597: Apple Watch Shuffle

HomePod Mini

The latest update to the HomePod Mini introduces a new midnight color, replacing the nearly identical space gray option. Marco Arment and Casey Liss discuss the peculiar nature of this release, questioning the significance of a color change without any hardware updates 1. John Siracusa humorously speculates that the change might be due to supply chain issues, suggesting that Apple needed a new color to replace the old one 2.

It's a very good value for sound quality, for how small it is and how inexpensive it is.

--- Marco Arment

Despite the lack of updates, the HomePod Mini remains a popular choice for its size and sound quality 3.

   

Device Rumors

Speculation about new Apple home devices is rife, with rumors suggesting a potential product that combines a speaker and a screen. John Siracusa envisions a device that could serve multiple functions, such as displaying calendars and acting as a hub for Apple TV and smart home controls 4. However, he expresses skepticism about Apple's ability to balance cost, screen size, and audio quality in such a device 5.

If this product comes out and it can't do Apple intelligence, I'm gonna be like, what are you even doing over there?

--- John Siracusa

The lack of significant updates to Apple's home product line raises concerns about the company's commitment to this sector 6.