Apple Releases HomePod Software 15.5

[CarAnalogy]

Hoping the HomePod 15.5 and other updates make the HomeKit and home app reliable. Siri on HomePod and the Home app (at least from my experience), are terribly unreliable to the point where I’ve stopped talking to HomePod and use the third party apps for different smart devices. The most annoying things are:
- on it, just a sec, …. ….
- Siri miss-understanding
- Siri asking ‘who’s speaking’ (me… like usual)
- my HomeKit camera disconnecting - reconnecting - disconnecting - reconnecting ….
- devises registering as ‘not responding’ in the home app, but being controllable in the third party app

My HomeKit camera used to frequently not record/notify motion, but that seems to have resolved since 15.3. Here’s hoping 15.5 doesn’t break it again.

Am I alone here, or are these issues common?

Same. Works one update, breaks with the next. My favorite was just last night it told me my home hub was taking a while to respond, and so it couldn't turn on the lights. So while I'm standing there in the dark I have time to take out my phone and use the app, the lights turn on instantly. But the HomePods blame the hub.

It's like Siri is in denial. Always tries to blame something else when the problem is clearly Siri. And I haven't seen anyone try to defend it by saying "privacy" in a while either. It has access to everything it needs, it just fails to do it.

Slightly off topic but the worst for me is that I own many of my favorite shows, having bought them in the Apple TV app, most notably The Office when it was on sale back when it was removed from Netflix. Yet despite this, Siri never acknowledges this or any other show in my library, telling me to install Peacock. I bought it from YOU, Apple!
Same with other shows, I can start an episode from my library and Watch Now will link the next episode to Hulu.

Thank God Cue is now working on ads. Maybe that's a subtle sign that they put someone else on Siri, because Apple doesn't acknowledge all of its problems on every platform.

 

[twistedpixel8]

Same. Works one update, breaks with the next. My favorite was just last night it told me my home hub was taking a while to respond, and so it couldn't turn on the lights. So while I'm standing there in the dark I have time to take out my phone and use the app, the lights turn on instantly. But the HomePods blame the hub.

It's like Siri is in denial. Always tries to blame something else when the problem is clearly Siri. And I haven't seen anyone try to defend it by saying "privacy" in a while either. It has access to everything it needs, it just fails to do it.

The most infuriating thing is that all of this worked more or less flawlessly (for me anyway!) in iOS14. Just undo everything Apple! Go back to HomePod software 14!

 

[CarAnalogy]

Be nice if my geofencing worked reliably again as it hasn’t in a good month now

I switched from Android because of this, and as of iOS 13 it was rock solid. Lately it has been working on again off again, usually off again after an update.

Also I'm finding a lot of apps are showing badges but not banners, have to disable and re-enable notifications, again usually after either an app update or OS update.

I use geofencing a lot and so far so good lately. But if it doesn't work it's hard to troubleshoot. My advice is to make sure only one device is reporting your location. Good luck.

 

[ThatGuyInLa]

Oh we're talking about using Siri and Home app to control HomeKit approved lights now? That is a FUN disco show! To this day Siri thinks white is pink. Blue is Red. "Scenes" don't work. She will either ignore or just keep doing the last active Scene instead of the one requested. Routines, sort of work though! YAY! I end up using my Google Nest to control my lights since Apple's control is a %$#!@ show.

 

[srbNYC]

My scenes all work, with Meross outlets and a different brand’s bulbs.

 

[Radeon85]

on it….still working on it…just a sec…

Only ever seems to be the HomePods that do this and I have 5 of them. Doesn't do it all the time either it's so random, iPhone, watch and iPad 99% of the time do things just fine pretty quickly. I'm also running one Alexa device and if I give her the same voice command like turn off a specific item with Hue while the HomePods are working on it it's done immediately. Never any hesitation whatsoever.

Also I find Alexa is much faster at turning on/off my Hue devices while Siri no matter the device always has a bit of a lag. Siri needs some serious work as she's falling so far behind.

 

[Razorpit]

Slightly off topic but the worst for me is that I own many of my favorite shows, having bought them in the Apple TV app, most notably The Office when it was on sale back when it was removed from Netflix. Yet despite this, Siri never acknowledges this or any other show in my library, telling me to install Peacock. I bought it from YOU, Apple!
Same with other shows, I can start an episode from my library and Watch Now will link the next episode to Hulu.

Thank God Cue is now working on ads. Maybe that's a subtle sign that they put someone else on Siri, because Apple doesn't acknowledge all of its problems on every platform.

I noticed this recently as well. Oddly enough it was "The Office" where I first noticed it.

 

[Billistan]

And if you don’t use Apple Music, it just plays the first thing in your Music library. It’s so annoying. I use Spotify.

No idea what is wrong with mine. I had the free trial of Apple Music and along with deleting some custom songs on my phone and laptop (I had them backed up so mainly inconvenience), it has set my HomePod to ALWAYS play Apple's Radio1 or whatever crappy song of the day they pick if touched. No way to remove apple radio from the settings. I would prefer it play out of my library rather than Apple's dentist office music.

 

[Billistan]

Huh. Touching my HomePods acts just like your AirPods. Continues playing the last thing.

Yea mine is on crack right now. I will stream music from my iPhone music library or Spotify and pause it. If I press the top of it, it will 90% of the time play Apple internet Radio. The other 10% of the time it plays a random podcast that I've never heard of.

 

[citysnaps]

Just updated my 7 HomePods (5 original and 2 mini) to 15.5.

No issues, superb sound, and Siri still works great controlling them.

 

[Someirishguy]

1 HomePod, 2 Minis, Apple TV, iPhone, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro, all updated. Fingers crossed…..

 

[Macxpress]

I always worry that the update will screw up and brick the HomePod like what has happened in previous updates...then you're totally and completely SOL with them which would make be very sad as I love the 2 that I have.

 

[T5BRICK]

Haven’t had many issues with mine. In fact I’m about to buy a 3rd OG HomePod.

 

[awulf]

I agree with others that Siri on HomePod has been absolute rubbish since iOS 15, worked pretty flawlessly in iOS 14. Some commands work 50% of the time like opening and closing shades, sometimes she responds with "your shades don't support that action". I no longer can turn on/off the air conditioner, Siri will do something random like "Rear deck light is off", "Reduced volume", change modes from heating to cooling. Hopefully this update fixes this. I would like to see some major improvements with Siri and HomeKit for iOS 16.

 

[zapmymac]

I really hate the HomePod because of it's buggy software. Does anyone know of a way to turn off AppleMusic radio autoplay when I accidentally touch the top of it? My AirPods are nice becuase if I click them with the intent of playing media it will play the last thing played or my music... but the HomePod randomly plays some crappy apple radio no matter what I had playing last.

I've also had it randomly start playing an apple podcast and I still cant get it to do the intercom feature.

mine do that once in awhile. An accidental touch, it just starts playing some random song. ?

 

[MacFan23]

The HomePod minis (11 here in my house) is quickly approaching being up for sale like the Alexa devices were.

These devices have gone from good to absolutely unreliable. It’s easier to just go flick the light switch rather than keep repeating to the stupid devices. Clearly Apple cannot do better and I’ve just about given up on all theses companies. Perhaps going back to the old way of doing things is the solution because Apple software really has just gotten bad. But on the upside Tim Cook made a lot of money for Apple!

#AppleIsStartingToSuck

It’s funny how different experiences can be, I moved from Google to HomeKit because I was starting to get frustrated with the lack of functionality available with the assistant. HomeKit plus Homebridge plus Starling Home hub have been incredible for me and to date, entirely reliable with a good few dozen devices on my network.

 

[Rychiar]

Only ever seems to be the HomePods that do this and I have 5 of them. Doesn't do it all the time either it's so random, iPhone, watch and iPad 99% of the time do things just fine pretty quickly. I'm also running one Alexa device and if I give her the same voice command like turn off a specific item with Hue while the HomePods are working on it it's done immediately. Never any hesitation whatsoever.

Also I find Alexa is much faster at turning on/off my Hue devices while Siri no matter the device always has a bit of a lag. Siri needs some serious work as she's falling so far behind.

Ya can guarantee it will stutter or fail if you’re showing another person your setup ?

 

[BarrettF77]

It’s funny how different experiences can be, I moved from Google to HomeKit because I was starting to get frustrated with the lack of functionality available with the assistant. HomeKit plus Homebridge plus Starling Home hub have been incredible for me and to date, entirely reliable with a good few dozen devices on my network.

My issue I think is also I am using Eero Pro 6 units and the last and new gen also have issues. Basically Amazon owned EERO used to be the Apple of routers, I am also wondering if eero is partly to blame. I hate my eero and next house I will rid myself of anything amazon Alexa related. Apple is the most reliable, but in my current state that isn't saying a whole..... hold on... just a moment.... this is taking a while.... You catch my drift. lol

 

[Rychiar]

My issue I think is also I am using Eero Pro 6 units and the last and new gen also have issues. Basically Amazon owned EERO used to be the Apple of routers, I am also wondering if eero is partly to blame. I hate my eero and next house I will rid myself of anything amazon Alexa related. Apple is the most reliable, but in my current state that isn't saying a whole..... hold on... just a moment.... this is taking a while.... You catch my drift. lol

wow im glad I didn't upgrade then. my Eero 5s have been great up until few issues recently that were corrected with a software update

 

[Poindexter333]

The HomePod minis (11 here in my house) is quickly approaching being up for sale like the Alexa devices were.

These devices have gone from good to absolutely unreliable. It’s easier to just go flick the light switch rather than keep repeating to the stupid devices. Clearly Apple cannot do better and I’ve just about given up on all theses companies. Perhaps going back to the old way of doing things is the solution because Apple software really has just gotten bad. But on the upside Tim Cook made a lot of money for Apple!

#AppleIsStartingToSuck

I concur 100%! I had to make a change from huge speakers to pairs of OG HomePods, and I really love their sound, but I’m afraid every time an update comes down that it will brick my significantly large investment. What other product does this to its owner? ?

His Steveness is rolling in his urn I bet. He would throw 50 or 100 engineers into a room with endless Jolt!, EDM piped in and edibles until they FIXED IT! Whatever it took. Then allow us to use 5 as a surround system already!

 

[Poindexter333]

Oh we're talking about using Siri and Home app to control HomeKit approved lights now? That is a FUN disco show! To this day Siri thinks white is pink. Blue is Red. "Scenes" don't work. She will either ignore or just keep doing the last active Scene instead of the one requested. Routines, sort of work though! YAY! I end up using my Google Nest to control my lights since Apple's control is a %$#!@ show.

I ended up choosing Govee lighting in so many forms- a few dozen now, and control them all using the iOS app. Rock solid! Yes I do want to have the elegant digital hub Steve promised us, and control all of my audio, video, data/files, lighting controls, scenes controlling many lighting elements and security features using Siri too. But remember what Uncle Junior said about wanting things? He wanted to be with Angie Dickinson, but that never worked out. And apparently Apple doesn’t care what WE want!

 

[Poindexter333]

Ugh. Here I go automatically. I usually wait to see if there are issues but it had already started as I opened Home. Rebooting by itself, and now she’s “having trouble connecting to the Internet.“ ?‍???

 

[bbednarz]

Don't feel left out. Siri doesn't understand English either. Oh and often forgets who my wife is, sometimes won't recognize my grocery store list or Costco list. And needs to "show me it on my iPhone" for just about anything shy of what time is it and what's the weather going to be for today.

Dont sell her short. She sets a hell of a timer.

 

[bigbucksnowhammies]

Have two stereo pairs. Like the previous updates, I will wait a bit longer before updating.

 

[Poindexter333]

FWIW, these Siri skits are all over. Most are super funny. Probably NSFW.
Knock on wood, my update worked perfectly.

Alex Wealth ,The mathematician “ I GOT WEALTH”™️ on Instagram: "Man I think it’s time for Siri an update 🤣😂🤣🤣🤣… #toxicsiri #igotwealth Follow @iamtruwealth for more 👍🏽"

8,320 likes, 407 comments - iamtruwealth on April 26, 2022: "Man I think it’s time for Siri an update 🤣😂🤣🤣🤣… #toxicsiri #igotwealth Follow @iamtruwealth for more 👍🏽".

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