kirkmc Report post #1 Posted August 27 The HomePod is okay, but not really. Chris's comment in his review is, I think, spot on: "Don't fool yourself into thinking this is an audiophile product. It's a me too voice control product that happens to play audio." https://kirkville.com/the-problems-with-apples-homepods/ I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #2 Posted October 8 I’m using iTunes to stream my local files to a stereo pair of Homepods and Apple’s iPad Remote app to control it, but I know that will not be an option when I update. Have you heard how the Homepods in a stereo pair will work with Catalina? Can you control Apple Music on a Mac with an iPad app like Remote or only stream to the Homepods from the iPad? Thanks! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkmc Report post #3 Posted October 8 Why will that not be an option when you update? I stream to my HomePods either from my iPhone or iPad, or from my iMac, controlled by the Remote app. I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #4 Posted October 8 Thank you. iTunes was the only way to stream local files to a HomePod stereo pair. I’m glad Apple Music will do this and that the Remote app can control it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkmc Report post #5 Posted October 8 You have been able to stream to a stereo pair from an iOS device since it got AirPlay 2 in May, 2018. https://kirkville.com/why-apple-shouldnt-have-released-the-homepod-without-airplay-2/ I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #6 Posted October 8 Thank you. iOS streaming worked, but I couldn’t get anything from the Mac to the stereo pair without using iTunes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkmc Report post #7 Posted October 8 Yes, that is the only limitation. Only iTunes can stream to a stereo pair from a Mac. I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #8 Posted October 8 Does upgrading to Catalina remove this limitation? If it does, great. If not, will the Apple Music app on a Mac be able to stream to a stereo pair of HomePods? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkmc Report post #9 Posted October 8 No, this has not changed in Catalina. Apple told me this is not something they are going to do right away. The Music app can stream to a stereo pair of HomePods. I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #10 Posted October 8 That is too bad. I understand that Apple can and will do what they want. I do not understand the benefit of this limitation. Thank you for the information. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #11 Posted October 8 How did you get Remote to control Apple Music? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkmc Report post #12 Posted October 8 If you start streaming music from an app, and send it to a stereo pair of HomePods from iTunes, you can then use the Remote app to control it. 1 Snowdog reacted to this I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #13 Posted October 8 Wasn’t iTunes replaced by Apple Music? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkmc Report post #14 Posted October 9 Assuming you haven't updated, you're still using iTunes. If you have, you're using the Music app. I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #15 Posted October 9 Updated to Catalina. Using Apple Music. The Remote app can see the music library, but won't start playback (tapping play or a song doesn't do it). Is there a way to get this working? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #16 Posted October 10 Is there a way to remotely control Apple Music on the Mac that is similar to the way iTunes Remote controlled iTunes? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kirkmc Report post #17 Posted October 11 19 hours ago, Snowdog said: Is there a way to remotely control Apple Music on the Mac that is similar to the way iTunes Remote controlled iTunes? With the Remote app. But if you're doing that, you might as well just control in from the Music app on your iOS device. I write about Macs, iTunes, music, and more at Kirkville. Author of Take Control of iTunes 12. Co-host of The Next Track podcast. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #18 Posted October 11 I’m still having trouble with this: On 10/9/2019 at 11:00 AM, Snowdog said: Updated to Catalina. Using Apple Music. The Remote app can see the music library, but won't start playback (tapping play or a song doesn't do it). Is there a way to get this working? Will keep trying. Thank you. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snowdog Report post #19 Posted October 11 I started another thread to see if anyone else might have some thoughts. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
