expired Posted by rvirks • Dec 8, 2022
Dec 8, 2022 3:16 PM
Item 1 of 1
expired Posted by rvirks • Dec 8, 2022
Dec 8, 2022 3:16 PM
Apple HomePod mini Wi-Fi Bluetooth Smart Speaker (Refurbished, Various Colors)
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I bet we are not the only ones.
Of the 3 types we have, so far only Amazon's seem to always work exactly as they are supposed to. But I love google's multiroom via casting as the best feature of all of them.
Here's a little bit of updated information I gathered and pasted with a few words of my own to share with you from the net once I read your comment as I just wanted to help having learn a bit more lately myself, so hope this may.
You can use airplay which is supported by most companies providing TV and or audio devices with the HomePod just as you can use the service you talked about with google cast feature.
The good news on that front is that Apple makes it incredibly easy to do. You can share the audio manually to the HomePod Mini using AirPlay or hold your device to the top of the speaker. This way, Handoff will automatically transfer it between the devices. You can use Siri to interact with the music by issuing the relevant commands, such as "Hey Siri, next track".
If you're in the Apple ecosystem the HomePod Mini is a very good smart speaker. Even if you don't subscribe to Apple Music, you have options.
Other music services: Pandora, Deezer, TuneIn Radio, iHeartRadio, Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon, and more
The HomePod Mini is no longer just an Apple Music-only speaker, here are all the other music services you can use with it.
The HomePod Mini takes a bit different approach from the rest of today's smart speakers.
You can use a HomePod Mini to control your smart home and where the HomePod Mini truly excels is as a music device. Despite its tiny size, the sound quality it delivers is outstanding. It's also quite affordable, a rarity for most Apple products, and has a lot of value if all you want is a hands-free music system.
For music, you need a source of tunes, and on the HomePod Mini here's what you can use.
Despite the obvious link to Apple's own content ecosystem, the HomePod Mini can still be used to listen to some music without a paid subscription through radio-based services. Likewise, the HomePod was originally an exclusively Apple device, but now there are third-party music sources you can listen to.
Pandora
Pandora users in the United States (currently the only market for the service) can link their free, plus, or premium accounts to the HomePod Mini and enjoy hands-free, voice-activated music throughout the home.
This includes podcasts and tier-specific perks such as unlimited skips on the plus and premium subscriptions. To link Pandora to the HomePod Mini you will also need the Pandora app on your iPhone or iPad.
Deezer
Deezer's 73 million-strong song library is available to use on the HomePod Mini for paid subscribers only. Unlike some other smart speakers, the HomePod Mini also supports FLAC high fidelity audio from Deezer HiFi.
Deezer on HomePod Mini only currently supports music, with podcasts, audiobooks, and live radio not available to be played via Siri. Additionally, to set up Deezer on the HomePod Mini you will need the latest version of the app on your iPhone or iPad.
TuneIn Radio
TuneIn Radio's basic offering is one of the free services you can use to listen to music on the HomePod Mini. Better still it's baked into the device so you don't have anything to download or set up.
To listen to your favorite radio station simply say "Hey Siri, play ..." and you'll get a stream provided by TuneIn. This is particularly useful for those outside North America.
iHeartRadio
Just like TuneIn, iHeartRadio is free to use on the HomePod Mini to listen to radio stations assuming you're in a supported market. You don't have to worry about setting it up either.
Simply ask Siri to play your favorite iHeartRadio station and you're good to go. This only works in iHeartRadio-supported markets, for example, in Europe you will be directed through TuneIn Radio instead.
Other music services: Spotify, YouTube Music, Amazon, and more
Apple has opened up support for third-party music services on the HomePod Mini through Siri. But for whatever reason, the uptake has been slim. Some of the biggest players in the game, notably Spotify, aren't supported for voice access on the HomePod Mini.
However, thanks to the tight-knit integration with the rest of Apple's hardware you can play music from any unsupported service fairly easily. The kicker is that you have to initiate playback from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac.
The good news on that front is that Apple makes it incredibly easy to do. You can share the audio manually to the HomePod Mini using AirPlay or hold your device to the top of the speaker. This way, Handoff will automatically transfer it between the devices. You can use Siri to interact with the music by issuing the relevant commands, such as "Hey Siri, next track".
If you're in the Apple ecosystem the HomePod Mini is a very good smart speaker. Even if you don't subscribe to Apple Music, you have options.
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