Jean-Louis Gassée on HomePod reviews


It is a lovely theory and an elegant solution, but one that makes it difficult to evaluate and compare the speakers in any reliable way. The undisclosed, proprietary algorithms that these devices use border on PFM (definition #2 in the Urban Dictionary). The subtle variations as room conditions and listening positions change make the canonical double-blind tests difficult to translate into everyday customer experience.

This is where we find a new type of difficulty when evaluating this new breed of smart speakers, and why we must be kind to the early HomePod reviewers: The technical complexity and environmental subjectivity leads to contradictory statements and inconsistent results. We’ll have to wait and see what actual humans do.

One one hand, I don't think it needs to be that difficult. Does it sound good? Yes/No and why. Does it sound better than something else? Yes/No and why. Then like any opinion, Your Mileage May Vary. Doing an independent Pepsi challenge. It's is entertaining and interesting, but no matter how many people say they like Pepsi it won't change how Coke tastes to you.

On the other hand, there's a gold rush to get reviews of hot new Apple products. Lots of people read the earliest reviews, and few read the later. You get a lot of questionable hot takes in this pressure cooker scenario. Particularly with a new type of product like the HomePod. While you can compare to other competing smart speakers, it's not the same as directly comparing with a familiar predecessor like an iPhone. it's going to take time for opinions to form.