Apple's four- HomePod surround sound setup costs at a minimum $900 with a new Apple TV 4K. These five alternatives deliver dedicated wireless rear speakers and more features for considerably less money. Surround sound for Apple TV Apple introduced four-speaker HomePod surround sound alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV 4K on October 13. The feature allows compatible HomePods to operate as matching front and rear pairs, with Apple TV automatically calibrating audio timing and levels based on speaker placement. However, as we reported , the feature requires the new $299 Apple TV 4K and four compatible HomePods. Only second-generation HomePods and HomePod mini 2 models are supported, and the front and rear pairs must match. Two full-size HomePods cost $698, while two HomePod mini 2 speakers add another $298. Combined with the required Apple TV 4K, the complete system costs $1,295 before taxes. Four HomePod minis bring the total down to $895, while four full-size HomePods push the cost to $1,695. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
You don't have to buy a wall-mount for the wall-mounted Apple HomeView , but until third-party manufacturers make some, you'll probably want to as there are no VESA screw-holes at all. Apple HomeView with rear | Image credit: Apple On Tuesday , Apple announced its newest push into the smart home market: the Apple HomeView. It's a smart home hub that starts at $299 and is designed to function as a one-stop shop for home automation and device management. You can buy a standalone HomeView, which pairs the device with a stand that functions as a speaker. You can also purchase the Apple HomeView without the stand and mount it on your wall. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
The fourth-generation Apple TV 4K is here, complete with Siri AI enhancements and Find My on the Siri Remote. Here's how much difference four years makes over the previous model. Apple TV 4K Gen 4 vs Apple TV 4K Gen 3 Before the October 13 update, Apple's last change to the Apple TV 4K took place in October 2022. Back then, the big news was a storage upgrade. Four years later, and the fourth-generation model is a spec-bump update that does more than just storage. It's part of a big smart home push by Apple, with changes ranging from improvements to how you use Siri to how it handles surround sound audio. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums
