Apple Releases HomePod 16.4 Software

[MacRumors]

Alongside the iOS 16.4, iPadOS 16.4, tvOS 16.4, and macOS Ventura 13.3 updates, Apple has released new 16.4 software created for the HomePod and HomePod mini.

According to Apple's release notes, the update adds stability and performance improvements to the HomePod.

‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌ unless the feature is disabled‌‌‌‌, but the ‌‌‌‌‌‌HomePod‌‌‌‌‌‌ can also be manually updated in the Home app by following the instructions in our HomePod‌‌ update how to.

Article Link: Apple Releases HomePod 16.4 Software

 

[Ion-X]

I really hope this makes my OG HomePods start responding to me again. They’ve become basically paperweights and no longer respond correctly to Home requests despite Home control working on iPhone. Plus the voice recognition seems to not have improved whatsoever, and it still regularly mangles my song requests.

 

[Kylo83]

it only updated one not all 4 it says they are all updated

 

[PBG4 Dude]

Oh snap, I just got everything running smoothly again in HomeKit last week.

 

[Kylo83]

Don’t get it, I updated it and only one updated all the others didn’t and is now saying they are all updated what should I do

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Please tell me this firmware fixes the issues that HomePods got with mesh wifi networks

 

[macmac30]

Apple, please change the way Siri responds when you say “Hey Siri, good night“. She currently responds with a question “Good night?” She should respond just like your momma did: “Goooood Niiiight”. I would rather not have the last thing I hear before going to bed be question! Even mix it up once in a while with a “Sleep tight”. It’s the little things that make a difference…

 

[Feek]

Apple, please change the way Siri responds when you say “Hey Siri, good night“. She currently responds with a question “Good night?” She should respond just like your momma did: “Goooood Niiiight”. I would rather not have the last thing I hear before going to bed be question! Even mix it up once in a while with a “Sleep tight”. It’s the little things that make a difference…

When I say "Hey Siri, good night" he switches off the lights, makes sure the door is locked and plays the soothing music playlist on the HomePods in the bedroom. He doesn't actually say anything.

 

[Bodack]

Will they address Siri’s voice being super low on the homepod mini?

 

[Ion-X]

Please tell me this firmware fixes the issues that HomePods got with mesh wifi networks

This might explain why my HomePods always have issues connecting to my Google Wi-Fi system.

 

[MrMacintoshIII]

Will they address how the handoff feature is too handsy and is constantly trying to handoff when I’m far from my HomePods?

 

[Kylo83]

Can someone plz guide me I have 5 HomePods mini and 1 in stereo pair I down the update and it only updated one of the pair to 16.4 now all others stayed on 16.3.2 and it says they are all updated

 

[csalm87]

it only updated one not all 4 it says they are all updated

I got that too. Every HomePod I have updated except for 1 and it says everything is up to date.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

This might explain why my HomePods always have issues connecting to my Google Wi-Fi system.

My network is an ASUS Mesh. I managed to get my HomePod Mini to FINALLY work as intended by disabling the QoS in my router's settings.

How the hell did Apple not catch this especially since THEY SELL MESH WIFI ROUTERS?! https://www.apple.com/shop/accessories/all/mesh-wifi-networking

Not a single senior advisor knew what to do, and only one random post on Reddit fixed my problem.

 

[csalm87]

Can someone plz guide me I have 5 HomePods mini and 1 in stereo pair I down the update and it only updated one of the pair to 16.4 now all others stayed on 16.3.2 and it says they are all updated

Wondering if it’s a bug.

 

[Kylo83]

I got that too. Every HomePod I have updated except for 1 and it says everything is up to date.

Wonder what we do

 

[d-klumpp]

Apple, please change the way Siri responds when you say “Hey Siri, good night“. She currently responds with a question “Good night?” She should respond just like your momma did: “Goooood Niiiight”. I would rather not have the last thing I hear before going to bed be question! Even mix it up once in a while with a “Sleep tight”. It’s the little things that make a difference…

Agree! Not that I want to live out Her, but although my wife thinks I'm nuts, I like to treat Siri politely. When she performs a task I say, "Thank you." It would truly make my day if Siri finally said, "You're welcome" or some similar pleasantry. Is that so hard?? I don't need temperature, I don't need NFL stats. I just would appreciate polite interactions from Siri because it's increasingly uncommon in the real world. ;-)

 

[tonie walker]

Hey Siri! Hey Siri! Heeeyyy Siiirrriii!!! still no response, hope this update fixed that deaf Siri

 

[chrono1081]

I really hope this makes my OG HomePods start responding to me again. They’ve become basically paperweights and no longer respond correctly to Home requests despite Home control working on iPhone. Plus the voice recognition seems to not have improved whatsoever, and it still regularly mangles my song requests.

Yup, which is why I'm not buying the new ones. I hoped that 16.4 would make things work again like they used to but It's so much worse. They (and the Apple TV) are no longer visible in the home app, the HomePods sound drunk (literally, Siri talks over himself saying different things to me, as in two voices at the same time on the same HomePod. This happens on both home pods) and neither show up in home at all despite multiple resets.

Apple needs to reevaluate the HomeKit team, nothing works anymore.

 

[Kraszim]

Please tell me this firmware fixes the issues that HomePods got with mesh wifi networks

Wouldn't hold my breath. Homepods have wifi 'n' chip, and it's not like a modern one, just limited for power efficiency. It's antique and more advanced wifi you get, more will it struggle.

You tried setting up an additional guest network in your house with technologies of the time, like WPA2, 2.4GHz etc?

 

[compwiz1202]

Agree! Not that I want to live out Her, but although my wife thinks I'm nuts, I like to treat Siri politely. When she performs a task I say, "Thank you." It would truly make my day if Siri finally said, "You're welcome" or some similar pleasantry. Is that so hard?? I don't need temperature, I don't need NFL stats. I just would appreciate polite interactions from Siri because it's increasingly uncommon in the real world. ;-)

Agree I've said multiple times there should be a small window after she does something where you can thank her, and she wlll respond.

 

[Spaceboi Scaphandre]

Wouldn't hold my breath. Homepods have wifi 'n' chip, and it's not like a modern one, just limited for power efficiency. It's antique and more advanced wifi you get, more will it struggle.

You tried setting up an additional guest network in your house with technologies of the time, like WPA2, 2.4GHz etc?

Yeah and they didn't work. Only after disabling QoS did it work.

I'm not buying a second HomePod after that horrible experience lmao

 

[ipedro]

Apple, please change the way Siri responds when you say “Hey Siri, good night“. She currently responds with a question “Good night?” She should respond just like your momma did: “Goooood Niiiight”. I would rather not have the last thing I hear before going to bed be question! Even mix it up once in a while with a “Sleep tight”. It’s the little things that make a difference…

When I say "Hey Siri, good night" he switches off the lights, makes sure the door is locked and plays the soothing music playlist on the HomePods in the bedroom. He doesn't actually say anything.

Mine says Good night in response. My bedroom HomePod speaks in a female Australian voice. Hilariously, sometimes I’ll hear my bathroom HomePod mini in the distance follow up seconds later with “Good night” in a male Indian voice.

 

[macmac30]

Agree! Not that I want to live out Her, but although my wife thinks I'm nuts, I like to treat Siri politely. When she performs a task I say, "Thank you." It would truly make my day if Siri finally said, "You're welcome" or some similar pleasantry. Is that so hard?? I don't need temperature, I don't need NFL stats. I just would appreciate polite interactions from Siri because it's increasingly uncommon in the real world. ;-)

Me, I'm not so patient or nice with Siri. I'm just waiting for her to say "F you too!!!"

 

[Tyler O'Bannon]

Anybody who upgraded to the new HomeKit architecture in December had the “configuring” issue fixed?

So far, I have not.

I updated each one separately by plugging in to my Mac and factory resetting.

Removed them from home and set them up new.

Setup went better and was promising, but now they are still stuck configuring and not showing up as stereo pair yet even though I did that during setup process.

Anybody else?