Homepods and two computers?

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Homepods and two computers?

I'm confused. And while I'm hardly new to the Apple universe this has me stumped. I have two Home Pods, and iPhone, 2 MakeBook Pros, AppleTV v3, and Apple Music. And Airplay of course. There's an AppleTV app on Roku, too.

I can't seem to 'get' the big picture. For instance, can I control music playing with either MBP or iPhone? Or does one device initiate and control streaming, or? I've played around with it endlessly but don't get consistent results. Can any device switch where the stream goes?

And I don't want to pair the speakers, nor do I care about using Siri, since she can't tell if I'm speaking to either HomePod, or the iPhone, or the MBP. Argh!

Can someone explain a kind of overall 'roadmap' for me on how to think about the way these devices interact?

Posted on Aug 23, 2020 7:44 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Michael Paine

Level 4

1,390 points

Aug 24, 2020 2:13 PM in response to Michael Spencer

You have prompted me to prepare a "roadmap" for my own sanity...

Apple Device Interaction

By Michael Paine, August 2020

Mac computer

MacOS (Mojave)

iTunes app

Airplay >> Video/audio output to Apple TV, Homepod etc

Homesharing >> Media server for Apple TV

Air Video HD app* >> server for audio/video on iOS & Apple TV

HD Homerun app >> play free-to-air TV being streamed from HD Homerun server on local network #

iPhone / iPad

iOS/iPadOS

Music/Apple TV app

Airplay >> Video/audio output to Apple TV, Homepod etc

Remote app >> control music on a Mac (incl Airplay)

Air Video HD app >> play audio/video from a Mac running AIr Video

HD Homerun app >> play free-to-air TV being streamed from HD Homerun server on local network

Apple TV

tvOS

Settings app

Video and Audio

Audio output >> select Homepods etc@

Music app >> select & play Apple Music (mostly subscription)

Computers app >> stream music/video/photos from a Mac running

Homesharing

Air Video HD app >> play audio/video from a Mac running AIr Video

Channels app >> play free-to-air TV being streamed from HD Homerun server on local network

Notes

Generally all devices using Airplay can override an existing Aiirplay connection. Sometimes the user gets a warning that another device will be disconnected.

Not all Apple TV apps can output to Airplay (eg Homepods). Also lip-sync may be out for some apps.

* There are several apps like Air Video HD that act as media servers, including Plex. These apps are unable to play protected video purchased/rented from the iTunes Store.

# HD Homerun is a TV tuner that is connected to a local network and allows Macs, iOS devices and Apple TV to play free-to-air TV

@ Some Apple TV apps also allow audio output selection by swiping down to reveal a settings menu

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Answer 2

Rudegar

Level 10

180,246 points

Aug 23, 2020 11:57 PM in response to Michael Spencer

it can be used as airplay speaker

and it can access apples servers to play apple music if you have a subscription, and it can play music you previously purchased in itunes store

it does not really access your computer for anything, but your computer can use it as speaker if you chose

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Answer 3

Aug 25, 2020 8:43 AM in response to Michael Paine

Wow. Both of you guys - above and beyond.

Michael - exactly what I needed/ wanted: The Big Picture.

"Generally all devices using Airplay can override an existing Airplay connection"

I am thinking that a single 'control' device makes the most sense, and that should be the iPhone, which runs my key apps: audiobooks and Apple Music. (I confess that Catalina has totally hosed my audiobook and music setup; I use my older MBP, not upgraded to Catalina, simply because many hundreds of audiobooks are not elegantly handled by Catalina. But I digress).

I forgot to mention the AirPods, but these would be handled the same as HomePods, as Michael shows.

The AppleTV doesn't fit into this picture very well, and it's complicated by having a hardware AT and a software AT (running under Roku). For simplicity, I've walled off the television, which is a special case anyway. Mostly I hear the TV through the AirPods. The Roku App running on the iPhone can address the AirPods, IF the TV is showing either AT, or Xfinity Streaming (which is pretty good). Confused yet?

I am starting to see a way forward. Thanks, guys, no doubt I'll be back.

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Answer 4

Aug 27, 2020 8:37 AM in response to Michael Paine

After experimenting, I'm happy with the setup; using the iPhone exclusively to manage music works very nicely.

The only drawback: in my home office I have a pair of older Boston speakers. Being non-bluetooth, I feed them through a BT adapter from Amazon (a nice solution <$15).

Am I right that there's no way to address these speakers? I mean they are non-airplay compatible?

I keep thinking that there must be a way using some of that Airport hardware that I have sitting around.

(Maybe this is a new thread).

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Homepods and two computers?

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