Apple Confirms HomePod's Supported Audio Sources in Tech Specs

[MacRumors]

Apple today updated its HomePod tech specs page with a new Audio Sources section that lists all of the ways in which the speaker can stream audio, setting the record straight on some conflicting information.

o Apple Music: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any of over 45 million songs available on Apple Music. A subscription is required.

o iTunes Music: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any songs, albums, or audiobooks purchased from the iTunes Store.

o iCloud Music Library: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any songs uploaded to a user's iCloud Music Library, including songs imported from other sources such as CDs, with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription.

o Beats 1: HomePod users can ask Siri to play Apple's official radio station.

o Podcasts: HomePod users can ask Siri to play any podcast episodes from the iTunes podcast directory.

o AirPlay: HomePod users can use AirPlay to play other audio from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac. AirPlay 2, coming later this year, is only required to stream audio from these sources to multiple HomePods.
Earlier this week, iMore's Serenity Caldwell put together a useful breakdown with more detailed information about how the HomePod works with Apple Music, iTunes Match, iCloud Music Library, AirPlay, and more.

HomePod orders began last week ahead of the speaker's official launch on February 9 in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia.

Article Link: Apple Confirms HomePod's Supported Audio Sources in Tech Specs

 

[zea]

Sweet. Apple TV connectivity finally officially confirmed.

 

[citysnaps]

Nice... Looking forward to picking up my ordered HomePod.

 

[Jbusick7944]

So riddle me this please. Is there a way to make this a "soundbar" i.e. play Comcast, PS4 through it too? I don't think so? I wish they would have added a couple opticals, this could take on some AV applications. Apple seems to have not been targeting that market. Maybe in a couple years, they will release "HomeBar" or "MoviePod" or something.

 

[MysteryMii215]

Sucks that there's no Bluetooth audio support, but I think they might add that in the future.

 

[kemal]

And the obvious Bluetooth is left out. Why?

 

[KidAKidB]

And the obvious Bluetooth is left out. Why?

So that it remains anti-competitive and forces users to stay within the Apple ecosystem. (That way you can't use it with an Android device or something)

 

[Raketemensch]

So that it remains anti-competitive and forces users to stay within the Apple ecosystem. (That way you can't use it with an Android device or something)

...or Spotify without doing it through a phone/tablet.

Valiant effort, Apple, but it won't be appearing in my home anytime soon. Voice control of Spotify would sell me, but bleh.

 

[KeithJenner]

About what we were expecting really.

I did notice in the article linked above that it suggests that you can change the apple ID associated with the HomePod "at any time in the Home app". It will be interesting to see how easy that is.

If it requires the password to be entered every time then that isn't too easy, but maybe you will be able to just claim use of the HomePod in the Home app on your phone, using FaceID or TouchID. That would be useful in houses with multiple Apple ID's

 

[CmdrLaForge]

Airplay works, thats perfect. So I will get one once available in my country.

 

[frozen220]

Wait a minute, so when my friends come over with a non-Apple device they can't connect via Bluetooth? WTF????

 

[Madmic23]

And the obvious Bluetooth is left out. Why?

Because if you're having a party, no one wants the music to stop when you get a phone call.

Sonos speakers don't support Bluetooth audio either.

 

[Drogba11]

No Spotify or Bluetooth connectivity, NO DEAL

 

[MacLawyer]

What is Apple's official radio station? Is it HomePod only?

 

[itsmilo]

Edit: shouldn’t Spotify work through Airplay or has that been replaced in favor of Spotify Connect?

 

[BlueGoldAce]

Because if you're having a party, no one wants the music to stop when you get a phone call.

Sonos speakers don't support Bluetooth audio either.

That is a silly excuse. I guarantee that is not their thinking. If it supported Bluetooth, than an Android device could use it. That is, more than likely, the reasoning.

Sonos doesn't support bluetooth, but it supports Android, iOS, Mac, PC.....so they don't need to.

Apple is great, but lets not make silly excuses to defend them.

 

[Katopaul05]

And the obvious Bluetooth is left out. Why?

It has Bluetooth 5.0... it’s yet to be seen if you can use it for audio. I would think so

 

[Zeke92]

No Spotify or Bluetooth connectivity, NO DEAL

You can play Spotify via AirPlay!

 

[citysnaps]

And the obvious Bluetooth is left out. Why?

Probably not ready yet. Likely coming.

 

[cansuds]

I don't pre-order a product I don't know exactly! also no sound inputs

 

[essential]

o AirPlay: HomePod users can use AirPlay to play other audio from an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac. AirPlay 2, coming later this year, is only required to stream audio from these sources to multiple HomePods.

This confuses me about AirPlay vs. AirPlay 2 if anyone can clarify. I have multiple AirPlay speakers, and with iTunes I was already able to stream to at least three of them at the same time (I've never tried more). AirPlay 2 seems to tout multi-room audio, but couldn't AirPlay already do that?

 

[radiologyman]

I have lot of music in iTunes that Apple match will not have. Will it play through AirPlay? Also I have 4K Apple TV that plays movies from my network shared drive, will I be able to airplay sound to the speaker?

 

[Wiencon]

Because if you're having a party, no one wants the music to stop when you get a phone call.

Sonos speakers don't support Bluetooth audio either.

That's BS reason, of course it's because they don't want anyone outside Apple's ecosystem to use this
This Apple's strategy made me get rid of every Apple product except for MBP, it's the only one that I don't have to worry about not being compatible with other devices

 

[citysnaps]

That is a silly excuse. I guarantee that is not their thinking. If it supported Bluetooth, than an Android device could use it. That is, more than likely, the reasoning.

Sonos doesn't support bluetooth, but it supports Android, iOS, Mac, PC.....so they don't need to.

Apple is great, but lets not make silly excuses to defend them.

Really. So Apple's strategy is to not sell as many HomePods as possible?

 

[Zeke92]

This confuses me about AirPlay vs. AirPlay 2 if anyone can clarify. I have multiple AirPlay speakers, and with iTunes I was already able to stream to at least three of them at the same time (I've never tried more). AirPlay 2 seems to tout multi-room audio, but couldn't AirPlay already do that?

Yes, but only on the Mac. AirPlay 2 is for multi room playback on iOS