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Apple Releases HomePod 16.5 Software

I am wondering, any of you experiencing to "skip" that happens at the beginning of a song on the HomePod 2's, is it happening when you are play from your Mac, or iPhone/iPad or both. In my case I do not notice it when I am playing from my iPhone. I sent in a bug report to Apple.

They wanted a log of the HomePods operation. I looked up how to get one but the instructions I found are nowhere to be found in the Home App.

Here is another gripe I have, we need a separate app for the HomePod's, I have one for Alexa, and for the Google Home Assistant. Apple must use hepatoscopy to divine what to do.
 
Since updating my HomePods, 3 of the 6 HomePod Minos I have are stuck on configuring. I have removed them, restored them, plugged them into my Mac to update them and nothing seems to change it. I now have 3 HomePods (including one that was a pair) that won’t setup. Another HomePod fail and another reason for me to regret moving from Echo’s
 
I just tried Apple Music using Siri, it works fine... no drops or "one sec" of any sort.
Tried multiple times.
Homekit requests also works for thermostat and lighting.

Sound feels overall improved, richer for sure with fuller bass (compared to the same songs I listened to yesterday before the update).
 
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I’m still on a years old OS for my OG HomePods. I’ve read about so many people having issues with updates that I never upgraded because they kept working.

Sounds like I’m still in good shape given what I’ve read here. 🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Zero confidence that this update fixes the constant Siri failures. “Just a sec, taking too long, not in your playlist, music not playing despite HP Shows on and volume control, stereo HP only has one speaker playing” list goes on and on. If you have 8 or more it’s even worse.
 
Aves said:
Sounds feels overall improved, richer for sure with fuller bass (compared to the same songs I listened to yesterday before the update).
Click to expand...

Base definitely back to what it was when it first came out years ago. I had to turn it down a few times already to make sure I wasn't bugging the neighbors...

Why Apple keeps dicking around with this is beyond me.
 
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WilkoRam79 said:
Since updating my HomePods, 3 of the 6 HomePod Minos I have are stuck on configuring. I have removed them, restored them, plugged them into my Mac to update them and nothing seems to change it. I now have 3 HomePods (including one that was a pair) that won’t setup. Another HomePod fail and another reason for me to regret moving from Echo’s
Click to expand...
I have 2 of the full sized Echos and 2 Echo Dots, plus 2 Google Home Assistant mini's. I am constantly reminded of the deficiencies in Siri, by these two platforms.
 
Here is one of the irritations I have with Siri. Try to get it to play "Riders on The Storm", as covered by SKÅLD. This happens to be the best cover I have ever heard. When I tell my HomePod 2 that isn't what I wanted it almost starts to argue with me. But I suppose I should not be to annoyed I do go after obscure, to the top 40 crowd, artists. Below is link into Apple Music for the SKÅLD cover.


Oh and this album is in Dolby Atmos. 😃
 
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transmaster said:
I am wondering, any of you experiencing to "skip" that happens at the beginning of a song on the HomePod 2's, is it happening when you are play from your Mac, or iPhone/iPad or both. In my case I do not notice it when I am playing from my iPhone. I sent in a bug report to Apple.

They wanted a log of the HomePods operation. I looked up how to get one but the instructions I found are nowhere to be found in the Home App.

Here is another gripe I have, we need a separate app for the HomePod's, I have one for Alexa, and for the Google Home Assistant. Apple must use hepatoscopy to divine what to do.
Click to expand...

Airplay just so imperfect for streaming especially if you want to scrub through a video or soundtrack. It needs to then recache the stream, which it obviously needs to do but it makes it too noticeable and laggy even on a good network.
 
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cookiemonster89 said:
After updating my 2 Gen HomePod pair always plays music on one speaker. Perfect job apple.
Click to expand...
I had the same trouble with My 2nd gen HomePod's before 16.5. I was a real PIA. I had to do a complete reset. On both iPods I did a complete reset on both than unplugged them. plugged in one of them and when through the original setup. When that was done I plugged in the other one. On the iPhone a window came up asking be if I wanted to stereo pair, yes, than it asks if the speaker is the right or left channel. With that done I was up and running again, getting to that point was way to much trouble.
 
I7guy said:
How does one tell if the HomePod is on 16.5? Mine says up-to-date, which is not really reliable.
Click to expand...
On your iPhone.iPad: Settings => Your name => scroll down to the device tabs => Open the HomePod tab; It will open and show your HomePod model, below its audioOS version, below that it's serial number.

On Your Mac the same thing. System Settings => Your name, etc.
 
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eifelbernd said:
My experience with HomePod minis and Sonos has been the exact opposite …
Click to expand...
And that’s the thing about HomePod… it’s such a grab bag. Just read the comments on every update article. The use cases between owners can’t really be all that different, yet we all seem to have different experiences when it comes to issues.
 
mjs916 said:
And that’s the thing about HomePod… it’s such a grab bag. Just read the comments on every update article. The use cases between owners can’t really be all that different, yet we all seem to have different experiences when it comes to issues.
Click to expand...
I think is has to do with the wireless environment they are put in. I have had only one episode with my pair of HomePod 2's and that was mostly my fault. Once I learned how to do a factory reset I was able to recover. I now have them properly setup the way I want is with my Mac Studio/Apple TV/Yamaha AVR/. The iPhone never has been a problem.
 
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I hope it fixes the alarms bug - I’ve set our HomePods to play Apple Music 1 but it ends up just playing an annoying tone instead.

They’re then set to AirPlay from the BBC Sounds app, via a shortcut, which isn’t massively reliable either :( I wish they’d support BBC Sounds properly too.
 
I am experiencing audio level and quality issues after the update. When I play two original HomePods by themselves, the audio is great, but when I toggle on my subwoofer (through AirPort Express airplay 2) then the HomePods’ audio level gets flatter and gets quieter.

I posted a video example and my setup here.
 
OK, I have a Klipsch Subwoofer, and I have a pair of homePod 2'a. There is no wireless or any other connection with my Homepods so this isn't an issue here. But as you know a subwoofer has settings to cut out frequencies below user set point, My Klipsch are currently set at 80 Hz. In my case this is set by my Yamaha AVR. But on the plate amp there are also settings you can use is you are not using the LFE input. My Subwoofers do not have wireless capability. The Frequency response of the full sized homepod is 40 to 20K Hz. take a look at the settings on the Subwoofer and see what its cut off is set at. with 40hz as the HomePods bottom end, which is amazing with its 4"woofer, if you can set your subwoofer at 40 to 45Hz see how that effects the HomePods. This is a shot in the dark.
 
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