Apple Releases HomePod Software 15.2 With Apple Music Voice Plan Support

[Powerbooky]

Finally support for the Dutch language!

Limited... there's no support for recognising multiple users in this version. This is a problem in this household.
And I have to see how it wil perform in searching music titles. On AppleTV this poses a problem already... try saying an english movie title into the AppleTV remote when the AppleTV is not set to English. You'll get the strangest results.
Siri still isn't ready for multi language use.

 

[n-evo]

It’s been about 5 hours for me and all my Hoempods are still stuck on “downloading”. I have no clue what to do.

My HomePod mini was stuck as well. It went from “Downloading” to “Not responding” in the Home app. I just pulled the plug after a while. Waited 30 seconds and put it back in. It went straight to installing after starting up.

 

[Powerbooky]

My HomePod mini was stuck as well. It went from “Downloading” to “Not responding” in the Home app. I just pulled the plug after a while. Waited 30 seconds and put it back in. It went straight to installing after starting up.

Have 5 in the house. All of them were already busy trying to start downloading in the late evening - I could not see the progress though. Through the night all HomePod mini's and at least one AppleTV 4K have updated automatically. Haven't seen any issues in the current configuration.

Usually all HomePod mini's update without issues. Since it all runs through the caching service on my server, only the first Homepod and AppleTV takes a while downloading, but afterwards all others get the cached download from the local server.

Hmmm broke homekit integration with my 2.0 HUE Bridge. Lamps still working in HUE app though.
After reset, lamps are no longer available in the Home app. When trying to reconnect Bridge to Home app, the HUE app does not react when bridge connecting button is pressed.

No problems here. Although I have the 2.1 bridge, but there's not much difference between the 2.0 and 2.1 models in software. All lighting is fully available and responsive. HUE sensors still trigger HK notifications and scenes.
IPv6 is fully supported on the network. In the past I did have a network switch that did not fully support IPv6 resulting in some IPv6 traffic being blocked and causing strange behaviour of HomeKit and other services.

Our HomeKit setups were working fine on iOS 14. They only stopped working on day 1 of iOS 15.

All my hubs and devices have DHCP reservations.

When I got 15.0 some triggers from HUE randomly didn't get through. And HK scripts with IF statements failed. That was fixed with a later update. Now everything works fine. Some scenes I had to rewrite because they contained lights that were removed but still did something in that scene. Especially the "Adaptive Lighting" parameter from removed lights remained hidden in scenes. Only a rewrite of those scenes worked. Fortunately that were only 3 scenes from 25+
BTW... None of the hubs have DHCP reservations, except the AppleTV's for bandwidth control.

 

[ethnicolor]

Alongside iOS 15.2, Apple today released a new 15.2 software update for the HomePod and the HomePod mini.

The HomePod 15.2 software adds support for the $4.99 per month Apple Music Voice Plan, a Siri-based option for listening to Apple Music on HomePod and other devices.Today's update adds several new languages to the HomePod in addition to introducing Apple Music Voice Plan. There's now support for the following languages:

- Dutch (Belgium)
- Dutch (Netherlands)
- French (Belgium)
- French (Switzerland)
- German (Switzerland)
- Italian (Switzerland)
- Russian

‌‌‌‌‌‌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 Software 15.2 With Apple Music Voice Plan Support

I experienced an error relating to my HomePods in the Home app after updating all my iOS / iPadOS devices first.

In the Home app, the HomePod (actually, a HomePod pair) showed an "Account Error" which wouldn't go away even after I entered the AppleID password.

I restarted the HomePods, with no success.

Finally I updated an AppleTV which was associated with the HomePod pair, and the problem went away.

 

[twistedpixel8]

When I got 15.0 some triggers from HUE randomly didn't get through. And HK scripts with IF statements failed. That was fixed with a later update. Now everything works fine. Some scenes I had to rewrite because they contained lights that were removed but still did something in that scene. Especially the "Adaptive Lighting" parameter from removed lights remained hidden in scenes. Only a rewrite of those scenes worked. Fortunately that were only 3 scenes from 25+
BTW... None of the hubs have DHCP reservations, except the AppleTV's for bandwidth control.

I was really hoping I wouldn’t have to re-create my scenes. I have several scenes for all my rooms including bathrooms, hallways, etc.

Apple cannot expect us to do this every time they update iOS or HomeKit will only be worth using if you only have a few things.

Apple need to sort out scenes such that you can edit them properly. I don’t see why the “choose accessories” thing doesn’t automatically remove de-selected or missing accessories when you update it. So stupid.

We desperately need some way to debug things because it’s just frustrating to use HomeKit these days with more than a few things.

The Home app is a weird one. It’s completely out of character for Apple to provide such a hopeless UX.

 

[scotty321]

If Apple really wanted to improve HomePod, they would switch to Alexa instead of Siri. ???

 

[rew f fwd]

my homepods (stereo) are no longer playing tracks via the Siri command from Apple Music since the last update. Siri reports: there is a problem ... Apple Music

 

[maxfromdenmark]

my homepods (stereo) are no longer playing tracks via the Siri command from Apple Music since the last update. Siri reports: there is a problem ... Apple Music

this is exactly that I posted above, since some time I cannot ask HomePod for playing music. I was reading once somewhere it's the firmware issue. Apparently it's NOT fixed!

 

[rew f fwd]

this is exactly that I posted above, since some time I cannot ask HomePod for playing music. I was reading once somewhere it's the firmware issue. Apparently it's NOT fixed!

I think that has something to do with the Apple TV. At least here with me. 2-3 months ago I already had this and only had to stop the playback of the music via the home pods on the Apple TV under Music. then everything works again.

 

[DinkThifferent]

Limited... there's no support for recognising multiple users in this version. This is a problem in this household.
And I have to see how it wil perform in searching music titles. On AppleTV this poses a problem already... try saying an english movie title into the AppleTV remote when the AppleTV is not set to English. You'll get the strangest results.
Siri still isn't ready for multi language use.

Aww Yeah, that's not good. But it's a first step, and Apple pushes quite a few software updates so i hope with 15.3 even more Dutch things will be supported

 

[Squuiid]

Timers broken with stereo pair of OGs.
(Installed 15.2 and then wiped and reinstalled all my HomePods, all fresh installs.)
Hey Siri, set a timer for 5 minutes…
On it, working on that, hmm, I didn’t hear back. (Or variations of that)
No matter how many times I try I cannot set a timer.
WTF

 

[maxfromdenmark]

I think that has something to do with the Apple TV. At least here with me. 2-3 months ago I already had this and only had to stop the playback of the music via the home pods on the Apple TV under Music. then everything works again.

so you trying to tell me I cannot watch TV shows with HomePods if I want to listen Apple Music when TV is off? Do I really need to choose?

 

[Squuiid]

Hmm, can anyone actually set a timer on 15.2?
As mentioned above I updated and then wiped my HomePods and set up as new.
Not a single one will now set a timer.
Anyone else?

 

[n-evo]

Timers work just fine here.

 

[Squuiid]

Timers work just fine here.

Are you in the US, EU or elsewhere?
Speculation on reddit is that this is an EU thing and that US had this issue a few months ago.

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomePod/comments/p3rvsj

https://www.reddit.com/r/HomePod/comments/rdezgg

 

[n-evo]

I’m in the EU and my HomePod is set to Dutch.

 

[AndyBMac]

Please have Siri run a scene and report back.

It’s not a scene it’s just a simple command.

 

[AndyBMac]

Lol no it doesn’t. I can no longer say hey Siri turn off the living room tv. Broken. Hey Siri turn off the living room lights. Broken. Hey Siri set the upstairs temperature to anything. Broken. Everything is broken in HomeKit for iOS 15 since launch. Where have you been. I have my whole house in HomeKit and as soon as I updated to iOS 15 it all broke. I just spent 2000$ on a new LG tv that worked with Siri until I updated to iOS 15. iOS 15 has a broken HomeKit. I am so angry I spent all this money and everything worked perfectly in iOS 14 and iOS 15 broke everything I spent my hard earned money in and was so awesome when it worked. Now not so much.

I’d love to share a video showing my issue but where would I post it?

 

[WelshBadger]

Alongside iOS 15.2, Apple today released a new 15.2 software update for the HomePod and the HomePod mini.

The HomePod 15.2 software adds support for the $4.99 per month Apple Music Voice Plan, a Siri-based option for listening to Apple Music on HomePod and other devices.Today's update adds several new languages to the HomePod in addition to introducing Apple Music Voice Plan. There's now support for the following languages:

- Dutch (Belgium)
- Dutch (Netherlands)
- French (Belgium)
- French (Switzerland)
- German (Switzerland)
- Italian (Switzerland)
- Russian

‌‌‌‌‌‌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 Software 15.2 With Apple Music Voice Plan Support

Wonderful new update, now i can’t ask “what’s the weather forecast”, without stating where I am. Otherwise Siri asks “for where?”. Isn’t that what location services are for? That’s a bit of step backwards.

 

[AJTC]

One of my OG HomePods just farted and gave me such a fright. I actually didn't know where the bang came from until I saw the dust that had clearly landed on it after it farted.

It still works and the bass appears to be fine so it seems like it didn't break but it now worries me about iOS 15.2. I don't want these to brick themselves.

 

[zapmymac]

Checking in: my OG HomePod is also lost. (no location) ?

Idevices on 15.1 and the suggestions here within this thread did not work.

My solution was to delete and restore it. Works correctly and isn’t lost now.

Sounds like a bug to me ?

Homepod is now snappier ?

Oh, I also called Apple support and they tried unsuccessfully for 20 minutes to try to fix the problem. So the bug is reported. They told me to do two things: update all my idevices first, then restore the HomePod If that did not work. I did not want to update my I devices to 15.2 this week either, so that’s that.

 

[phrehdd]

I was toying with the idea of getting a Homepod Mini to play around with in hopes of setting up some very basic HomeKit items. My first head scratcher is why wasn't this item updated with WiFi 6 (ax/ac)? I find it a bit surprising how Apple has dropped the ball on a rather profitable market - the Pod and Homekit.

However, if I may ask - any suggestions for a not too expensive HomeKit security camera that can do both turn on based on motion sensing and know not to record familiar faces (such as family)? Other question, would remain with avoiding subscriptions and engaging local storage. I gather that items that go into sockets to control lamps and such work reasonably well.

 

[angelofioren]

Checking in: my OG HomePod is also lost. (no location) ?

Idevices on 15.1 and the suggestions here within this thread did not work.

My solution was to delete and restore it. Works correctly and isn’t lost now.

Sounds like a bug to me ?

Homepod is now snappier ?

Oh, I also called Apple support and they tried unsuccessfully for 20 minutes to try to fix the problem. So the bug is reported. They told me to do two things: update all my idevices first, then restore the HomePod If that did not work. I did not want to update my I devices to 15.2 this week either, so that’s that.

Unfortunately, it is the issue of the devices not being updated. Once I updated my iPhone to 15.2, everything worked again. Strangely, I normally don't update my Homepods first, and the one time I do it causes a major problem.

 

[Squuiid]

The sloppiness and lack of care taken by HomePod devs is utterly astounding.
Did they not test anything prior to release?
I mean, W-T-F.

 

[spunkybart]

One of my OG HomePods just farted and gave me such a fright. I actually didn't know where the bang came from until I saw the dust that had clearly landed on it after it farted.

It still works and the bass appears to be fine so it seems like it didn't break but it now worries me about iOS 15.2. I don't want these to brick themselves.

Mine started popping with the 15.0 release. And yes it scares the sh*t outta me when it happens.