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Apple Releases New HomePod 15 Software With Siri Playback Support, HomePod Mini Stereo Pairs, and More

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Alongside iOS 15, iPadOS 15, tvOS 15, and watchOS 8, Apple today released new software that's designed for the HomePod and the HomePod mini.

HomePodandMini-feature-orange.jpg

The HomePod 15 software update introduces several new features that are designed to work in tandem with tvOS and iOS.
- Select a single or pair of HomePod mini as the default speakers for your Apple TV 4K for rich room-filling sound and clear dialogue.
- Media playback controls automatically appear on your iPhone’s Lock Screen when a HomePod mini playing music is nearby
- Set a lower bass level to enjoy music without disturbing the neighbors
- Ask Siri to turn on your Apple TV, start playing a favorite movie, and control playback while you watch
- Siri automatically adjusts its speaking level based on the room environment and volume of the user
- Ask Siri to control smart home devices at a specific time like turning off the lights in 10 minutes
- Extend access to HomePod throughout your home by enabling Siri voice control on compatible HomeKit accessories
- Support for package detection with HomeKit Secure Video
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‌‌‌‌‌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 New HomePod 15 Software With Siri Playback Support, HomePod Mini Stereo Pairs, and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2021/09/20/homepod-15-software-now-available/
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Vangeli said:
Nice, Siri being quieter in a quiet environment is welcome. Whispering “hey Siri, play stream sounds” at night shouldn’t have it belting out a response.
Click to expand...

Indeed! funny I didn't even think of this until I read your post. Now I'm thinking why wasn't this there since day one?
- BUT ... how can this ignore snooped commands not from you like we've seen with inaudible frequency commands to Alexa devices??
 
I'm now really scared to update HomePods after one update a few months back totally f-ed my audio sync with my Apple TV. A week or two later they released another update that fixed it, but that was really annoying.
 
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I don’t know but there is only so much you can add to the software of a speaker I wonder what they will add in 5 more years
 
"Siri automatically adjusts its speaking level based on the room environment and volume of the user" wasn't this something the OG was supposed to have but just never worked? Also, why would it take so long to add this?

Was talking to senior advisor with apple genius for my HomePod recently and they way they talked about it you'd think it's some crazy futuristic technology no one but apple has done before when amazon has had a lot of these things for years and you don't need your phone around all the time for it to work. (they blamed everything on needing to have the iPhone around all the time to work as "the brain")
 
Very glad about the bass levels, as I live in an apartment.

I've currently got a Shortcut that sets the volumn of all the HomePods to something low every night, so that "hey, siri, what's the weather" in the morning doesn't give me "IT'S SEVENTY TWO DEGREES. IT WILL BE SUNNY IN THE MORNING..."
 
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Does it fix the problem where my other family members are constantly told to “authenticate on their iPhone first” or “allow personal requests” any time they try to get the HomePod mini to do anything other than turn the lights on and off.
 
LeonPro said:
Where is the "lower bass level" setting? I'm looking for it, but can't readily see it. I only see the usual "reduce loud sounds".
Click to expand...
There’s a reduce loud sounds toggle/button?

Was not expecting this news! Auto-siri volume and reducing bass levels might be my favorite part of iOS 15 for real. Also going to enjoy easier multitasking on iPadOS.
 
My HomePod mini has updated to 15.0. My old HomePod still shows 14.7 as latest version. Is the old unit really supported by the new code?

EDIT: welp, too soon. Updating.
 
Lower the bass? So why can’t we have an EQ? Or at least tell Siri to boost or lower the mids or the highs? Why just low bass?
 
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