Apple is known for getting customers excited about its new releases, but that doesn't mean the company applies its powers of persuasion equally to all products. As I plan to discuss in more detail in this column next week, great value deals like the 4th generation AirPods and the new Mac mini sometimes go almost unnoticed while the marketing machine shines its spotlight over more expensive alternatives. Sometimes you receive hints of favoritism.
The HomePod is a product that no longer appears to have Apple's full and enthusiastic support. It all seemed so promising at first: a cool new product for an exciting new market, great design and superb sound quality, all accessible from anywhere in the house with the reliable and intuitive assistance of… Siri. Oh dear. Whether it was because of Siri's failures or not, things went wrong. Sales obviously weren't good enough, and after releasing a cheaper (and also very nice) mini model, Apple made the tough decision and discontinued the full-size HomePod. We assumed that was it. Until it wasn't.
It's hard to have confidence in a product when the manufacturer stops selling it for almost two years, only to come back with a second version that looks exactly like the first and fails to fix the major problems of the first. And when the product doesn't seem to have evolved at all in the seven years since its release, never having given the impression of understanding the smart speaker market or the fact that a (very good) speaker with bad voice commands doesn't won't do it. really cut in 2025.
In 2025, in fact, the HomePod could be in tune with the times. Most importantly, it needs a better voice assistant, and that means one thing: Apple Intelligence. If we get a new HomePod with the hardware to run Apple's AI platform, that could mean a Siri that plays the right tune more often than not: a Siri, in other words, that knows its tunes from his elbow. And once you get it, any additional improvements (a working screen, for example) will just be icing on the cake.
But if that suggests I don't like the current HomePod, I better correct that assumption. Call me sentimental, but I really like the HomePod, as erratic and dated as it undoubtedly is. I like the way it looks and sounds, and after years of practice, I've learned to work around the flaws in its control scheme without getting angry more than two or three times a week. As for the mini… well, it might be the best Christmas gift you can buy in the Apple Store right now.
At $99/£99 and available in a range of stunning colors that are inexplicably denied to buyers of the full-size model (I recommend the orange), the HomePod mini is a brilliantly affordable way to brighten up a room and fill it with 'a magnificent sound. . The bass punch isn't quite on par with its big brother, but the audio quality is nonetheless superb for the size and price. It's easy to install and its physical design means you can easily move it from room to room as you wish. It's just really nice thing. Or a pair of things, if you can afford to buy two and install them in stereo. (Please do it.)
Christmas, after all, is a time when we remember those less fortunate than us, the neglected members of society who have fallen through the cracks. The HomePod mini may have been forgotten by its manufacturer, but there's still time for you to find a place in your home for one of these noble creatures. Merry Christmas!
Foundry
Welcome to our weekly Apple Breakfast column, which includes all the Apple news you missed last week in one handy summary. We call it Apple Breakfast because we think it pairs really well with a Monday morning cup of coffee or tea, but it's cool if you also want to read it during lunch or dinner hours.
Looking towards 2025: End of year special!
Here are 5 exciting products that shaping Apple's 2025 horizon– and beyond.
iPhone in 2025: The upgrades we've been waiting for are finally coming.
The Mac in 2025: small updates and high hopes.
In 2025, even Professional users will want Apple's cheapest devices.
Apple has big plans for the smart home in 2025.
Trending: Featured News
Apple's year 2024 full of surprises has set up a unpredictable future.
THE The iPhone is doomed because Apple Intelligence is not smart enough.
Your iPhone is now integrated into ChatGPT–here's how to use it.
Podcast of the week
With 2024 closing, it's time to I'm looking forward to 2025. What could we see from Apple in the new year? This will be covered in the latest episode of the igamesnews podcast!
You can watch every episode of the igamesnews Podcast on Spotify, Soundcloud, the Podcasts app, or our own site.
Reviews corner
The rumor mill
Rumors of a Giant foldable iPad makes no sense.
Abracadabra! Apple is working on a new Magic Mouse with appropriate load.
Software updates, bugs and issues
The first iOS update of 2025 is already in testing. That's right: iOS 18.3 is now in beta!
And with that, we're done for this week's apple breakfast. If you would like to receive regular summaries, subscribe to our newsletters. You can also follow us on Facebook, Threads or to discuss the latest Apple news. See you next Monday and stay Appley.
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