Everything New in iOS 11.2.5: Siri Audio News, HomePod Support, New Control Center Music Interface and More

[MacRumors]

Apple this morning officially released the iOS 11.2.5 update to the public, introducing support for the upcoming HomePod smart speaker, which is set to be released on February 9.

In addition to adding support for HomePod, the update also introduces several HomePod-related features such as Siri podcast-based audio news reports and a new music interface, along with bug fixes and security improvements. Check the video and post below for everything that's new in iOS 11.2.5.

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Today's update introduces official support for podcast-based audio Siri news reports, a feature that first began rolling out on all devices last week.

When you ask Siri about the news of the day via Hey Siri or another hands-free method, the new feature allows the personal assistant to provide Podcast news from sources like NPR, Fox News, CNN, or The Washington Post.

While asking Siri about the news of the day will provide generic news updates from the aforementioned sources, you can also ask for more specific news about topics like sports, business, and music. Sports news provides podcasts from ESPN or NBC, business news offers podcasts from Bloomberg or CNBC, while music news offers Apple Music Beats 1 content.

Siri podcast news is available in the United States, Australia, and the UK, the three countries where the HomePod is launching in February. Siri news can be accessed on devices in other countries according to Apple's release notes for the iOS 11.2.5 update, but content will only be provided in English and the feature appears to be incomplete in unsupported countries.

The only significant outward-facing change introduced in iOS 11.2.5 brings a new layout for audio controls. When accessing the music widget on an iPhone or iPad, when you 3D Touch or press on the icon in the upper right hand side, all available audio playback sources are now listed as separate tiles.

Tapping on one of the audio sources, such as an Apple TV, allows audio to be played on the device and controlled separately from the iPhone. Using this feature, you can listen to music on one device, like the Apple TV, without interfering with audio playing on the iPhone.

Today's update introduces new functionality for the VoiceOver accessibility feature in iOS devices, allowing it to announce playback destinations and AirPod battery level.

Other, smaller improvements and bug fixes were also included in iOS 11.2.5, addressing issues in Mail, Messages, and CarPlay. From Apple's official release notes:

- Addresses an issue that could cause the Phone app to display incomplete information in the call list
- Fixes an issue that caused Mail notifications from some Exchange accounts to disappear from the Lock screen when unlocking iPhone X with Face ID
- Addresses an issue that could cause Messages conversations to temporarily be listed out of order
- Fixes an issue in CarPlay where Now Playing controls become unresponsive after multiple track changes

The iOS 11.2.5 update can be downloaded for free on all eligible devices over-the-air using the Settings app. To access the update, go to Settings --> General --> Software update.

Article Link: Everything New in iOS 11.2.5: Siri Audio News, HomePod Support, New Control Center Music Interface and More

 

[scottcampbell]

But Dan, how does it compare to the Android equivalent?

 

[toke lahti]

How’s throttling on iP6?
Better or worse?

 

[GTO]

..... and it doesn’t include that throttling switch which i’ve been waiting for.

 

[Juicy Box]

Anyone running iOS 11 on an SE?

I would like to update it, but I have been too scared to update my devices lately due to a some horrible issues I have experienced on multiple devices.

 

[err404]

That sounds really interesting. I hope this makes Airplay functionally closer to to how Chromecast works. Meaning that casting content doesn’t completely take over your phone.
When I get home I want to try casting a video to the TV and watching a different video on my phone.

 

[NZChris]

I don’t see the separate audio output tiles on either my “GA” 11.2.5 iPhone or my “Beta” 11.2.5 iPhone. Is there some sort of “secret handshake” to activate it, or is that only for some countries (e.g. the ones where HomePod is launching??

 

[zipster]

That Siri "functionality"... why would requesting news automatically bring up a podcast and not articles? Weird.

That audio interface update is ghastly.

 

[err404]

I don’t see the separate audio output tiles on either my “GA” 11.2.5 iPhone or my “Beta” 11.2.5 iPhone. Is there some sort of “secret handshake” to activate it, or is that only for some countries (e.g. the ones where HomePod is launching??

It may only be for AirPlay 2 compliant devices. What are you trying to cast to?

 

[tedstoutpa59]

Anyone running iOS 11 on an SE?

I would like to update it, but I have been too scared to update my devices lately due to a some horrible issues I have experienced on multiple devices.

I have a SE. It's running fine!

 

[yanki01]

I'll re-check this thread later in the week before updating.

 

[Brenster]

Good to hear that out of order iMessages are being sorted. My wife has been complaining to me daily that her messages are out of order, as though I’m the cause and thato I just need sufficient nagging to fix it. ‘Play the news’ plays back the latest BBC Radio 5 bulletin by default here in the UK. Can see myself making use of this in a morning over breakfast.

Running 11.2.5 on iPhone X and IPad Pro 10.5 here with no issues.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I like the news podcast feature.

 

[displaced]

A million bonus points for naming your Apple TV 'Slartibartfast'.

I hope there's another two named Vroomfondel and Majikthise

 

[e1me5]

6s here, runs beautifully with 11.2.5!

 

[brilliantthings]

I don’t see the separate audio output tiles on either my “GA” 11.2.5 iPhone or my 11.2.5 iPhone.

Me neither

 

[PaddyTB]

Anyone running iOS 11 on an SE?

I would like to update it, but I have been too scared to update my devices lately due to a some horrible issues I have experienced on multiple devices.

Yep, runs fine on my SE. Runs like a dog on my 6 Plus.

 

[C DM]

How’s throttling on iP6?
Better or worse?

..... and it doesn’t include that throttling switch which i’ve been waiting for.

Nothing related to power management was expected to be changed in this release.

 

[BornAgainApple]

..... and it doesn’t include that throttling switch which i’ve been waiting for.

That’s coming in 11.3, supposedly in March.

 

[chabig]

I don’t see the separate audio output tiles...

Do you have any AirPlay devices powered up? I have two AppleTVs on, so I see three tiles. But if the AppleTVs are asleep I don't, naturally.

 

[Baymowe335]

6s here, runs beautifully with 11.2.5!

Can't be true! Every iPhone 6s is unusable and slow because every phone was impacted and has a defective battery.

Oh wait, you live in reality...sorry.

 

[npmacuser5]

Anyone running iOS 11 on an SE?

I would like to update it, but I have been too scared to update my devices lately due to a some horrible issues I have experienced on multiple devices.

Yes, no SE only issues that I have experienced. Now the long list of IOS 11 problems, SE will not fix them.

 

[toptekjon]

Do you have any AirPlay devices powered up? I have two AppleTVs on, so I see three tiles. But if the AppleTVs are asleep I don't, naturally.

Weird...I have and even connected to my 4k ATV, and I don't see anything like this. The tiles and options to change output just don't show up for me. Tried playing audio from a few different apps on the phone and output to the ATV. It all works fine, I just don't get the extra options referenced in the article here.

 

[MrGuder]

The control panel is still way too busy looking. I still prefer my iOS 9.3.5 control panel. No, still not updating.

 

[lyleberman]

Weird...I have and even connected to my 4k ATV, and I don't see anything like this. The tiles and options to change output just don't show up for me. Tried playing audio from a few different apps on the phone and output to the ATV. It all works fine, I just don't get the extra options referenced in the article here.

Same thing for me. I have an Apple TV 4K and an Airport express hooked up to my stereo. No tiles. Just the same old (awkward) interface in the control center.