Technica stated that

578-523: The HomePod outsold all smart speakers that cost more than $ 200, giving Apple a 70% market share in premium brand smart speakers. As of mid-2018, the HomePod had sold an estimated 3 million units. Sales increased 45% in Q4 2018, with Apple selling 1.6 million units that quarter. In April 2019, Apple reduced the price to US$ 299; Gizmodo noted that permanent price cuts on current-generation Apple hardware are "beyond rare—they’re nearly unheard of." In March 2021,

612-465: The HomePod would be of little interest to those who are not heavily invested in Apple's software and hardware ecosystem. It was reported by some owners that the HomePod's silicone base stained oiled wooden surfaces with a white "ring" mark. Although Apple states that "it is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-dampening silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces", and that

646-549: The ability to make, receive and screen phone calls directly on the HomePod, and the ability to search for songs using the lyrics. HomePod initially did not allow multiple users to use the device, but multiuser support was added with the release of iOS 13.2. The 13.4 software update, released in March 2020, changed the OS from an iOS code base to a tvOS -based system. Greenhouse gas emissions for production, expected use and recycling for

680-437: The first quarter of 2018, making it the 4th-best-selling smart speaker brand after Amazon , Google and Alibaba , giving Apple a 6% market share in the industry. The HomePod also had 6% market share in the United States according to a report from Consumer Intelligence Research Partners and sold an estimated 700,000 units worldwide in the second quarter of 2018. Also in the second quarter of 2018, Strategy Analytics estimated that

714-612: The hot word. There are strong concerns that the ever-listening microphone of smart speakers presents a perfect candidate for wiretapping . In 2017, British security researcher Mark Barnes showed that pre-2017 Echos have exposed pins which allow for a compromised OS to be booted. While voice assistants provide a valuable service, there can be some hesitation towards using them in various social contexts, such as in public or around other users. However, only more recently have users begun interacting with voice assistants through an interaction with smart speakers rather than an interaction with

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748-536: The inability to actually place phone calls from the speaker (they must be made on an iPhone and transferred to the HomePod), set multiple timers at once, or distinguish between multiple voices, and only supporting basic commands when using AirPlay, among other limitations. Multiple reminders can be used in lieu of multiple timers, albeit with less precision than a timer. All these issues have been fixed in iOS 12, released on September 17, 2018. The Verge gave HomePod

782-458: The issue is less pronounced than with the first-generation model. The HomePod runs HomePod Software, internally known as audioOS, a forked version of tvOS . It was launched alongside the release of the original HomePod, released on February 9, 2018. Though it was initially a fork of iOS , since version 13.4 in 2020, it has been a fork of tvOS . Software updates are installed automatically over-the-air , but can also be installed manually through

816-467: The marks would eventually "improve" on its own, Stuart Miles (founder of the British technology blog Pocket-lint ) reported that in his experience, the stain occurred after only about 20 minutes of use on a wooden surface, and that he had to sand and re-oil the surface to remove it. John Gruber criticized Apple for this abnormality, remarking that he had never seen an Apple product damage surfaces in such

850-477: The original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through AppleCare." In July 2024, Apple classified the HomePod as "vintage," affecting its repair eligibility at Apple Stores and authorized service providers. Apple

884-408: The phone. On the phone, most voice assistants have the option to be engaged by a physical button (e.g., Siri with a long press of the home button) rather than solely by hot word-based engagement in a smart speaker. While this distinction increases the privacy by limiting when the microphone is on, users felt that having to press a button first removed the convenience of voice interaction. This trade-off

918-532: The population over 18) own a smart speaker. A smart speaker with a touchscreen is known as a smart display. It is a smart device that integrates conversational user interface with display screens to augment voice interaction with images and video. They are powered by one of the common voice assistants and offer controls for smart home devices, feature streaming apps, and web browsers with touch controls for selecting content. The first smart displays were introduced in 2017 by Amazon ( Amazon Echo ). According to

952-581: The price was reduced to £279 in the UK. As of May 2021, Apple was still reportedly selling units manufactured for the HomePod's launch stock. On March 12, 2021, Apple discontinued the HomePod, but kept the HomePod Mini. In a statement, Apple said "HomePod Mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $ 99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing

986-408: The release of iOS 13 . Reminders are placed into four categories which can be found at the top of the screen; "Today", "Scheduled", "All", and "Flagged". Users can also create their own lists of reminders. New reminders can be placed into lists or set as subtasks and can include several details including: a priority tag, a note about the reminder, and an image or URL attachment. Tasks appear in

1020-480: The second-generation model is similar to the first but slightly shorter at 6.6 inches (168 mm), and lighter at 5.16 lb (2.3 kg), and has a larger recessed touch screen panel at the top of the unit with the volume adjustment buttons permanently etched in. It can only create a stereo pair with another second-generation model. According to YouTuber Marques Brownlee 's testing, the second-generation HomePod can still leave white rings on wooden surfaces, though

1054-588: The sound quality of the HomePod was "pretty good, rich and full for its size, better than the Sonos One but probably not $ 150 better, [and] a galaxy ahead of the Echo ." Its lack of support for third-party services and platforms was criticized, with Ars Technica arguing that it gave the device "intense inflexibility". Siri on the HomePod was also criticized for its limited functionality in comparison to assistants such as Alexa and Google Assistant ; The Verge cited

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1088-424: The technology. When configured without authentication , smart speakers can be activated by people other than the intended user or owner. For example, visitors to a home or office, or people in a publicly accessible area outside an open window, partial wall, or security fence, may be able to be heard by a speaker. One team demonstrated the ability to stimulate the microphones of smart speakers and smartphones through

1122-562: Was criticized for violating its own policies for classifying products as vintage, which its website states were discontinued "more than 5 and less than 7 years ago"; at the time, the HomePod had been discontinued for three years and four months. On January 18, 2023, Apple announced the second-generation HomePod in a video announcement. It runs on an Apple S7 system-in-package, first used in the Apple Watch Series 7, and includes an Apple U1 chip for ultra-wideband support, which

1156-442: Was discontinued on March 12, 2021. The second-generation HomePod was announced on January 18, 2023, and released on February 3. The HomePod has a rounded, cylindrical shape, and has a small touchscreen on its top. It has seven tweeters in its base and a four-inch woofer (Apple does not specify Hz frequency range) towards the top, as well as six microphones used for voice control and acoustic optimization. The system-on-a-chip

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