Apple’s VP of {hardware} engineering Matthew Costello and product advertising and marketing worker Alice Chan lately spoke with Males’s Journal and TechCrunch concerning the new second-generation HomePod in wide-ranging interviews concerning the sensible speaker.
Apple discontinued the unique full-size HomePod in March 2021 after a number of reviews indicated that gross sales of the speaker have been lackluster, however Chan advised Males’s Journal that Apple has since “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 to be like just about equivalent to the unique, though it’s 0.2 inches shorter and has a bigger edge-to-edge LED touchscreen on high. Costello advised TechCrunch that Apple’s groups “actually love” this form and kind for the full-size HomePod and “have been capable of create an exquisite system inside that construction.”
Costello defined why the brand new HomePod is restricted to the older Wi-Fi 4 customary, in comparison with Wi-Fi 6 on different trendy Apple gadgets:
“HomePod options Wi-Fi 4 connectivity that enables us to focus on precisely what works greatest in your entire system,” Costello tells TechCrunch, “ensuring Siri requests are responsive, and making certain a constant expertise for all you might be listening to, controlling your sensible dwelling equipment and extra — all whereas being vitality environment friendly.”
He additionally elaborated on the shortcoming to pair a brand new HomePod with an authentic HomePod:
“When making a stereo pair, it is essential that the audio traits match for an optimum, balanced expertise,” says Costello of the shortage of compatibility. “The brand new HomePod delivers immersive, room-filling sound customers love — with much more element, readability and layers than the unique HomePod — so we wished the acoustical imaging to be as pure and constant as doable from technology to technology. The precept of getting audio traits match in a stereo pair applies to HomePod mini, the unique HomePod and the brand new HomePod.”
Apple advised each media publications that the HomePod mini is “common,” however didn’t present any extra particulars or touch upon the way forward for the smaller speaker.
The brand new HomePod is on the market to pre-order for $299 and launches this Friday within the U.S. and choose different nations. Try our new HomePod evaluate roundup for a hands-on have a look at the speaker, which many reviewers discovered to have largely the identical sound high quality as the unique.
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