Oliver Haslam on February 2, 2023, 6:27 pm

Apple Execs Detail New HomePod In Media Interviews

Apple has rolled out some of its executives for the media as part of its new HomePod release that takes place tomorrow, February 3.

In interviews with Men’s Journal and TechCrunch, VP of hardware engineering Matthew Costello and product marketing employee Alice Chan discussed the new HomePod and why Apple made some of the decisions that it made.

One limitation of the new HomePod that has some people disappointed is the fact that it can’t 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,” says Costello of the lack of compatibility. “The new HomePod delivers immersive, room-filling sound users love — with even more detail, clarity and layers than the original HomePod — so we wanted the acoustical imaging to be as pure and consistent as possible from generation to generation. The principle of having audio characteristics match in a stereo pair applies to HomePod mini, the original HomePod and the new HomePod.”

Costello also explained that the HomePod only supports Wi-Fi 4 rather than the newer Wi-Fi 6 standard because it simply doesn’t need it. He said that the new HomePod is capable of “making sure Siri requests are responsive, and ensuring a consistent experience for all you are listening to, controlling your smart home accessories and more — all while being energy efficient” because of the use of Wi-Fi 4.

The new HomePod goes on sale tomorrow for $299 and is almost identical to the old one. The only differences are a slightly more squat stance and a larger touchscreen on its top surface.