Apple has rolled out some of its executives to the media as part of its new HomePod release which will take place tomorrow, February 3.
In an interview with Men’s Journal And TechCrunchVP of hardware engineering Matthew Costello and product marketing staffer Alice Chan discuss the new HomePod and why Apple made some of the decisions it made.
One limitation of the new HomePod that has disappointed some is that it cannot be set up in a stereo pair with an older original HomePod. Costello explained that it was all about the sound signature.
“When creating a stereo pair, it’s important that the audio characteristics match for an optimal, balanced experience,” Costello says of the lack of compatibility. “The new HomePod delivers immersive, room-filling sound users love — with more detail, clarity and layering than the original HomePod — so we wanted the acoustic imaging to be as pure and consistent as possible from generation to generation. The principle of matching audio features in a stereo pair applies to the HomePod mini, the original HomePod, and the new HomePod.
Costello also explained that the HomePod only supports Wi-Fi 4 rather than the new Wi-Fi 6 standard because it’s not required. He said the new HomePod “is able to make sure Siri requests are responsive, and ensure a consistent experience for what you’re listening to, controlling your smart home accessories and more – all while being energy efficient” thanks to Wi-Fi. Fi 4.
The new HomePod goes on sale tomorrow for $299 and is the same as the old one. The only difference is a slightly more squat stance and a larger touchscreen on its top surface.
You may also like to check out:
You can follow us TwitterOr Instagram, and even like our Facebook page to keep yourself updated on all the latest from Microsoft, Google, Apple, and the web.