Apple Releases HomePod 16.5 Software

[MacRumors]

Alongside the iOS 16.5, iPadOS 16.5, tvOS 16.5, and macOS Ventura 13.4 updates, Apple has released new 16.5 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 16.5 Software

 

[macmac30]

I sure hope they fix the “Who’s speaking?” problem! Also, I noticed yesterday with 16.5 HomePod Mini, I said “Play my favorites” just like I have said hundreds of times before and it started playing a single song called Favorites by some unknown artist… ugggg 🙄. Tip for Apple QA engineers if you don’t do so already: Focus on the interactions where people use swear words. You will quickly see how and where Siri messes up!

 

[MacBird]

The update is there but it's been spinning for an hour without updating my original HomePods.

 

[NEPOBABY]

Hope it fixes how much latency and missed connections there is over Airplay.

I'd prefer direct Bluetooth streaming. It's prove and works better than Airplay.

Also, there is too much bass and too little treble. The Equalizer that is available in the Music app needs to be a system wide panel available in Settings app.

 

[steevn]

Hope it fixes how much latency and missed connections there is over Airplay.

I'd prefer direct Bluetooth streaming. It's prove and works better than Airplay.

Also, there is too much bass and too little treble. The Equalizer that is available in the Music app needs to be a system wide panel available in Settings app.

Out of all the Airplay products I have used, HomePods have been the worst at Airplay. Sonos Airplay is flawless in my experience.

 

[ANDJOE]

Out of all the Airplay products I have used, HomePods have been the worst at Airplay. Sonos Airplay is flawless in my experience.

Good point. Yeah me too.

 

[solodogg]

OG HomePod shows no updates available for some reason, but mini’s both took the 16.5 update with no issues.

 

[Rob835]

No issue updating 2 pairs HomePod OG and a pair of minis. 😀

 

[Aves]

updated both 2 homepods and 6 minis

 

[allseeingi’s]

I sure hope they fix the “Who’s speaking?” problem! Also, I noticed yesterday with 16.5 HomePod Mini, I said “Play my favorites” just like I have said hundreds of times before and it started playing a single song called Favorites by some unknown artist… ugggg 🙄. Tip for Apple QA engineers if you don’t do so already: Focus on the interactions where people use swear words. You will quickly see how and where Siri messes up!

🤣🤣

 

[transmaster]

YES, YES, YES, YES,YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES, YES!!!!!!! The Sound is a fantastic improvement.

 

[transmaster]

I sure hope they fix the “Who’s speaking?” problem! Also, I noticed yesterday with 16.5 HomePod Mini, I said “Play my favorites” just like I have said hundreds of times before and it started playing a single song called Favorites by some unknown artist… ugggg 🙄. Tip for Apple QA engineers if you don’t do so already: Focus on the interactions where people use swear words. You will quickly see how and where Siri messes up!

I feel your pain. Imagine asking for a obscure new age artist and getting and equally obscure but disgusting gangsta rapper.

 

[transmaster]

Phooey the little skip is still there when playing my HomePod 2 from the Mac Studio, but not from the iPhone.

 

[Solver]

Thread network updated to v1.3.

 

[frenchcamp49er]

Seems to be taking its sweet time to update

 

[sjsharksfan12]

I found out on the last update that I can be anywhere and update the homepods. I don't need to be sitting in the room to do that update. Considering I'm in Utah and live in the Bay Area, I appreciated that fact this time around.

 

[timsutcliffe]

I feel your pain. Imagine asking for a obscure new age artist and getting and equally obscure but disgusting gangsta rapper.

It's very annoying how it defaults to something awful if it isn't sure what you're asking for. Really puts me off using it with the children around.

 

[eifelbernd]

Out of all the Airplay products I have used, HomePods have been the worst at Airplay. Sonos Airplay is flawless in my experience.

My experience with HomePod minis and Sonos has been the exact opposite …

 

[BradJMelb]

I said “Play my favorites” just like I have said hundreds of times before and it started playing a single song called Favorites by some unknown artist… ugggg 🙄

Yep, if I say “play my favourites mix” I have been getting Ed Sheeran - Perfect for the last month or so.
If I try “play playlist favourites mix” or “play favourites mix” or any number of other syntax I get Request: April 3, 2017…. Whatever that is.
Before todays update they would just say “working on it, still working” and then fail.

Very frustrating that a feature of Apple Music that was launched day 1 has been so flaky over the years when trying to play it via Siri.

 

[smithrh]

Dammit.

16.5 has introduced a bug where my OG HomePods stop playing music from Apple Music.

Do they not test their software?

 

[Aves]

Dammit.

16.5 has introduced a bug where my OG HomePods stop playing music from Apple Music.

Do they not test their software?

How is that happening? I didn't notice it today

 

[benoit79]

This is another extremely terrible HomePod OS from Apple. It took only about 30 seconds after the upgrade for my HomePods to crash and stop playing music.

I'll have to do more tests, but I think this update is as bad as the mediocre OS 16.4 update.

Apple, if you do read all the complaints on the Internet, please rollback to OS 15.7. It was working well. OS 16 is just a huge mistake that should have never been release. 16.5 is another proof that it isn’t working. I bought HomePods to listen to music. Not to restart them every day multiple times per day!

 

[benoit79]

I feel your pain. Imagine asking for a obscure new age artist and getting and equally obscure but disgusting gangsta rapper.

I have that problem too. It was introduced for me with OS 16.4. It is very frustrating indeed!

 

[andreyush]

Let me guess. Everyone will say everything runs faster and after one week it will get back being slow.

 

[smithrh]

The Apple Music issue now seems to be due to... the Apple Music service outage and not 16.5 on HomePods.

Of course now Siri is siriously slow. "Just a sec..." "Working on that..." "I didn't hear back" for HomeKit commands, while using the app works instantly.