Apple Releases New 13.4.8 Software for HomePod

[MacRumors]

Alongside of iOS and iPadOS 13.6, Apple today released new 13.4.8 software for the HomePod. According to Apple's release notes, the update brings no new features and instead focuses on "general improvements for stability and quality."

The new HomePod software comes two months after the release of the HomePod 13.4.5 software, which also included general improvements for stability and quality.

HomePod‌ software is installed automatically on the ‌HomePod‌, but the ‌HomePod‌ can also be manually updated by following the instructions in our ‌HomePod‌ update how to.

Article Link: Apple Releases New 13.4.8 Software for HomePod

 

[Vol Braakzakje]

So how can I have Spotify as the default music player?
This question also regards to iOS 14 beta...

 

[k1121j]

still to rich for me. Finally broke down and got 4 google homes

 

[5097842]

still to rich for me. Finally broke down and got 4 google dot homes

Best Buy has them for $200 every other month or so, that's a good deal to me. I enjoy my HomePod and get a lot of use out of it, but $300 is steep and the original $350 was just too much for what it does.

 

[k1121j]

i need one for at least 4 rooms i dont use the speaker part not impressed with the sound i loaned a pair from a friend and my 99.00 bose computer speakers attached to my tv sounds better not to mention the sound syncing issue with the apple TV's yes many i have a few dif modles and they have issues with each one. i only need the hey siri feature for my lights garage doors etc

 

[kissmo]

After every update, the HomePods run super smooth. But a couple of days later, Siri keeps telling me to Just a sec....

Whatever... I don't believe in these updates at all for the HomePod.
I thought it was a network issue but that doesn't explain why the work perfect for the first 2-3 days....

 

[Bazooka-joe]

After every update, the HomePods run super smooth. But a couple of days later, Siri keeps telling me to Just a sec....

Whatever... I don't believe in these updates at all for the HomePod.
I thought it was a network issue but that doesn't explain why the work perfect for the first 2-3 days....

So I was getting the same issue and ended up rebooting both HomePods and they were fine after that

 

[BarrettF77]

HomePods have never run smoother after I reset them and removed them from my home. The number is decreasing daily.

moved to Sonos and they play nice on airplay better than apples own product

 

[Remy149]

HomePods have never run smoother after I reset them and removed them from my home. The number is decreasing daily.

moved to Sonos and they play nice on airplay better than apples own product

I own both HomePods and Sonos speakers. I actually don’t see any noticeable airplay 2 differences

 

[BarrettF77]

I own both HomePods and Sonos speakers. I actually don’t see any noticeable airplay 2 differences

Tie them to the Apple TV and say pause so the screensaver comes up and then tell it to play by voice and watch the HomePods start playing but the screensaver stays on. Sonos doesn’t do that. Defeats the purpose of voice and might as well use the remote. Just one example.

 

[Dizzy714]

The fact that HomePod’s operate as a source and not just a connected speaker is the reason I stick with HomePod’s. Having to manually tap each Sonos I have in my garage setup via the AirPlay dropdown simply gets annoying. I tap one of my HomePod rooms and all HomePod’s in that room are immediately connected.

 

[BarrettF77]

Sonos Arc does that too. Except if I try and play more than 4 HomePods they lag out. 12 Sonos devices and not a blip. Being a power user on both fronts, I’m using the latest Sonos and the latest Apple speakers. Those are the facts

 

[roar08]

Love my HomePod. Became a Sonos customer last year w/ a Playbase and a number of One SLs. For me, Sonos wins. HomePod is really good ... but as of today, I'd go Sonos (w/out Alexa, hence the SLs).

 

[Wackery]

I legitimately forgot the homepod existed

 

[Ggvfvgbffbf]

After every update, the HomePods run super smooth. But a couple of days later, Siri keeps telling me to Just a sec....

Whatever... I don't believe in these updates at all for the HomePod.
I thought it was a network issue but that doesn't explain why the work perfect for the first 2-3 days....

EXACTLY this. My 2 stereo HomePods will work flawlessly now for about a week.

Then “just a sec”, “one more moment”, “there was a problem with the app”, “I didn’t hear back”.

 

[Rique]

All of the nice things being said about Sonos intrigues me. I’d pretty much settled on going with HomePod after reading all of the scathing reviews of Sonos speakers in Amazon reviews.

I need Airplay 2 compatibility and the ability to play simultaneously in multiple rooms. I don’t really care about smart home features, so if HomePod falls short in that area, it doesn’t bug me much. As long as it works well with Apple Music and also with playing from my Plex server, I will be happy. I also don’t need it to pair with the TV, we have our Yamaha receiver for that.

Finally, I don’t want to spend more than $200 per speaker and for that investment, the speaker should offer sound quality commensurate with that price point. So all of that said, is Sonos still a good alternative to HomePod? Because those pissed-off reviews in Amazon sure scared me off of that path...

 

[DENZIE]

When I look at the release notes in the home app it says:
HomePod Software Version 13.5.1 includes general improvements for stability and quality.

but this update is 13.4.8?

 

[NavyLock]

Contemplating buying a homepod but not sure whether to hold out until September in case Apple releases an updated model - any insight would be appreciated

 

[BarrettF77]

The post about it showing 13.5.1, this is because Apple software for HomePods is garbage. They have two engineers dedicated to HomePod and HomeKit. Two!!!!

Apple doesn’t believe in HomePod. It was a novel idea they haven’t invested in and I’m bailing.

To the posts about Sonos, are they perfect? No. Are they worlds better than the support Apple provides. Yep.

think of it like calling eero support for their mesh routers versus Apple for time capsule support. One tells you it’s the first time they’ve heard of that before. The other has all your I do pulled up as soon as you talk to them and your issue gets resolved.

Apple is just a hot mess and I used to think they were the benchmark. That was true, ten years ago. Everyone else has evolved, Apple has stayed the same.

 

[patent10021]

I legitimately forgot the homepod existed

You don't actually think Apple legitimately cares do you?

 

[dflower]

Sonos Arc does that too. Except if I try and play more than 4 HomePods they lag out. 12 Sonos devices and not a blip. Being a power user on both fronts, I’m using the latest Sonos and the latest Apple speakers. Those are the facts

I've been using 2 HomePods connected to my Apple TV 4K as my main speakers, and the out-of-sync issues are pretty horrible. How have you found the Arc? I'm thinking of getting it. Big improvement from the HomePods?

 

[montuori]

The fact that HomePod’s operate as a source and not just a connected speaker is the reason I stick with HomePod’s. Having to manually tap each Sonos I have in my garage setup via the AirPlay dropdown simply gets annoying. I tap one of my HomePod rooms and all HomePod’s in that room are immediately connected.

Just FYI: You can create aggregate devices (among other things) in the Audio MIDI utility. If I'm remembering correctly, you can add AirPlay targets to an aggregate and then select that aggregate from the volume menu/sound prefs as your output. I might be misremembering though, it's been a while.

 

[DeepIn2U]

After every update, the HomePods run super smooth. But a couple of days later, Siri keeps telling me to Just a sec....

Whatever... I don't believe in these updates at all for the HomePod.
I thought it was a network issue but that doesn't explain why the work perfect for the first 2-3 days....

that’s not the HomePod failing, that’s Siri - internet connection to Apple and their Siri servers.

I’m sure your HomePod functions properly aside from specific or a short range of requests related to Siri.

personally I don’t use Siri as often as I could/should. Call it me being older (40’s) or just old school or just in a condo with 1 HomePod, but it works sweetly as a wireless speaker much more reliable than the Play:1/Play:One from Sonos. The quality, sound volume and frequency range and renege is just so much better, cleaner, louder.

the only issues I’ve experienced with 13.4 and with 13.3/13.2/.1 was the random Siri “Uh-Huh” during the witching hours of the IG HR with no command being sent by me,TV off, iPhone locked and asleep along with myself.Kinda freaky honestly.
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EXACTLY this. My 2 stereo HomePods will work flawlessly now for about a week.

Then “just a sec”, “one more moment”, “there was a problem with the app”, “I didn’t hear back”.

is there any network congestion going on? 2.4/5ghz connection? What commands does these errors show up frequently or consistently with?

 

[kissmo]

that’s not the HomePod failing, that’s Siri - internet connection to Apple and their Siri servers.

I’m sure your HomePod functions properly aside from specific or a short range of requests related to Siri.

personally I don’t use Siri as often as I could/should. Call it me being older (40’s) or just old school or just in a condo with 1 HomePod, but it works sweetly as a wireless speaker much more reliable than the Play:1/Play:One from Sonos. The quality, sound volume and frequency range and renege is just so much better, cleaner, louder.

the only issues I’ve experienced with 13.4 and with 13.3/13.2/.1 was the random Siri “Uh-Huh” during the witching hours of the IG HR with no command being sent by me,TV off, iPhone locked and asleep along with myself.Kinda freaky honestly.
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is there any network congestion going on? 2.4/5ghz connection? What commands does these errors show up frequently or consistently with?

Yes you old dog... I’m gonna be 40 in october too.

No complains about the sound quality! I love the sound from the HomePds. I never saw anything at this size, in this form factor and with this functionality that even comes close.

Connection issues - never thought about it that it can be Siri to servers. I am wondering though why am I not experiencing these on the iPhone or iPad?

Cheers mate, lots oh health and may our 40s represent the first third of our life!

 

[iAssimilated]

This update installed without issue on my four Homepods.

It could be a placebo, but I feel the Airplay connectivity from a Mac has improved in the last couple of updates. Also, did this update change the sound profile, sounds a bit different? Regardless, I love my Homepods... worth every penny I have spent on them!