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A Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), just announced the new HomePod, a new option in the smart speaker market, which joins the home pod mini.
What's new with HomePod 2nd Generation
The new model of HomePod, which will use a format similar to the original version, launched in 2018, brings new features such as support for the Thread wireless protocol, a network format designed for home automation, and the smart home standard Matter, technology that uses the Internet, through Wi-Fi and other types of connection, such as Bluetooth, to allow the user to communicate between different devices compatible with the technology. Accompanying these new features, Apple's new smart speaker is equipped with the S7 processor, seen for the first time in Apple Watch Series 7.
Among the specifications of the new speaker from Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC),, there is a 4-inch speaker accompanied by 5 high-quality audio outputs, two less than in the previous model, in addition to five microphones, unlike the seven in the model discontinued.
An automated home environment
Just like the first version, the new HomePod can be used together with one another in a room in order to emulate a stereo sound installation, either as speakers in a Apple TV 4K, or as spatial audio boxes thanks to the Dolby Atmos. For these purposes, the Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), demonstrated the ability of device to recognize its position in a room and based on that information, adjust the sound if it is attached to a wall, or in the middle of the room.
This new iteration features built-in temperature and humidity sensors, whose functionality can be integrated into activating smart devices in connected homes. Ultra Wideband technology allows any user in the house to stream audio that is playing on their iPhone — be it music, podcasts and even phone calls — directly to HomePod. Not counting the six customizable responses that can be activated through the speaker's voice assistant, the Crab.
More features are coming
Apple announced that there will be a new software update that will recognize the audible alarms of smoke and excess carbon monoxide to the built-in microphones of the HomePod, which if activated, sends an alert to your iPhone.
The big sound problem original from Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), was its late release, which was delayed and ended up only taking place the year after its announcement, in February 2018. The eventual delayed release ultimately harmed it, as the Alexa and the Google Assistantand brought the same functionalities for more attractive prices. The intervention of Apple Lossless Audio CODEC (ALAC), with the fall in the price of HomePod at $50 in 2019 wasn't enough to save the product, which ended up being discontinued in 2021.
The HomePod Mini
In the meantime, there was the launch of the HomePod Mini, a model smaller, with a more affordable price. This new version now presented supports the Thread and functionalities of the integrated smart home system, the Matter, giving access to several devices connected to the network Thread, WiFi and ethernet. He's half the size of HomePod.
And how much will it cost?
The new generation of HomePod will be available from the 2nd of February in the colors White or Midnight in markets in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and 11 other countries. The new model of HomePod will cost US$299, while the smaller version, the HomePod Mini, currently retails for $99.
At the moment, there has not yet been an announcement regarding the availability of the new HomePod in Brazilian territory. It is worth remembering that the first version of the HomePod and the home pod mini were never officially sold in Brazil.
Technical specifications
| Model | Apple HomePod (2nd Generation) |
| Dimensions | 168mm by 142mm |
| Weight : | 2,3 kg. |
| sound technology | Four-inch high-fidelity speaker, multiroom audio, Four-microphone design for greater distance in activating Siri, Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, environment sensor, Audio with advanced processing to adapt to the environment, |
| Audio Sources | Apple Music, iTunes store purchases, iCloud Music Library with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription, Third party music services, Apple Musc Radio or episodes on demand, TuneIn radio stations, iHeartRadio and Audacy, Apple Podcasts, news, Remastered ambient sounds, AirPlay to share other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, or Mac |
| touch controls | . Tap – Play/Pause .. Double Tap – Skip … Triple Tap — Skip to previous ___ Tap and hold – Siri + or – Sound volume control |
| Embedded | sound recognition, temperature and humidity, Accelerometer |
| Accessibility | Accessibility features to help people with disabilities get the most out of HomePod. They include: accommodations to the touch, Siri, voice control, The home app and HomeKit, intercom transcripts |
| Wireless | 802.11n WiFi, User-by-user discovery for easy guest access, Bluetooth 5.0, Threads, Ultra-wideband connection chip for connecting to nearby devices |
| System requirements | HomePod with the most current software version, iPhone SE (2nd Generation or newer) or iPhone 8 or newer with updated iOS version; or iPad (5th Generation or newer), iPad Air (3rd Generation or newer), iPad mini (5th Generation or newer) with updated version of iPadOS Access to 802.11 Wi-Fi |
| Electrical and environmental requirements | Operating temperature: 0° to 35° C Relative humidity: 5% to 90% non-condensing Operating altitude: tested up to 3000m |
| included in the box | Home Pod, Energy cable, Documentation |
| Compatibility | iPhone: iPhone 14 Pro Max iPhone 14 Pro iPhone 14 Plus iPhone 14 iPhone 13 Pro Max iPhone 13 Pro iPhone 13 iPhone 13 mini iPhone 12 Pro Max iPhone 12 Pro iPhone 12 iPhone 12mini iPhone 11 Pro Max iPhone 11 Pro iPhone 11 iPhone XS Max iPhone XS iPhone XR iPhone X 8 iPhone Plus iPhone 8 iPhone SE (3rd Generation) iPhone SE (2rd Generation) iPad: 12,9-inch iPad Pro 11-inch iPad Pro 10,5-inch iPad Pro 9,7-inch iPad Pro iPad (10th Generation) iPad (9th Generation) iPad (8th Generation) iPad (7th Generation) iPad (6th Generation) iPad (5th Generation) iPad Air (5th Generation) iPad Air (4th Generation) iPad Air (3th Generation) iPad mini (6th generation) iPad mini (5th generation) |
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