Apple Releases 14.2 Software for HomePod With New Siri, Intercom and Home Theater Features

[Lordcord96]

Still no Dolby Atmos here.

 

[hieromonk]

Ok, confirmed. You don´t even need the homepods set up as the default speakers for the apple tv for the home theatre processing to work with 5.1,7.1 and Dolby Atmos tracks.

Final, updated guide, with the help of apple support:

A). Update the Apple TV and the Homepods to the final public released version of 14.2 (betas wont work).

B) Make sure that the Apple TV and the homepods are in the same room in the home app. While you are there, go to the Homepods settings in the Home app and make sure that the "Sound Check" option is off (this affects the dynamic range and volume of everything played through the homepods, and is not recommended)

C). In the Apple TV, go to settings Audio/Video menu and make sure that the "change format" option is off, and that the audio format is set to "Auto". While you are there, turn off "reduce loud sounds" as well (this affects the dynamic range of everything played through the apple tv, and is not recommended).

D). Select the Homepods from the control center of the Apple TV. Then go, for example, to Netflix, and start playing Hubbie Halloween or the Irishman (again, for example). While playing, swap down on the Siri remote to bring up the audio and subtitles menu . You should see the Dolby Atmos logo there (in the info tab), which indicates that your are indeed playing a dolby atmos track.

Same with Apple TV+ and Itunes purchases.

Unfortunately, the Atmos logo doesn´t appear on Disney+ streams, only a 5.1 badge, which tells me that the app need to be updated to work with the Homepods . However, the Home Theatre processing of plain old 5.1 tracks by the Homepod is also very impressive.

Turn up your Homepods volume and enjoy!

Very detailed and useful information
However I couldn’t find where to remove the beta profile of my HomePod

 

[hieromonk]

The stereo sound was so good for HomePod lol ...
so does this mean I have Dolby atmos activated ??

 

[B/D]

Very detailed and useful information
However I couldn’t find where to remove the beta profile of my HomePod

"Just open the home app, long press on the HomePod and slide up to get to the Settings. Then scroll down to Profiles and Device Management. Tap on the beta profile and then tap remove profile. Done."

 

[B/D]

The stereo sound was so good for HomePod lol ...
so does this mean I have Dolby atmos activated ??

Yes! How does it sound?. Do you notice a clear difference from before 14.2 firmware?. If you do, is working.

 

[hieromonk]

"Just open the home app, long press on the HomePod and slide up to get to the Settings. Then scroll down to Profiles and Device Management. Tap on the beta profile and then tap remove profile. Done."

I tried to un group them and restart them and just don’t see that profile and device management tab anymore ( is it possible that it auto installed the Public 14.2 to replace it like the iOS did ?

 

[hieromonk]

Yes! How does it sound?. Do you notice a clear difference from before 14.2 firmware?. If you do, is working.

There is a noticeable difference but I don’t see anything from Netflix and Disney + which make me doubt it’s placid effect on me lololol

again , plz confirm with me ....

 

[hieromonk]

Not sure if it helps anyone updated the HomePod and put Greyhound on Atmos did not show up on the info.
Thought my Apple 4K tv was up to date but wasn’t so updated that and the Atmos is now showing on the info of Greyhound, only listened to it for a short while but it sounded pretty good.

You are positively sure that this icon showing up on the info means it’s being activated?

 

[B/D]

There is a noticeable difference but I don’t see anything from Netflix and Disney + which make me doubt it’s placid effect on me lololol

again , plz confirm with me ....

Is not placebo. Everything is fine. The Atmos logo appears in Netflix and Apple TV/Itunes but not in Disney, which only shows a 5.1 badge. Perhaps the app need to be updated.

 

[B/D]

You are positively sure that this icon showing up on the info means it’s being activated?

As posivitely sure as I can be, given what apple told me. But again, the difference in sound is huge when compared to pre 14.2 update. The difference is very noticeable.

 

[hieromonk]

Is not placebo. Everything is fine. The Atmos logo appears in Netflix and Apple TV/Itunes but not in Disney, which only shows a 5.1 badge. Perhaps the app need to be updated.

Lol it’s so vague ... like it’s just telling you that this film and show are supporting that feature

They should have make an animated icon for the Dolby atmos like it’s swirling or something ....

 

[B/D]

I tried to un group them and restart them and just don’t see that profile and device management tab anymore ( is it possible that it auto installed the Public 14.2 to replace it like the iOS did ?

Perhaps it is. I never run beta software, so i dont know for sure.

 

[B/D]

Lol it’s so vague ... like it’s just telling you that this film and show are supporting that feature

They should have make an animated icon for the Dolby atmos like it’s swirling or something ....

Completely agree. In a future update, when you start playing something the apple tv should briefly show a stereo, 5.1, or Atmos badge, depending of the audio track. That would give visual confirmation.

 

[hieromonk]

Completely agree. In a future update, when you start playing something the apple tv should briefly show a stereo, 5.1, or Atmos badge, depending of the audio track. That would give visual confirmation.

lol wtf ....it said it’s in stereo mode
Wasted my money on reactivating tidal just wanted to try it out

 

[B/D]

lol wtf ....it said it’s in stereo mode
Wasted my money on reactivating tidal just wanted to try it out

Strange. Perhaps the Tidal app, like Disney, needs to be updated to support Atmos through the Homepods.

 

[hieromonk]

Strange. Perhaps the Tidal app, like Disney, needs to be updated to support Atmos through the Homepods.

Ok as long as you are 1000% sure that icon on that lame info on Apple TV shows means it’s activated,
Thanks for your help!

 

[B/D]

lol wtf ....it said it’s in stereo mode
Wasted my money on reactivating tidal just wanted to try it out

Strange. Perhaps the Tidal app, like Disney, needs to be updated to support Atmos through the Homepods.

Ok as long as you are 1000% sure that icon on that lame info on Apple TV shows means it’s activated,
Thanks for your help!

Again, 100% sure is impossible. Only know what Apple support told me, and that could be incorrect or a half truth.

Agree that the info on the apple tv is lame. No visual indication when playing something is not good. Should be one.

 

[Lordcord96]

You are positively sure that this icon showing up on the info means it’s being activated?

I am absolutely not sure. I changed the audio format in the settings app to stereo. And the Dolby Atmos logo was still there.

 

[B/D]

I am absolutely not sure. I changed the audio format in the settings app to stereo. And the Dolby Atmos logo was still there.

Huh, that´s weird.

Honestly, this whole thing is too complicated. Its apple, after all. Should be simple and straightforward.

 

[JBaby]

I am absolutely not sure. I changed the audio format in the settings app to stereo. And the Dolby Atmos logo was still there.

I’m gonna be a naysayer. I think the symbol doesn’t mean that you now have Atmos. I think those symbols tell you that those things are available. And they show up if you have any equipment that can play them. So I’ve always had Atmos there because my TV, by itself, is capable of it. It even stayed after I turned the internal speakers off on my TV in settings. I’ve only ever used my HomePods for speakers with this TV.

My Mom’s TV isn’t capable of Atmos so the symbol isn’t there for her. I’ve hooked my tv to her TV and there was no Atmos symbol. I brought out my HomePods and connected them and the Atmos symbol came back. I have no pics of this because I did this days ago before I knew people were confused about the symbols. I was having issues with WiFi and my Mom’s tv is hardwired. I wanted to see if Ethernet would fix it.

 

[B/D]

I’m gonna be a naysayer. I think the symbol doesn’t mean that you now have Atmos. I think those symbols tell you that those things are available. And they show up if you have any equipment that can play them. So I’ve always had Atmos there because my TV, by itself, is capable of it. It even stayed after I turned the internal speakers off on my TV in settings. I’ve only ever used my HomePods for speakers with this TV.

My Mom’s TV isn’t capable of Atmos so the symbol isn’t there for her. I’ve hooked my tv to her TV and there was no Atmos symbol. I brought out my HomePods and connected them and the Atmos symbol came back. I have no pics of this because I did this days ago before I knew people were confused about the symbols. I was having issues with WiFi and my Mom’s tv is hardwired. I wanted to see if Ethernet would fix it.

It´s maddening. Apple should clarify when you are getting stereo, 5.1, or Atmos trough the HP´s. A visual badge at the begining of the content playback should do nicely.

So convoluted right now.

 

[Lordcord96]

Still not sure, if I really get Dolby Atmos. It’s displayed first, but not when the video is running.

 

[B/D]

Still not sure, if I really get Dolby Atmos. It’s displayed first, but not when the video is running.

So I´ve been back and forth with Apple on this all week and this is the correct behavior, apparently. If you select the Homepods as the audio output of the Apple TV (either as the default one or through the ATV control center) you should see the Atmos badge in the movie card info of Netflix, Apple TV+, and Itunes Movies apps, but not while playing the video. This is correct.

Before the 14.2 update, you didn´t see the Atmos badge in the movie info card of Netflix when the Homepods where selected as the audio output of the Apple TV , but now you do, because Netflix recognize the Homepods as an Atmos compatible audio output. That wasnt the case before.

However, not all apps support Atmos to the Homepods at the moment. For example, I only see a 5.1 badge on Disney+ info card with the Homepods select as the audio output, whereas if I select my TV speakers as audio output of the ATV (my TV set support Atmos), the Atmos logo reappears. This means that the app needs to be updated to support sending Atmos audio to the Homepods.

That makes sense?. Im from Spain and my English is... not so great anymore.

 

[JBaby]

So I´ve been back and forth with Apple on this all week and this is the correct behavior, apparently. If you select the Homepods as the audio output of the Apple TV (either as the default one or through the ATV control center) you should see the Atmos badge in the movie card info of Netflix, Apple TV+, and Itunes Movies apps, but not while playing the video. This is correct.

Before the 14.2 update, you didn´t see the Atmos badge in the movie info card of Netflix when the Homepods where selected as the audio output of the Apple TV , but now you do, because Netflix recognize the Homepods as an Atmos compatible audio output. That wasnt the case before.

However, not all apps support Atmos to the Homepods at the moment. For example, I only see a 5.1 badge on Disney+ info card with the Homepods select as the audio output, whereas if I select my TV speakers as audio output of the ATV (my TV set support Atmos), the Atmos logo reappears. This means that the app needs to be updated to support sending Atmos audio to the Homepods.

That makes sense?. Im from Spain and my English is... not so great anymore.

So yesterday’s update didn’t fix D+?

 

[B/D]

So yesterday’s update didn’t fix D+?

Sadly, no. Atmos logo is still missing when outputting audio to the Homepods.