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Customizing Speakers and Accessories is Our Jam

Summer means longer days and warmer weather, which leads to some of our favorite things: outdoor gatherings, summer barbeques and festivities.

If you’re thinking about the perfect employee gift or an upgrade to your office wireless accessories, consider a smart speaker, which can be used for many occasions. According to a new Global Info Research study, the worldwide market for wireless smart speakers is expected to reach over 500 million units by 2024.

In today’s connected world, there is a rising demand for smart devices, including smart wireless speakers. FUSION OF IDEAS’ device customization service delivers high-impact brand experiences for all mobile devices and accessories.

From Apple HomePod to the UE Wonderboom, we offer personalized solutions for any mobile device or accessory. We utilize a proprietary UV printing process, which allows for permanent, full-color printing on any raw material. For a semi-permanent alternative, our StealthArmor protective film is heat bonded and precisely fitted to maintain the thin lines of the device while offering the same style and protection.

For more information on how we can create a custom brand experience for your company, visit fusionofideas.com/branding.

Eye-catching JBL Xtreme bluetooth speakers customized for Horsepower Site Services
Eye-catching JBL Xtreme bluetooth speakers customized for Horsepower Site Services
Custom Apple HomePod for Golf Channel
Custom Apple HomePod for Golf Channel
The ever-popular UE Boom 2 customized for General Catalyst
The ever-popular UE Boom 2 customized for General Catalyst
Coalfire customized the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot for company use
Coalfire customized the Amazon Echo and Echo Dot for company use
Custom branded Google Home for Charlotte Hornets
Custom branded Google Home for Charlotte Hornets
Customized JBL Clip 3 speakers for FX Networks
Customized JBL Clip 3 speakers for FX Networks
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Branding Superheroes: Customizing the Apple HomePod

By Jennifer Fujimori

This may seem obvious, but we tend to nerd out every time a new Apple product is released. Apple’s livestream product announcement events, typically happening once or twice a year and bearing charming names such as “Let’s meet at our place” and “Hey Siri, give us a hint”, are monitored closely in the Fusion of Ideas office. Part of this is because many of us are personally Apple fans, but the other part is excitement about the branding possibilities that come with a new device.

The R&D process begins at Fusion well before the device has officially hit the market. Our customization team gathers information about the materials the device is made of, the dimensions, the packaging and any accompanying accessories. We get our hands on a sample device or two as soon as we can and get to work testing out customization capabilities.

When the HomePod smart speaker hit the market in 2018, it was the first completely new device released by Apple since 2014, when the Apple Watch was announced. It also posed a unique challenge: the round, cylindrical speaker did not present many obvious options for customization. “The HomePod offered a challenge in that there is not a lot of surface area to customize,” said Chris Mancuso, Customization Manager. “It pushed us to think outside the box to come up with customization options that would fit with the sleek and modern design of the device.”

Working with the Fusion design team for artwork and production files (and inspired by our office-wide affection for the Marvel Cinematic Universe), the customization team did a bold color print of the red Marvel logo on the white mesh of the HomePod. The top of the speaker is outfitted with a clear color printed Stealth Armor version of Iron Man’s arc reactor. Rounding out the sample package is a custom sleeve and gift wrap, printed with vibrant images of Iron Man and the Marvel logo in its signature red and black colorway. “We really pushed the boundaries with this device and came up with some really innovative ways to brand the HomePod,” said Mancuso. “The Marvel-branded sample provides our business team with a great way to show clients what we can do with this device.”

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HomePod Gets A Make Over

We’re predicting that the Apple HomePod might be at the top of many gift lists for the holiday season later this year.  The HomePod already gets major cool points as a gift, but when you add laser engraving, custom printing, custom packaging, and custom gift wrap, you take it to a whole new level.  Our Business Development Team made a very cool video to show how you can customize a HomePod. Check it out!

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What We Think of The New HomePod

Since the release of the new Apple HomePod our Fusion of Ideas tech expert and Business Development Manager, Jacob Sarabia, has been busy testing and utilizing the device since the moment we got it. Here is what he’s saying about it:  

What do you like and dislike about  the design?

Apple has done it again: blending art and technology to create the new HomePod. I personally appreciate the attention to detail on how seamless the fabric mesh covers the internal components. Every detail down to the power cable, which is carefully woven together, showcases the quality of Apple products. Additionally, there are no physical buttons that might distract you from the overall design. Apple accomplished this by placing a touch screen display at the top of the speaker. I had a hard time trying to find things I did not like about the HomePod design. When comparing it to the other speakers on the market, I still chose the HomePod.

We hear that you have to keep the cable installed into the HomePod. Have you found this to be a problem?

Initially, I did question Apple’s decision to make the power cable non-removable when comparing it to other speakers on the market. Technically speaking, it can be removed with some force, which I do not recommend trying (this leads me to believe it’s reserved for servicing the device).  If the HomePod is being used the way Apple intended it to be used, then there really is no reason for the cabled to be removed, so overall, this has not been an issue for me.

What’s the audio quality like? How does the HomePod compare to similar smart speakers?

Music has always been in Apple’s DNA, and they certainly proved this with the HomePod. They have upset the marketplace by offering an unparalleled audio listening experience that is like no other competing smart speaker. The audio notes are rich and clear with little to no distortion, even at a 100% volume level. Most of the other speakers on the market focus on AI technology first and speaker quality second.

Is it easy to use Siri on HomePod? Have you encountered any issues?

Siri is just as easy to use on the HomePod as on my current iOS devices. Of course, there are some limitations, but knowing that Siri is available practically everywhere in my home/office is great. One of the down sides to utilizing Siri on the HomePod is that it can’t distinguish my voice from someone else’s. If I allow full access through the initial set up process, anyone can ask Siri to read back my text messages, notifications, and so on. Also, I can’t set up multiple timers, which would be useful while listening to music and cooking. I really see the HomePod being used primarily for music and home automation tasks.

How would the HomePod be used in a business?

For now, the HomePod would be perfect inside of a conference room for taking calls – you can’t beat the amazing sound quality it provides. As Siri progresses, I can imagine a day when developers can integrate Siri into their web/mobile applications to run tasks or provide real-time information by simply asking a question. The HomePod would be the perfect gift for someone who is looking for not just a “smart speaker,” but also better sound quality at a reasonable price point. And it could be a great gift for employees or clients.

Are the HomePods customizable? What areas can be customized?

You know us – at Fusion of Ideas, we always push the limits to provide the best customized out-of-box experience. Every new product release poses new challenges for our team. Different shapes, sizes, and raw materials can all affect our capabilities. The services we currently offer for the HomePod include: custom packaging, laser etching, and our customizable film, Stealth Armor. Stay tuned for more exciting HomePod capabilities as we continue to go through the research and development process.