📱iPhone 15 Ultra - What Would It Take?

Viral HomePod Review

Earlier this week I published an in-depth review of Apple’s new HomePod, and the response has been incredible. One of my favorite Apple news sites, MacStories covered it here, the guys over at Accidental Tech Podcast recommended it, Jason Aten had me on his podcast, Undigital to discuss, and it currently sits close to 40,000 views on YouTube!

I imagine many of you reading this also watched the review, and I wanted to thank you again for your support 🙏 I’m learning that people appreciate and respond to in-depth, thoughtful coverage when it comes to tech.

For the past several months I had been trying to play the short-form game with a tip per day. I’m sure I’ll still create that kind of content in the future, but this HomePod review has shown me that taking the time to research, plan, and provide unique perspectives via long-form content is what I want to provide.

HomePod Follow-Up

After using my new pair of HomePods all week (post-review), I continue to enjoy the music-listening experience. While a Sonos Arc + Sub and other, more expensive products may produce better quality sound, the experience of using HomePod with my iPhone, Mac or just invoking Siri, plus the immersive sound quality, makes it my preferred system for music.

I’ve also shifted my smart home habits from triggering scenes via the Home app on my Mac Studio to just asking Siri. Previously, I had a single OG HomePod in the studio and it was getting too slow for smart home commands. Now the new pair of HomePods open my shades, set the scene for filming, and create reminders on the fly. By the way, if you missed my video on all the hidden features of HomePod and HomePod mini, check it out here!

The one aspect of my video review that I would amend is the HomePod-as-home theater speakers. One key piece of using HomePod for your entertainment viewing is an Apple TV box. The latest model is either $129 or $149 (you should buy the latter) and brings the total cost of a HomePod-powered home theater to $750.

That still comes under the price of a Sonos Beam + Sub mini at $850-ish but it’s worth mentioning. Any Sonos soundbar will work with your Smart TV, Fire TV, or most streaming hardware provided your TV has an ARC HDMI port. HomePod cannot be used in any home theater configuration unless they are connected to an Apple TV box.

But, as I mentioned on several podcasts this week if you already have an Apple TV box, and you use Apple Music by default, the value of a pair of HomePods is very high for $600 compared to most Sonos configurations.

If you have any questions about the new HomePod, reply to this! Or leave a comment on the YouTube video and I’d love to help.

Next Killer iPhone Feature

On the latest AppleInsider podcast, my friend across the pond William Gallagher and I tried to brainstorm what killer feature may be coming in the next model iPhone. There are rumors from various sources that Apple may introduce a higher-cost, third-tier to the iPhone lineup. Making your choice this fall:

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Ultra

Ultra has been a common naming scheme among Apple products lately, considering the Apple Watch Ultra and M1 Ultra chip found in the Mac Studio. And there have been years in the past when the Pro Max version of the iPhone had different features than the Pro. Usually, that came in the form of better camera systems and stabilization, so Ultra could be a clear differentiator for the iPhone with the biggest features and largest screen size.

Despite having slight FOMO when the larger iPhone gets unique features, I don’t prefer that larger screen size and typically stick with the Pro models. But what could be the killer feature that Apple uses to tout a new iPhone Ultra tier?

Cameras can always be improved, and maybe a new model includes astrophotography for getting those moon close-ups. The Dynamic Island could disappear and the front-facing camera + Face ID sensors go under the screen for a truly all-screen design. Surely it will have a faster chip, maybe Apple Pencil support, but I honestly can’t imagine a killer feature that would bring me to purchase an even higher-priced iPhone.

Of course, the moment Apple announces whatever that feature is I’m sure I’ll desire it, but it’s rare for me to even think “I wish the hardware of my iPhone did this or that.” My wishlist for future iPhone updates is largely software: Better iCloud Keychain features, interactive widgets, more Screen Time controls and add them to Apple TV, multi-users on iPad, etc.

So I pose the question to you, what hardware-specific feature would motivate you to get an even more expensive iPhone? If you’d like to hear William and I pontificate on the questions, here’s the latest AppleInsider podcast:

What Comes Next?

But if you can’t think of anything for iPhone 15 Ultra, don’t worry, I have a more pressing poll for you. What should be my next long-form video?? I’ve wanted to close the loop on my Smart Home saga and do a full tour, so that’s an option. With all the great responses from the HomePod review and home theater setups, I could describe my own. Or I could do a blindfolded audio test to see whether my ears can pick out the difference between HomePod and HomePod 2 in a true A/B test.

Let me know what you’d like to see by voting in the poll below! And as always, thank you for watching, listening, and reading my work ❤️