Apple Explains Why HomePod Was Launched Once more, Limitation of Wi-Fi 4 and Extra
Apple’s VP of {hardware} engineering Matthew Costello and product advertising worker Alice Chan lately spoke with Men’s Journal and TechCrunch in regards to the new second generation HomePod in intensive interviews in regards to the clever speaker.
an apple canceled the original full-sized HomePod in March 2021 after a number of studies indicated that gross sales of the speaker have been lackluster, however Chan stated Males’s Journal that Apple later “heard extra curiosity than ever for the acoustics of a richer, bigger speaker,” main the corporate to launch one other bigger HomePod.
The brand new HomePod appears virtually equivalent to the unique, though it’s 0.2 inches shorter and has a bigger edge-to-edge LED touchscreen on high. Costello stated TechCrunch that Apple’s groups “actually love” this form and kind for the full-size HomePod and “have been capable of create an incredible system inside that construction.”
Costello defined why the brand new HomePod is proscribed to the older Wi-Fi 4 normal, in comparison with Wi-Fi 6 on different fashionable Apple units:
“HomePod has Wi-Fi 4 connectivity, which permits us to focus on precisely what works greatest all through the system,” Costello tells TechCrunch, “ensuring Siri requests are responsive, and guaranteeing a constant expertise for every part you listening, controlling your good house equipment and extra – all whereas being vitality environment friendly.”
He additionally defined the lack to pair a brand new HomePod with an authentic HomePod:
“When creating stereo, it is vital that the audio traits match for an optimum, balanced expertise,” Costello says of the dearth of compatibility. “The brand new HomePod delivers an immersive, immersive sound expertise customers love – with much more element, readability and layers than the unique HomePod – so we wished the acoustic imaging to be as pure and constant as potential from technology to technology. The precept of getting audio traits match in stereo pair applies to HomePod mini, the unique HomePod and the brand new HomePod.”
Apple instructed each media shops that the HomePod mini is “in style,” however didn’t present further particulars or touch upon the way forward for the smaller speaker.
In his interview with Males’s JournalCostello offers extra particulars on the {hardware} and applied sciences of the brand new HomePod, together with the four-inch high-excursion woofer, tweeters, beam-forming microphones, room capabilities and extra.
The brand new HomePod is obtainable to pre-order for $299 and launches this Friday within the US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, Australia and choose different international locations. Take a look at our HomePod review summary for a hands-on have a look at the speaker, which many reviewers discovered to be largely the identical sound high quality as the unique.
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