example, it would be great if there were an option
to add a geofence, to notify me when I’m near some
place that I want to remember to go.More like stere-no
Let’s throw this last one in the ‘totally no-brainer’
column. Apple sells the HomePod, a smart speaker
that produces very nice sound and can be paired with
a second HomePod (should anybody be brave enough
to buy two) to create a stereo pair. You can use that
to AirPlay music from your iOS device or your Apple
TV or even iTunes on your Mac.
But that last one’s the real trick, because it’s only
from iTunes. Want to use that stereo pair of HomePods
as your Mac’s system output? You’re out of luck. It
just isn’t possible. Instead, you’ll see two HomePods
in the system audio output menu, representing each
of the two speakers. You can use either of those
individually as a system output, but not both together.
It’s downright perplexing.
Perhaps the company simply hasn’t gotten around
to it. It certainly has plenty of big projects on its plate.
But the more complex the company’s offerings get,
the more of these rough edges seem to be popping
up – and this are only scratching the surface. As much
as Apple prides itself on the strength of its product
integration, it’s starting to feel like as though this
plan isn’t quite coming together.example,itwouldbegreatiftherewereanoption
toaddageofence,tonotifymewhenI’mnearsome
place thatIwanttoremembertogo.
Morelikestere-no
Let’sthrowthislastoneinthe‘totallyno-brainer’
column.ApplesellstheHomePod,asmartspeaker
thatproducesverynicesoundandcanbepairedwith
asecondHomePod(shouldanybodybebraveenough
tobuytwo)tocreateastereopair.Youcanusethat
to AirPlaymusicfromyouriOSdeviceoryourApple
TV oreveniTunesonyourMac.
Butthatlastone’stherealtrick,becauseit’sonly
fromiTunes.WanttousethatstereopairofHomePods
asyourMac’ssystemoutput?You’reoutofluck.It
justisn’tpossible.Instead,you’llseetwoHomePods
inthesystemaudiooutputmenu,representingeach
ofthetwospeakers.Youcanuseeitherofthose
individuallyasasystemoutput,butnotbothtogether.
It’sdownrightperplexing.
Perhapsthecompanysimplyhasn’tgottenaround
toit.Itcertainlyhasplentyofbigprojectsonitsplate.
Butthemorecomplexthecompany’sofferingsget,
themoreoftheseroughedgesseemtobepopping
up–andthisareonlyscratchingthesurface.Asmuch
as Applepridesitselfonthestrengthofitsproduct
integration,it’sstartingtofeellikeasthoughthis
plan isn’tquitecomingtogether.