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Apple Releases 14.1 Software for HomePod With Intercom and HomePod Mini Support

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Alongside iOS and iPadOS 14.1, Apple today released new 14.1 software for the HomePod, which includes a number of new updates such as support for the Intercom feature that allows you to speak to anyone in the home on iPhone, iPad, HomePod, and more.

Apple_HomePod-mini-iPad-iPhone-applewatch-airpods_intercom.jpg

The update also introduces support for the HomePod mini that's launching in November and it adds new Siri features. Siri is able to stop alarms, timers, and media across HomePod speakers, and web search requests from HomePod can be sent from HomePod to the iPhone.

There's also an option to add music to alarms to wake up to a favorite song or playlist from Apple Music, and there are multiple reliability improvements.
Software version 14.1 includes support for HomePod mini and new Siri and Intercom features. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.

HomePod mini
- Setup and automatically transfer your Apple ID, Apple Music, Siri and Wi-Fi settings to HomePod mini

Siri
- Siri suggestions appear in Maps when you ask HomePod for information about a location
- Web search requests to HomePod can be sent from HomePod to your iPhone
- Siri can now stop alarms, timers, and media across HomePod speakers
- Voice recognition support for Podcasts for multiple users in the home

Intercom
- Ask HomePod to make announcements to other HomePod speakers throughout your home
- Intercom to all HomePod speakers
- Intercom to a HomePod in a specific room or zone

Other improvements and fixes
- Add music to your alarms and wake up to your personal song, playlist, or radio station from Apple Music
- Fixes an issue where stereo pairs can sometimes play out of sync
- Improves reliability when using Siri to control multiple speakers
- Optimizes Siri performance
Click to expand...
‌HomePod‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌HomePod‌‌, but the ‌‌HomePod‌‌ can also be manually updated by following the instructions in our ‌‌HomePod‌‌ update how to.

Article Link: Apple Releases 14.1 Software for HomePod With Intercom and HomePod Mini Support
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/10/20/apple-releases-homepod-14-1-software/
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Apple software has a latency issue, and it is most apparent on AppleTV and Siri. The lag is shamefully bad, and none of their competitors are any near as bad.

The lag on Homepod makes for a crappy device. Did Siri hear me? Do I repeat myself? Or did it fail as is typical with Siri? If you have time to think these things before Siri responds, it’s way too slow.

I’m hoping the update fixes the latency issue on Homepod to make it usable.
 
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NMBob said:
Why don't they make a mode where the HomePod is the bass and the HomePod mini is the tweeter? Do people even know what basses and tweeters are anymore?
Click to expand...

Newsflash....the HomePod has a bass driver and seven tweeters. On what planet would your suggestion make sense?
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BWhaler said:
Apple software has a latency issue, and it is most apparent on AppleTV and Siri. The lag is shamefully bad, and none of their competitors are any near as bad.

The lag on Homepod makes for a crappy device. Did Siri hear me? Do I repeat myself? Or did it fail as is typical with Siri? If you have time to think these things before Siri responds, it’s way too slow.

I’m hoping the update fixes the latency issue on Homepod to make it usable.
Click to expand...

I have 6 HomePods and never seen any lag at all in a 5200 sq ft house. Airplay 2 avoids this by providing a large buffer and streaming faster than real time, check your wifi. I also have Sonos, Alexa, and Google devices and Apple's response times beat the pants off of all of them.
 
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liberte1776 said:
What happened to the 3rd party music support update for HomePod?! Also, why is it still not possible to send audio to HomePod over strictly Bluetooth, as an option?!
Click to expand...

It's an API provided by Apple and the vendor has to write to it. Nothing stopping them. It's not Apple's job to do their development for them. They could have had one ready today when this version was released. So ask them.
 
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Icaras said:
Waiting for the ’Home Theater’ update...
Click to expand...
Me too. Disappointed by lack of Dolby Atmos on the release note.

Hopefully, 14.1 also fixes HomePod occasionally "Not Responding" in HomeKit and requiring a restart and/or reset.

I wonder if intercom feature can be triggered from other devices like iPhone, or whether that would require iOS 14.1.
 
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NMBob said:
Why don't they make a mode where the HomePod is the bass and the HomePod mini is the tweeter? Do people even know what basses and tweeters are anymore?
Click to expand...
Doesn't the HomePod have 7 tweeters and the Mini has 2? Could be mistaken, but I thought I remember them saying this.
 
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DarwinOSX said:
It's an API provided by Apple and the vendor has to write to it. Nothing stopping them. It's not Apple's job to do their development for them. They could have had one ready today when this version was released. So ask them.
Click to expand...

So where do I find the toggle that would be populated with the APIs once released?

On the beta it showed a screenshot of a "music service selection button"

I can not for life of me find it after update
 
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BWhaler said:
Apple software has a latency issue, and it is most apparent on AppleTV and Siri. The lag is shamefully bad, and none of their competitors are any near as bad.

The lag on Homepod makes for a crappy device. Did Siri hear me? Do I repeat myself? Or did it fail as is typical with Siri? If you have time to think these things before Siri responds, it’s way too slow.

I’m hoping the update fixes the latency issue on Homepod to make it usable.
Click to expand...

i agree with the lag its the reason i'm not spending 200 for one its practically useless for anything other then a smart speaker
 
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Intercom only works from
Homepod to another one, how do you use iPhone Apple Watch etc, also the setting on some YouTube videos doesn’t have the icon to set it
 
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