HomePod

Stay up-to-date on the latest HomePod news, and learn how to get the most out of your device with our comprehensive tutorials. From initial set up to advanced features, we’ve got you covered!

HomePod mini vs Amazon Echo: Which should you buy?

Sandy Writtenhouse ∙ December 3, 2020
HomePod mini vs Amazon Echo

Apple introduced a tinier version of its popular HomePod called HomePod mini. This smart speaker is not only smaller in size, but also in price as compared to its parent. Both of these features put the HomePod mini more in the running as a direct competitor to the Amazon Echo.

Whether for yourself or a gift for a loved one, you might be trying to decide between the two (or three including the Amazon Echo Dot). To help, we have a comparison of HomePod mini versus Amazon Echo. Hopefully this will help you pick the best smart speaker for your home or someone else’s.

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Checkra1n jailbreak update adds Safe Mode improvements, partial HomePod support, & more

Anthony Bouchard ∙ November 20, 2020

Hot off the heels of everything going on with the Odyssey jailbreak and the newly released exploit for iOS 13.5.1-13.7, the checkra1n team seemingly appeared from out of nowhere Friday evening with an unexpected update for its bootrom exploit-powered jailbreak tool, checkra1n.

The checkra1n team announced the release of the new update, dubbed version 0.12.1, via Twitter just minutes ago:

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Apple’s original HomePod has been jailbroken with checkra1n

Anthony Bouchard ∙ November 19, 2020
A photo showing a finger resting on the HomePod top with the Siri orb animation

When most people think of a jailbreak tool like checkra1n, among the first things that come to mind are iPhones, iPod touches, iPads, and Apple TVs. Interestingly enough, the checkra1n team has shown time and time again that the checkm8 bootrom exploit that powers this particular jailbreak is commanding enough to hack even some of the most arbitrary of things, including Apple’s T2 chip, which resides in a variety of Macs.

On Thursday, we learned that even Apple’s HomePod Smart Speaker devices are susceptible to the checkra1n jailbreak. The news, first shared this afternoon by Twitter user @_L1ngL1ng_, took many avid jailbreakers by surprise:

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Servicing HomePod mini without AppleCare+ is only $20 cheaper vs. buying a new one

Christian Zibreg ∙ November 11, 2020

If you don't have optional AppleCare+ extended warranty for the HomePod mini, Apple will charge you a fee of $79 per an out-of-warranty repair of the new $99 Siri-powered speaker — which is only $20 cheaper vs. buying a new one. Apple announced the new HomePod mini a month ago in an effort to widen the addressable market for its smart speakers. The full-size HomePod wasn't updated last month and continues to retail for $299.

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