Apple Pulls HomePod Software 18.1 Beta 2 Following 'Bricking' Complaints

[MacRumors]

Apple on Monday seeded the second beta of HomePod software version 18.1 to developers for testing, but it has since pulled the beta.

Across the MacRumors Forums and X, some users complained that installing this beta on their HomePod mini resulted in the speaker going into a "bricked" state, meaning that it no longer functioned. A few users said they were eventually able to restore the HomePod mini using the Apple Configurator app on a Mac.

Apple pulled the beta on Monday evening, according to software researcher Nicolás Alvarez. MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris confirmed that the beta is still unavailable as of writing, and it is unclear when it will be released again.

Apple is facing a similar issue with iPadOS 18, which "bricked" some of the latest iPad Pro models with the M4 chip earlier this month. Apple pulled the update for those devices as it works on a solution, we previously reported.

Article Link: Apple Pulls HomePod Software 18.1 Beta 2 Following 'Bricking' Complaints

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple on Monday seeded the second beta of HomePod software version 18.1 to developers for testing, but it has since pulled the beta.

At least it was beta software that got pulled instead of an actual release to the general public a la iPadOS 18. Though this also probably affected only a "small number" of users.

 

[antiprotest]

Apple has been on a rampage against their own products lately.

 

[hovscorpion12]

Now this is getting ridiculous. From iPadOS 18 to HomeOS. Seriously do your jobs. Your getting paid over $200K/year for incompetence.

 

[JapanApple]

OMG ITS ALIVE!😧

 

[now i see it]

Lesson Learned (which we already knew)

Installing new OS updates can be lethal to the device

 

[BigBellyBelcher]

Tell me u didn’t test the update without telling me u didn’t test the update.

 

[nt5672]

I wonder how far Cook has cut the Apple QA department, or allowed time to QA new software by developers. Obviously, Cook sets or approves the schedule. He is so out of his league. I don't think he even gets bothered by these types of Apple failures.

 

[jarman92]

Honestly curious—why does anyone install HomePod betas? There's effectively nothing to develop for, and Apple hasn't added significant features in years. Just doesn't seem remotely worth the risk.

 

[hovscorpion12]

I wonder how far Cook has cut the Apple QA department, or allowed time to QA new software by developers. Obviously, Cook sets or approves the schedule. He is so out of his league. I don't think he even gets bothered by these types of Apple failures.

Yeah. I figured these types of issues are beneath him. More for the software managers/VP.

However, now that Apple is 2-0 undefeated in bricking its own products, I imagine Tim will be CC'd on the emails going forward.

ADD TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOW 1-WEEK IN WITHOUT AN IPADOS 18 RE-RELEASE

 

[Astuces iOS]

Yeah. I figured these types of issues are beneath him. More for the software managers/VP.

However, now that Apple is 2-0 undefeated in bricking its own products, I imagine Tim will be CC'd on the emails going forward.

ADD TO THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOW 1-WEEK IN WITHOUT AN IPADOS 18 RE-RELEASE

only for iPad Pro m4

 

[Account25476]

Apple SW Quality Team​

 

[hagar]

I wonder how far Cook has cut the Apple QA department, or allowed time to QA new software by developers. Obviously, Cook sets or approves the schedule. He is so out of his league. I don't think he even gets bothered by these types of Apple failures.

You obviously have no idea what the day to day responsibilities of a CEO of a company of this magnitude entail. The idea that he would be involved in this level of detail is preposterous.

 

[CraigsDog]

Tell me u didn’t test the update without telling me u didn’t test the update.

Tell me you think testing finds all bugs without telling me you think testing finds all bugs.

 

[sw1tcher]

However, now that Apple is 2-0 undefeated in bricking its own products, I imagine Tim will be CC'd on the emails going forward.

2-0?

I suppose we could've blamed Covid and work from home for some of these but we're way past that.

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[seek3r]

Now this is getting ridiculous. From iPadOS 18 to HomeOS. Seriously do your jobs. Your getting paid over $200K/year for incompetence.

It’s a beta, my dude, betas break sometimes. The iPad bricking recently on an actual release is a major problem, this is not.

 

[The Apple Bitch]

You obviously have no idea what the day to day responsibilities of a CEO of a company of this magnitude entails. The idea that he would be involved in this level of detail is preposterous.

If Steeve Jobs could design the calculator app by hand I think it'd be fair to assume that Tim Cook could both notice the increased software instability problems and tell people to fix it. Not absurd imo.

 

[2761216]

It’s a beta, my dude, betas break sometimes. The iPad bricking recently on an actual release is a major problem, this is not.

It’s almost as rarely heard of as the public release bricking devices.
Issues on betas? Yes, happens.
Betas bricking devices? Don’t remember hearing that in recent years.

 

[2761216]

You obviously have no idea what the day to day responsibilities of a CEO of a company of this magnitude entails. The idea that he would be involved in this level of detail is preposterous.

There’s a reason he’s getting paid in millions a year and not thousands. It’s his job to make sure it’s a smooth sail. And a well-functioning software out the door is part of his responsibilities.

 

[hovscorpion12]

It’s a beta, my dude, betas break sometimes. The iPad bricking recently on an actual release is a major problem, this is not.

Beta's break. Humans make mistakes. Writing the code that bricks the device is automatic no no.

 

[hovscorpion12]

2-0?

I suppose we could've blamed Covid and work from home for some of these but we're way past that.

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I was trying to be nice. Yeah. Apple has its moments. Its the #1 reason i avoid macOS updates until June the following year.

 

[brofkand]

They still haven't figured out what is bricking M4 iPad Pros either, because you still can't update to iPadOS 18 on them. What a mess.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Beta is beta.

 

[kagharaht]

Maybe Tim needs to stop goofing off with Falon and really focus on getting Apple back on track caring about Software and Hardware again.

 

[nt5672]

You obviously have no idea what the day to day responsibilities of a CEO of a company of this magnitude entails. The idea that he would be involved in this level of detail is preposterous.

Actually I do know because I worked for one of the top consulting firms in the world fixing these types of problems.

Cook approves all of the budgets. Budgets set team size, budgets set QA availability, budgets support the strategy, etc.

If QA is lacking, it is because the funding is lacking. If the funding is lacking it us because the budget is lacking. No competent software engineers wants to turn out sub-par code. They only do it when they are forced to cut corners based on budget and time allowed.

Now you might think that this is a focus problem and that could also be true. Why because the CEO limited a department's budget, then told the department to focus on something other than QA and bug fixes.

So yes, this all comes from the CEO and the CEO's strategy.