Apple Releases HomePod Software 15.3

[MacRumors]

Alongside iOS 15.3 and iPadOS 15.3, Apple today released a new 15.3 update that's available for the HomePod and the HomePod mini.

As with iOS 15.3, the HomePod 15.3 software is a minor update that focuses on bug fixes rather than new features. According to Apple's release notes, the update adds Siri voice recognition support for up to six users in a home in English (India) and Italian (Italy). It also includes performance and stability improvements.

‌‌‌‌‌‌‌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 15.3

 

[ouimetnick]

Supposedly it will fix the kernel panics and random popping noises during AirPlay. Obviously won’t fix the popping noises caused by Tim Cook’s brilliant engineering team. ?

 

[macmac30]

I'm hoping this version solves the problem I have been having with a grouped pair of Minis connected to my MBP 16 M1 Pro. I can select the paired group of minis as my laptop's sound output but it only lasts a day and stops working (reverts to the speakers on the MBP) until I reboot the Minis...also hoping it calms down the popping noises from my grouped pair of large HomePods. Soooo annoying!!!

 

[bbednarz]

Hoping it fixes some of the horribleness caused by these last few updates. But also worried this will be the update that fries one of my HomePods… Here goes nothing..

 

[macmac30]

I have 3 Minis, a grouped pair of minis, and a grouped pair of HomePods. All were running 15.2. One of the individual minis updated just fine to 15.3, all of the others are now trying to download 15.2. The HomePods were showing 15.2 and 15.3 downloads. Very weird.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

Hoping that it maybe resolves an issue with one of a stereo pair going quieter than the other sometimes during playback!

 

[betweenupdates]

Apple has made it a full time daily task of having to deal with broken software. Burning out! Such a mess. Currently bug that asks users to enter their iCloud password in an infinite loop

 

[Kissmo1980]

I have 3 Minis, a grouped pair of minis, and a grouped pair of HomePods. All were running 15.2. One of the individual minis updated just fine to 15.3, all of the others are now trying to download 15.2. The HomePods were showing 15.2 and 15.3 downloads. Very weird.

Had the exact same with 2 homepods.
One was saying it does 15.2 other 15.3

 

[ToxicBlue]

Supposedly it will fix the kernel panics and random popping noises during AirPlay. Obviously won’t fix the popping noises caused by Tim Cook’s brilliant engineering team. ?

This...

Hoping that it maybe resolves an issue with one of a stereo pair going quieter than the other sometimes during playback!

...and this happen to my two OG HomePods, the popping brings a reset of the HomePod and losing stereo playback with one muting itself happens way too often.

 

[drlamb]

I have a pair of each type of homepod and love them for aTV speakers (Especially now with eARC passthrough).

I'll also be the first person to say that if I relied on my homepods for alarms I'd be unemployed.

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

[...] ...and this happen to my two OG HomePods, the popping brings a reset of the HomePod and losing stereo playback with one muting itself happens way too often.

Yeah it's a real pain, I've got to original HomePods too.

 

[tonie walker]

this product is pain to work with. You just don’t know if it still working or not, so many bugs to the point siri need to search the web for “turn off the light”

 

[Unggoy Murderer]

this product is pain to work with. You just don’t know if it still working or not, so many bugs to the point siri need to search the web for “turn off the light”

I use HomePod and Siri extensively every single day, and have absolutely no idea what you're talking about? If I say "Hey Siri, turn on the lights", it gets done within a second or two.

I have issues with IKEA bulbs dropping out because of a flaky gateway, but that's no fault of iOS.

 

[london_apple]

I have never had a problem with any of my HomePods (OG and Mini) — until now lol. Praying that this update fixes the random skipping and stopping… and Siri is STUMPED.

 

[Solver]

Here's hoping things are (just a sec) smoother after this update.

 

[EPO75]

Yeah it's a real pain, I've got to original HomePods too.

That and also issues with a Mac mini M1 not able to connect anymore, have to reboot or kill the Airplay + Coreaudiod processes. Don' have any of these issues with IOS devices or my MacBook Air M1. Guess it's hardware related stuff with the Mini M1.

 

[AbSoluTc]

Hope it fixes the "hmm, things are taking a little longer", "hmm still working", "hmm, I'm sorry". Also the mini's that I can't hear siri talk unless I increase volume to 70 and then music plays SUPER LOUD!

 

[ironpony]

"Just a sec" Siri on the HomePod fumbles around like she is in a press conference ....

 

[tonie walker]

I use HomePod and Siri extensively every single day, and have absolutely no idea what you're talking about? If I say "Hey Siri, turn on the lights", it gets done within a second or two.

I have issues with IKEA bulbs dropping out because of a flaky gateway, but that's no fault of iOS.

definitely you will have no idea since you haven’t experienced them but it doesn’t invalidate my user experience.

 

[k1121j]

I use HomePod and Siri extensively every single day, and have absolutely no idea what you're talking about? If I say "Hey Siri, turn on the lights", it gets done within a second or two.

I have issues with IKEA bulbs dropping out because of a flaky gateway, but that's no fault of iOS.

Not me I have 65 lights some philips hue and many HomeKit bulbs the last 5 months have been horrible all around Google has no problems so I’m sure it’s somewhere in HomeKit 4 Apple TV’s 5 HomePods.

 

[Radeon85]

Hopefully it's improved the "hmm, things are taking a little longer" issue even though I've not had that for a while thankfully. Wonder why it's only the homepods that do this the most often though. While the hompod is thinking about turning of the lights with Philips hue, if I give the same command on my watch, iPhone or iPad they carry out the command immediately while the homepod is still thinking about it. Pain in the ass when the issue pops up.

 

[timsutcliffe]

Nice to come on and see lots of others having issues as well. Here's hoping they're all fixed.

 

[TracesOfArsenic]

And all around the world the 12 HomePod owners rejoice!

 

[B/D]

Well, I´ve done a bit of testing after updating to 15.3 with my living room OG stereo pair and so far I am impressed.

Sound wise it seems that the overall muddy sound signature with recessed mids and overbearing messy bass of tvOS 14/15 its finally gone. So much clear and balanced.

No popping, no Airplay issues. Siri requests are faster than ever and overall the whole interaction with the speakers seems super responsive and fast now, like it should be. And she actually stays at the voice volume level that you tell it to in subsequent interactions, even with "automatic Siri volume" toggle enabled in settings, which is great.

There is just one area that unfortunately seems the same as previous tvOS 15 firmwares, and that is Homekit. There Siri still lags "one sec, I´m on it" a lot although for me it always carrie on with the scene at the end which is a huge improvement over previous firmwares. It just take a long time to do so and lags, but at least she get it done now.

Frankly, given the ******** that the homepods software/user experience has been since 14.6, I´m very happy with the update.

Better late than never to show some care for the homepod platform, I suppose. This makes me hopeful of future firmwares.

 

[Benjamin Nabulsi]

The update fixes airplay stereo streaming from iDevices but from Mac, nope they still got it wrong.