Apple Releases New HomePod 15 Beta Update Following Reports of Sudden Failures

[MacRumors]

Apple today released a new version of the HomePod 15 beta software that's designed to go along with the iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and macOS Monterey betas.

The new software comes as multiple HomePod owners running the original HomePod 15 beta have complained of sudden failures and heat issues that have rendered their HomePods non-functional.

HomePod beta software is distributed on an invite-only basis to select users, so there is no update that can be downloaded by developers or the general public.

There are ways to get the HomePod software if you're not a part of Apple's testing group, but because it's designed for a small number of users on an invite-only basis, we do not recommend using any alternate method to obtain the update.

It is beta software and can be unreliable, as the multiple reports of hardware failures demonstrate. These issues have also affected those with the 14.6 release software, but there does not appear to be a new public version of the HomePod software at this time.

The release notes for the HomePod 15 update do not offer any information and do not indicate whether the failure issue has been addressed.

Article Link: Apple Releases New HomePod 15 Beta Update Following Reports of Sudden Failures

 

[Kkspire]

What about people who had to pay out of warranty for another one because of it?

 

[nebulosan]

That’s a large HomePod

 

[Tec_Amigo]

Apple today released a new version of the HomePod 15 beta software that's designed to go along with the iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and macOS Monterey betas.

The new software comes as multiple HomePod owners running the original HomePod 15 beta have complained of sudden failures and heat issues that have rendered their HomePods non-functional.

HomePod beta software is distributed on an invite-only basis to select users, so there is no update that can be downloaded by developers or the general public.

There are ways to get the HomePod software if you're not a part of Apple's testing group, but because it's designed for a small number of users on an invite-only basis, we do not recommend using any alternate method to obtain the update.

It is beta software and can be unreliable, as the multiple reports of hardware failures demonstrate. These issues have also affected those with the 14.6 release software, but there does not appear to be a new public version of the HomePod software at this time.

The release notes for the HomePod 15 update do not offer any information and do not indicate whether the failure issue has been addressed.

Article Link: Apple Releases New HomePod 15 Beta Update Following Reports of Sudden Failures

I guess we have to be part of an elite club!!

 

[nvmls]

What about people who had to pay out of warranty for another one because of it?

Working as intended. Regards.

-Tim

 

[larrylaffer]

What about people who had to pay out of warranty for another one because of it?

If 14.6 caused this, I would be demanding a refund.

 

[iamyash]

This is a big issue that will only get patched in iOS 15 thats if they address it. We need the fix now!

 

[nrose101]

That’s a large HomePod

Nah. It's the real HomePod. The small ones are a joke for audiophiles.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Pulling down now for my HomePods... though ironically it's my HomePods Mini that have been unusable since the first beta... and they're not shown on this update screen.

Edit: They won't update while I'm not home, doh.

Edit 2: HomePods are now saying up to date. Still nothing regarding the HomePods Mini.

 

[Nautilus007]

Nah. It's the real HomePod. The small ones are a joke for audiophiles.

Really? I was considering buying a pair of HomePod Mini's for my office. Are they really not good?

 

[Hjupter Cerrud]

too late, I already learned a hard lesson I lost one of my OG HomePods, not installing a beta ever again :/

does anyone know if there is any way to fix the flashing volume lights problem? I have no warranty and Apple doesn't offer support for HomePods in my country.

 

[AppleUser2]

Really? I was considering buying a pair of HomePod Mini's for my office. Are they really not good?

I have 2. I think they are good for SQ. I also have 1 full sized - that’s way better but the bass can be a bit bloomy.

 

[Solver]

For those using beta software on a HomePod, turn off auto update, disconnect from Apple TV, unpair stereo pairing, update each separately and check for any unusual activity such as the top getting hot.
Unless in the middle of an update, if the top is getting hot keep the HomePod unplugged.

 

[foobarbaz]

Maybe I've just never noticed before, but mine with 14.6 are also surprisingly hot …

 

[B/D]

Maybe I've just never noticed before, but mine with 14.6 are also surprisingly hot …

Yes. An update is also needed ASAP for the stable version of the software.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Really? I was considering buying a pair of HomePod Mini's for my office. Are they really not good?

I think they're great if you don't have a stereo pair of HomePods in your adjacent room to them to compare to.

 

[nrose101]

Really? I was considering buying a pair of HomePod Mini's for my office. Are they really not good?

If you like hearing horrible sound....they are great.

I have 2. I think they are good for SQ. I also have 1 full sized - that’s way better but the bass can be a bit bloomy.

For people that grew up on CDs and real stereos in their home the old Homepod can compare to a Booom Box from the 80s. These new ones sound like a cheap $20 speaker underwater and maybe compare to a pair of crapy pc speakers.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

For people that grew up on CDs and real stereos in their home the old Homepod can compare to a Booom Box from the 80s. These new ones sound like a cheap $20 speaker underwater and maybe compare to a pair of crapy pc speakers.

Wow, I guess my parents' several-thousand dollar Onkyo system was poop then, since my HomePods sound better than it did, and my HomePods Mini sound better than your '80s boombox.

I grew up with a turn table... I was the first in my house to get a CD player sometime in the early '90s.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Apparently we get Lossless audio (but not spatial) in this beta, too.

 

[nrose101]

The Amazon Echo Studio has good sound quality?. Interesting. I presumed that it would be similar to the rest of the echo line up.

Not at all! It's bigger than the original homepod and sounds amazing...

 

[B/D]

Apparently we get Lossless audio (but not spatial) in this beta, too.

Lossless was there since Homepod OS 15 beta 1, wasn´t it?

 

[nrose101]

Apparently we get Lossless audio (but not spatial) in this beta, too.

S

Lossless was there since Homepod OS 15 beta 1, wasn´t it?

It's supposed to be what had bricked them.

 

[H3LL5P4WN]

Lossless was there since Homepod OS 15 beta 1, wasn´t it?

I guess not?

 

[B/D]

Not at all! It's bigger than the original homepod and sounds amazing...

Oh, thats great. It also cheaper. I think that the original homepods (I have an stereo pair) are good speakers, the problem is the default tuning, a little muddy and bass heavy. Maybe the "reduce bass" toggle present in the Homepod OS 15 beta will help with this.

For example, I have a pair of Sony WH 1000 XM4 headphones for their fantastic noise cancelling. The default sound signature is awful, but after EQ, they sound quite good (for what they are). So maybe the problem are not the homepods themselves, but the sound EQ.

 

[B/D]

I guess not?

Yes, it was. Here is a picture of it in the beta 1.