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Title: Gurman: Apple Not Working on New HomePod Mini Post by: HCK on January 24, 2023, 04:05:02 pm Gurman: Apple Not Working on New HomePod Mini
Apple is likely not working on a new version of the HomePod mini (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/homepod-mini/) smart speaker, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/). (https://images.macrumors.com/article-new/2020/11/homepod-mini-thumb-feature.jpg) In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-01-22/why-apple-brought-back-the-homepod-and-launched-m2-pro-m2-max-macbook-pro-mini-ld7hrh3y), Gurman explained that he believes Apple is not "actively working" on a successor to the ‌HomePod mini‌: After the debut of a new full-sized HomePod, many users started asking about an update to the mini model. But at this point, I don't believe that Apple is actively working on such as product. The latest HomePod doesn't include any major new functions that aren't already in the $99 mini, so there isn't an obvious reason to update the model. Sure, it would be nice to get more colors, a cheaper price, and better sound and microphones, but the real improvements probably need to be made on the back end — with Siri and app integration.The ‌HomePod mini‌ was announced in October 2020 at Apple's iPhone 12 (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/iphone-12/) event. Less than half a year later, Apple discontinued (https://www.macrumors.com/2021/03/12/apple-discontinuing-homepod/) the original HomePod (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/homepod/), leaving the ‌HomePod mini‌ as the company's only smart speaker until this week when Apple relaunched the full-size HomePod (https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/18/apple-announces-new-homepod/) form factor. The newly reintroduced ‌HomePod‌ offers a large number of features that were previously exclusive to the ‌HomePod mini‌, including an Apple Watch S-series chip, a U1 ultra wideband chip, Thread support, a temperature and humidity sensor (https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/18/homepods-now-feature-temperature-humidity-sensor/), and a larger backlit touch surface that illuminates from edge to edge. In August 2022, Gurman said that Apple was considering launching an updated version of the HomePod mini (https://www.macrumors.com/2022/08/07/new-homepod-mini-and-high-end-homepod/) in the future, but he did not provide a specific timeframe or details about potential new features. He said the update was unlikely to be "super-impressive," suggesting any changes to the ‌HomePod‌'s smaller sibling would be minor, but those plans now seem to have been shelved.<div class="linkback">Related Roundup: HomePod mini (https://www.macrumors.com/roundup/homepod-mini/)</div><div class="linkback">Tags: bloomberg.com (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/bloomberg-com/), Mark Gurman (https://www.macrumors.com/guide/mark-gurman/)</div><div class="linkback">Buyer's Guide: HomePod Mini (Neutral) (https://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#Homepod-Mini)</div><div class="linkback">Related Forum: HomePod, HomeKit, CarPlay, Home & Auto Technology (https://forums.macrumors.com/forums/homepod-homekit-carplay-home-auto-technology.193)</div> This article, "Gurman: Apple Not Working on New HomePod Mini (https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/22/gurman-apple-not-working-on-new-homepod-mini/)" first appeared on MacRumors.com (https://www.macrumors.com) Discuss this article (https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/gurman-apple-not-working-on-new-homepod-mini.2377883/) in our forums Source: Gurman: Apple Not Working on New HomePod Mini (https://www.macrumors.com/2023/01/22/gurman-apple-not-working-on-new-homepod-mini/) |