Apple Homepod Mini Availability

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494 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 273

#2631432 7-Jan-2021 07:21

I got a HomePod Mini thanks to a friend in Melbourne who shipped it over to me. Took 5 weeks but it was worth it. Have it on my bedside table and in my living room I have the original HomePod that i picked up myself in Sydney. I absolutely love both and they sound amazing. Also handy for controlling my HomeKit devices - front door, garage door, lights etc.

I too am baffled as to why Apple don’t offer them for sale in NZ. I have no compatibly issues at all. Siri works just fine.
Considering Apple still don’t offer the Siri remote on the Apple TV even though it’s been years and years, I’m not holding my breath.

mobiusnz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 114

#2631480 7-Jan-2021 09:30

davidcole: I use two Apple TV’s as homekit hubs. Generally if I want to yell at something my phone is generally close enough and that controls any homekit devices (which are predominantly exposed from openHAB CIA homebridge).

I don’t tend to trust any of these companies enough to buy into their platforms exclusively. Happy with chromecasts for Audio and the JBL, Apple TV’s for video and/or airplay speaker. But for things like Spotify chromecast (via Spotify connect) is a much better experience than airplay (IMO)

I'd trust Apple and Siri a lot more than Amazon / Alexa as Apple are recognising that selling devices is their number one business model so getting support from end users by respecting privacy seems to be the way they are leaning at present. On the flip side I appreciate how cheaply I can buy lightbulbs that support Alexa out of box. I tried running some opensource homekit software to integrate some of my gear with Homekit but it was terribly unreliable so gave up on it.

I agree on the phone thing - I'm happy using my phone - My wifes issue is the Homepod or a Echo would be useful to her when her hands are full in the kitchen (Wow its hard not to sound like a sexist P.O.S saying this - Next I'll be talking about buying my wife a blender for her birthday)

I think I'm leaning toward a Homepod mini as I then know the music will work so much better with Apple music and now I know you can do multiple named timers and have a good family shopping list working those are the main things I'm trying to make easier.

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timbosan

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#2631677 7-Jan-2021 11:49

@mobiusnz Dick Smith have them as "coming soon" in their NZ store. I am in the process of buying a couple of HomePod mini's from AU and having them shipped over. Happy to provide some first hand experience and feedback of them. I run a Homekit set up (along with Homebridge) in a mainly Apple network. I am already a heavy user of Siri.

Re music - I have seen some reviews (Youtube) that the mini is not as good for music as the fullsized one, although that's to be expected given it's size. But it's still a great speaker and if you have Apple Music then the integration is excellent.

I am also not a fan of the privacy policies of Google or Amazon.

mobiusnz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 114

#2631756 7-Jan-2021 13:57

timbosan:

@mobiusnz Dick Smith have them as "coming soon" in their NZ store. I am in the process of buying a couple of HomePod mini's from AU and having them shipped over. Happy to provide some first hand experience and feedback of them. I run a Homekit set up (along with Homebridge) in a mainly Apple network. I am already a heavy user of Siri.

Re music - I have seen some reviews (Youtube) that the mini is not as good for music as the fullsized one, although that's to be expected given it's size. But it's still a great speaker and if you have Apple Music then the integration is excellent.

I am also not a fan of the privacy policies of Google or Amazon.

I registered my interest at Dick Smith yesterday so we'll see how quick they get them and at what price. I wish Youshop started up an Australian version as I've used that to get things from the USA and the UK that won't ship here. My wife does have a relative in Canberra and there is an apple store there - Just feel bad asking them to go and label and package up for shipping. No idea what it would cost over the counter at a post shop equivalent - Might go through the roof.

I looked at getting one with Youshop from the USA but the prices have gone through the roof so if I wanted it airmailed it was going to be $60NZD or about $40 for sea but talked about 60 - 90 days!!!

I wouldn't expect the quality to be as good as a bigger unit but it sounds like it completely outdoes the Echo DOT's and for the space I want it it should do a good job for background music while eating / cooking.

Matt Beechey Mobius Network Solutions

josephhinvest

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#2631808 7-Jan-2021 15:29

timbosan:
@mobiusnz Dick Smith have them as "coming soon" in their NZ store. I am in the process of buying a couple of HomePod mini's from AU and having them shipped over. Happy to provide some first hand experience and feedback of them. I run a Homekit set up (along with Homebridge) in a mainly Apple network. I am already a heavy user of Siri.

Re music - I have seen some reviews (Youtube) that the mini is not as good for music as the fullsized one, although that's to be expected given it's size. But it's still a great speaker and if you have Apple Music then the integration is excellent.

I am also not a fan of the privacy policies of Google or Amazon.

Dick Smith have shown them as coming soon for quite a few months unfortunately.

GSManiac

494 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 273

#2631904 7-Jan-2021 16:50

I registered my interest at Dick Smith yesterday so we'll see how quick they get them and at what price. I wish Youshop started up an Australian version as I've used that to get things from the USA and the UK that won't ship here. My wife does have a relative in Canberra and there is an apple store there - Just feel bad asking them to go and label and package up for shipping. No idea what it would cost over the counter at a post shop equivalent - Might go through the roof.

I looked at getting one with Youshop from the USA but the prices have gone through the roof so if I wanted it airmailed it was going to be $60NZD or about $40 for sea but talked about 60 - 90 days!!!

I wouldn't expect the quality to be as good as a bigger unit but it sounds like it completely outdoes the Echo DOT's and for the space I want it it should do a good job for background music while eating / cooking.

it cost my friend in Melbourne $24 to ship it airmail and tracked to chch. Very reasonable.

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mobiusnz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 114

#2632275 8-Jan-2021 10:53

GSManiac:

it cost my friend in Melbourne $24 to ship it airmail and tracked to chch. Very reasonable.

Thanks GS - Thats really good to know actually - Had ZERO Idea of what the cost was likely to be. Might have to get my wife to hit her aunty up ;)

Matt

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mobiusnz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 114

#2632277 8-Jan-2021 10:57

josephhinvest

Dick Smith have shown them as coming soon for quite a few months unfortunately.

Yeah - They'll be testing the water - Working out if there is a way they can get them cheap but still crank up the margins in the NZ Market. They aren't going to do it to help us.

Its been interesting seeing all the bad press around Dick Smith lately - I've purchased a Smarter Home Garage door opener, a Smarterhome Heater, an Air Fryer and quite a few Smarter Home light bulbs. I've been happy with the products and happy with how long they took considering all the international shipping issues.

If you know what you are dealing with its not a problem. People who think its the same Dick Smith and they are NZ based are kidding themselves, where have they been living to miss all the headlines when Dick Smith called in the Receivers etc. Much like Bezos I think the owner of Kogan has done very nicely off online shopping during covid.

Matt Beechey Mobius Network Solutions

bitserf

101 posts

Master Geek
+1 received by user: 10

#2633973 11-Jan-2021 22:30

I'm a pretty big Apple fan (even have the AirPods Max), but got tired of waiting, and got a Sonos system.

Two Sonos One SLs, the Sub, and the Arc sound bar.

Works great, though a little more expensive than a single HomePod :)

Don't know why it's so hard to sell the HomePod in more places, Siri just needs to work, which it does on all their other devices...

mobiusnz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 114

#2634065 12-Jan-2021 09:23

bitserf:

I'm a pretty big Apple fan (even have the AirPods Max), but got tired of waiting, and got a Sonos system.

Two Sonos One SLs, the Sub, and the Arc sound bar.

Works great, though a little more expensive than a single HomePod :)

Don't know why it's so hard to sell the HomePod in more places, Siri just needs to work, which it does on all their other devices...

I have a reasonable audio system for the main living area (Yamaha Amp and speakers with a large Wharfedale Sub) - I like a nice stereo system but I'm far from an audiophile happy enough with a cheap JVC car stereo in a noisy hatchback ;)

Just looking for a smart speaker to fill a dining room / kitchen with background music with reasonable clarity. I was about to run out and buy the Sonos Smart speaker but Sonos have bastardised the alexa functionality so I don't want to risk it without having a chance to see how much they've butchered it. Because realistically my main requirements are:

Multiple audio timers in the kitchen (Tick Alexa, Tick Homepod)
Ability to play Apple Music Subscription on demand (Big Tick Homepod, Little Tick Alexa (Its mixed) - Unknown but I suspect pretty good from sonos?)
Ability to use it as a speaker for playing TV programs on Ipad while cooking (Big Tick Homepod due to Airplay, Alexa not really from most apps, Sonos?)

With the price of the Homepod mini and the fact I really use music in their rarely and its only for background music it seems like the Homepod mini will do the job and if not its only ~$190ish to get one here hopefully so its not too much to invest if its not good enough and I shift it to the bedroom :)

Matt Beechey Mobius Network Solutions

davidcole

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#2634072 12-Jan-2021 09:33

mobiusnz:

bitserf:

I'm a pretty big Apple fan (even have the AirPods Max), but got tired of waiting, and got a Sonos system.

Two Sonos One SLs, the Sub, and the Arc sound bar.

Works great, though a little more expensive than a single HomePod :)

Don't know why it's so hard to sell the HomePod in more places, Siri just needs to work, which it does on all their other devices...

I have a reasonable audio system for the main living area (Yamaha Amp and speakers with a large Wharfedale Sub) - I like a nice stereo system but I'm far from an audiophile happy enough with a cheap JVC car stereo in a noisy hatchback ;)

Just looking for a smart speaker to fill a dining room / kitchen with background music with reasonable clarity. I was about to run out and buy the Sonos Smart speaker but Sonos have bastardised the alexa functionality so I don't want to risk it without having a chance to see how much they've butchered it. Because realistically my main requirements are:

Multiple audio timers in the kitchen (Tick Alexa, Tick Homepod)
Ability to play Apple Music Subscription on demand (Big Tick Homepod, Little Tick Alexa (Its mixed) - Unknown but I suspect pretty good from sonos?)
Ability to use it as a speaker for playing TV programs on Ipad while cooking (Big Tick Homepod due to Airplay, Alexa not really from most apps, Sonos?)

With the price of the Homepod mini and the fact I really use music in their rarely and its only for background music it seems like the Homepod mini will do the job and if not its only ~$190ish to get one here hopefully so its not too much to invest if its not good enough and I shift it to the bedroom :)

Honestly, for that use case, look at the little jbl ones. < $100 Has airplay, and if you really want to yell at it, you can turn the mike on and use google assistant. If that doesn't work out, then look at a homepod

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mobiusnz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 114

#2634073 12-Jan-2021 09:36

davidcole:

Honestly, for that use case, look at the little jbl ones. < $100 Has airplay, and if you really want to yell at it, you can turn the mike on and use google assistant. If that doesn't work out, then look at a homepod

Thanks David - I'll take a look - Didn't realise they had Airplay - That might work... I've just setup a shopping list with Apple that works well so anyone in the family can add things to the shopping list with Siri easily but I'm not tied to the solution and I know Google will have something with a shopping list I can access from Phones but add to with Google Assistant.

Matt Beechey Mobius Network Solutions

davidcole

6099 posts

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#2634075 12-Jan-2021 09:41

mobiusnz:

davidcole:

Honestly, for that use case, look at the little jbl ones. < $100 Has airplay, and if you really want to yell at it, you can turn the mike on and use google assistant. If that doesn't work out, then look at a homepod

Thanks David - I'll take a look - Didn't realise they had Airplay - That might work... I've just setup a shopping list with Apple that works well so anyone in the family can add things to the shopping list with Siri easily but I'm not tied to the solution and I know Google will have something with a shopping list I can access from Phones but add to with Google Assistant.

Yeah I got one and I flick between chromecast (for spotify/iheart) or airplay for podcasts. Actually I find the google assistant much better at accessing spotify than Siri ("Play Trance playlist on Spotify" becomes "Playing Trance Mission of spotify"). It can do bluetooth as well, but i haven't played with that. #shouldgetcommission

mobiusnz

477 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 114

#2634117 12-Jan-2021 11:08

davidcole:

Yeah I got one and I flick between chromecast (for spotify/iheart) or airplay for podcasts. Actually I find the google assistant much better at accessing spotify than Siri ("Play Trance playlist on Spotify" becomes "Playing Trance Mission of spotify"). It can do bluetooth as well, but i haven't played with that. #shouldgetcommission

I just searched - Found a JBL Link Portable that does wifi and Bluetooth on 1 Day for $109 and a quick search indicated that Apple/Google launched Apple music access on Google Assistant December just passed so thats pretty good.

I might order one of them to play with as between the reasonable audio quality I'd expect and Google assistant it looks like it'll be a good option. Also she that must be obeyed ;) can pick it up out of the cradle and walk it over to where she's working for better clarity without volume so the fact its portable but still has wifi support makes a pretty strong case.

Thanks for the Tip. Now just to hit the wife up to see if she's prefer that for $109 or ask her Auntie to wander to a post shop in Australia and send us one for $150AUD plus postage - At least coming as a Gift from a family member and the limited value it shouldn't incur any additional GST at this end :)

Matt Beechey Mobius Network Solutions

timbosan

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#2634125 12-Jan-2021 11:16

@mobiusnz - My HomePod minis are being sent from Sydney this week. Let me know if your still interested in feedback on them, or if you have any specific questions.

BTW where in NZ are you? You can PM me that if you want.

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