This week I received an Apple HomePod. Very nice if you are an Apple user. Unfortunately I am using Android devices, so there was a challenge for me.
My HomePod
What is a Apple HomePod ?
Basically it’s a very good speaker, with a build-in Siri. You can give commands, listen to music, automate your home with this device. It’s kinda an iPod without screen. Of course it can do a lot more, but I am not an Apple fan.
For more marketing stuff you can checkout the Apple HomePod page.
HomePod with inside view
In october 2008 I had an iPhone 3G. At that time it’s was a nice phone and you needed an Apple ID. For the HomePod you still have to use an Apple ID, so the first thing I had to do is reset my password. 😉
Then I connected the HomePod to an iPhone and register the HomePod with my Apple ID. After a very easy setup I could talk to Siri about the weather and listen to some songs. This is without the iPhone. An Apple Music subscription is advisable. I don’t have this and tried the 3 months free trial.
Connect HomePod to your Windows PC.
I wanted more. Tried some apps on my Android Phone without any success! I knew that the HomePod is using Airplay2 and should be backwards compatible with Airplay v1. So after visiting some sites, I saw the application for windows : Airfoil.
Airfoil
With this windows application I could use VLC as media player and send the sound via Airplay to my device. Because this was working, I had hope again to find an Airplay application on the Android.
Connect HomePod to Android Phone
I don’t want to have my laptop on my site all the time when I want to listen to some music on the HomePod, so I tried : CloudPlayer from DoubleTwist. There are two version in the Google Store. First I tried the free version for testing. Although I tried some other Android Application to connect my phone to the HomePod, this one is working !
CloudPlayer
Now we’re talking ! It worked !
Cast To my HomePod
The application is not only for local music, but also it got some Radio stations. Komp FM 93.2 is one of my Las Vegas favorites, so it’s in the list.
CloudPlayer with Radios tations
Conclusion :
Because I am not an iPhone user I wouldn’t buy a HomePod myself. By having one right now, it’s really fun. You can talk to Siri, it connect to my Android Phone and I can listen to my music. The sound is incredible good !
