Nice review and can't disagree that the price of the Echo is an absolute steal.
The sound is a personal thing and I guess depends on what you are playing, I found very little difference when I had them side by side, as mentioned the HomePod sounded a bit tinny on some parts of the music whereas the Echo had a more stable louder output. You can only get so much in one of those speakers, maybe the HomePod could do with a little more weight in it, it weighs 313g compared to the Echo at 325g, the top of the HomePod mini, well the white one I have looks cheap plastic with a cheap lightly printed + and - on that is hard to see when its lit, it will be a dust bowl and the black always looks dirty with fingerprints all over it, a visually impaired person would have no idea where the plus or minus was and touching the top too much will change functions, wheels the Echo is, well its just perfect.
The sound is a personal thing and I guess depends on what you are playing, I found very little difference when I had them side by side, as mentioned the HomePod sounded a bit tinny on some parts of the music whereas the Echo had a more stable louder output. You can only get so much in one of those speakers, maybe the HomePod could do with a little more weight in it, it weighs 313g compared to the Echo at 325g, the top of the HomePod mini, well the white one I have looks cheap plastic with a cheap lightly printed + and - on that is hard to see when its lit, it will be a dust bowl and the black always looks dirty with fingerprints all over it, a visually impaired person would have no idea where the plus or minus was and touching the top too much will change functions, wheels the Echo is, well its just perfect.
I must say neither App is brilliant but I am too deeply invested to change, it would have to be something super dooper to make me change my mind and the HomePod just isn't the one, its a shame they couldn't work together because you would then have the perfect machine but they are both mega companies that I don't see doing that. I have Echo shows and rarely use them for the screen although they do show up the security cameras and ring doorbell as well as any other cameras you may have, you can also use the for media which I don't but handy for cooking recipes, weather and news visually.
At the moment would you have 3 Echos that integrate with so many more devices or one HomePod mini with shall we say similar sound that is pretty much trapped within its own eco system, its a no brainer for me but there will always be Apple logo collectors, and yes I am an Apple fanboy but recently seen big changes that for me anyway don't make sense. I have actually been over to the new Apple Park HQ in California to look around, I can see how when people are trapped working in there they can lose touch with reality, but there is no doubt they have some of the best engineers in the world, there is just something missing recently, I could call it being in touch with your customers wants and needs, but hey its a huge world and different countries and cultures like different things, you never know maybe they look at this forum now and again, so here's hoping we get less flops.
Here are some pics from Apple Park including the huge underground car park I had NO problem parking in there with my huge Ford Explorer Extended, they also have a shop where you can buy exclusive products that are only sold there with the 'Ring' on, some of which I have taken out of a drawer and photographed this evening for you, I also put in a photo of one of the cafes, may be of interest to some people
Sometimes its healthy to stick your head over the parapet and have a little look around, I am 100% begins you re quality when it eventually comes, or should I said came, as I am seeing new things appear that dont have the old standard of quality, I guess the accountants have been involved penny pinching and the PR department coming out with nonsense, also the upgrade ability of memory which is now soldered in, all done to make life more difficult.About trapping in the ecosystem, some of us including me are consciously trapped and full of consent.
For instance, iPhone is technological wise so far behind that of android devices but stability is quite okay as it is sitting on known technology and working around it. So I am happy with what it offers.
The thing worth to mention is Mac product. My MBP is still strong with 9 and half years and creeping into 10 years milestone. But that’s also only for old model and newly launched are harder or near impossible to upgrade like SSD or memory upgrade.
When I digest that fact, not every Apple product line is for me and products are widely chosen based on its needs and fit for purpose. I believe everyone has their justification for his/her decision. None is wiser or other way.
And the thing about sound, do not start with me please. I am starting to immerse the journey of sound quality with Diamond tweeters
That’s great news. It’s always a relief when recyclers don’t try to knock you down.
Can’t you pick one up at an Apple store?Come on send it faster!!!
Can't wait any longer
You just reminded me to choose my seat on my flight, I’m back out there in April subject to Covid, there is a better shop up the road at Infinite Loop 1, I was over there on my way to Google HQ, here are some pics of what there is, give me your shopping list 😁, some cool T shirts if your into that kind of stuff, and different colours of mugs, I was given a special Apple mug hand made in Japan called Hasami, see pics, its the dark brown one, I also ended up with some Google mugs so I was well and truly mugged 🤣.
Google supply staff with free bikes to get around the campus, they don’t seem to get nicked though 😁. And yes they also have a shop that sells anything you can possibly put a logo on!
Just bought my daughter an Echo 3rd gen earlier today to use as a speaker for her monitor, its one of the few that have a line in, I have a couple of smaller Echo dot 3rd gen on my boat in the cabins and they sound great for the size, low profile and discreet, great for intercom use between cabins and background music although sound is superb https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Echo&ref=nb_sb_noss_2
I saw the same. I think it's a price drop in the run up to Black Friday next week.
Yes Prime day and Black Friday they come up on deals, grab one and give it a go, nothing to lose, even the small puck size Echo Dot (3rd gen) ones are great fun, I have given the mini a go.
Similar, IP Pro Max 256 was collected by DPD on Saturday (after being booked in for Monday) and the full quoted value (£601) was in my bank account by lunchtime on Monday.
