Apple Expanding Sound Recognition Feature to New HomePod and HomePod Mini With Software Update Later This Year

[MacRumors]

The second-generation HomePod introduced today will offer a Sound Recognition feature that allows the speaker to detect smoke and carbon monoxide alarm sounds and send a notification to the user's iPhone if either of those sounds are identified.

Apple says Sound Recognition will be available on both the new HomePod and the existing HomePod mini in a software update that will be released "later this spring," meaning the update should be available by June at the latest. It's unclear if the feature will also be rolled out to the first-generation HomePod released in 2018.

Apple warns that the feature should not be relied upon "in circumstances where users may be harmed or injured," or in "high-risk or emergency situations."

Sound Recognition on HomePods will require Apple's updated Home app architecture, which is temporarily unavailable after some users experienced issues after installing the update. It's not clear when the update will be made available again.

Sound Recognition was first introduced on the iPhone in 2020 and can detect a wide variety of sounds on that device, including a doorbell, running water, a baby crying, a car horn, a door knock, a cat meowing or dog barking, and more. Apple's announcement does not mention if HomePods will also be able to detect these other sounds, or if the feature will be limited to smoke and carbon monoxide alarms on the speakers.

Article Link: Apple Expanding Sound Recognition Feature to New HomePod and HomePod Mini With Software Update Later This Year

 

[t0rqx]

Apple warns that the feature should not be relied upon "in circumstances where users may be harmed or injured," or in "high-risk or emergency situations."

Damage control right there. However I fully understand just gives an aftertaste after Emergency SOS and that the feature is not released during release.

Somehow this is just an Apple Watch S7 in a cheaper housing.😂😂

 

[midkay]

That’s a great idea, can see this being super useful.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Hopefully, there won't be any false alarms.

What about a Crash Detection feature?

 

[contacos]

I like this on my Echo devices. I always receive a Push Notification when it recognises my dog barking while I am out and about and then I can decide if I open the doggy cam to check further what's up

 

[macsplusmacs]

What about a Crash Detection feature?

Like when my Robot vac crashes into half the stuff in my house in the most violent ways?

Lamp falls over.

Hey Siri.

 

[citysnaps]

An outstanding feature!

A shame there will still be inane juvenile responses in the comments.

 

[ELman]

Siri must be talking to Alexa about her features.

 

[mystery hill]

Apple warns that the feature should not be relied upon "in circumstances where users may be harmed or injured," or in "high-risk or emergency situations."

They should have the HomePod call emergency services automatically.

“Hi, my name is Siri. The house is burning down. I don’t want to die. Please help.”

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But seriously, the sound recognition feature could save property and more importantly save lives. I’m glad it’s coming to HomePods.

 

[guzhogi]

Could be useful for people hard of hearing. Some home smoke alarms are too high pitched for my dad to hear

 

[nostaws]

A smoke alarm that doesn’t detect smoke. 🤷‍♂️

 

[blaureiter]

I tried the smaller home pods to use with Apple TV, but you could not set that as the default input device. Perhaps they have improved user control with these full sized Home Pods? Looking forward to MacRumors' full review.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

Now this would be a great addition. Lots of growth and potential.👇

 

[afd]

I tried this on my iPhone, got constant notifications that it heard a doorbell. None of them were a doorbell. Turned it off and haven’t tried it since.

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

I like it. Very cool feature.

 

[The Game 161]

locked in a software update for years then

 

[roar08]

It'll be interesting when someone's using these as their sound system and a smoke alarm goes off in the movie they're watching.

 

[anthogag]

WiFi can be used to detect motion and map-out an area. Perhaps a worthy feature for HomePod Recognition.

 

[anthogag]

It'll be interesting when someone's using these as their sound system and a smoke alarm goes off in the movie they're watching.

You'll get a message on the iPhone.

 

[Born Again]

Hard pass. If Siri worked well this would be all over my house.

 

[orbital~debris]

This is a far better solution than having a smart device with this functionality built-in and dependent on its own manufacturer’s app & notifications service (+ helps keep Google out of the home).

 

[ProfessionalFan]

Useful feature, can't wait to see how people find it to be a negative.

 

[k1121j]

Please let us turn this off I already get a HomeKit notification from my smoke detectors

 

[neliason]

I like the idea of this feature. But I’ve found my HomePod Minis, Siri, and the smart home concept in general to not work well. When it does work as expected it is wonderful. But it fails to work as expected so often that I give up on it.

 

[npmacuser5]

Clearly shows the hype vs reality of the smart speaker and the not so smart speaker. One software or hardware update and the expensive smart speaker end of life near. Happening all over the technology world we live in. The TV once lasted 10 plus years. The wired speakers properly taken care of could easily outlive us. The home phone lasted decades. As long as we are willing to keep buying new electronics every couple years, the manufacturers will be most helpful in taking our money.