HomePod 15.1 Beta Adds Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Support

[MacRumors]

Alongside the iOS 15.1 beta, Apple has also introduced a HomePod 15.1 beta that brings Lossless and Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio support to the HomePod and the HomePod mini.

The HomePod beta software is invite only and is not provided to developers for testing purposes, but 9to5Mac was able to confirm that Lossless and Spatial Audio support are included in the beta.

Apple added Dolby Atmos with Spatial Audio and Lossless support to iOS and Mac devices in May, but promised that the feature would be coming to the HomePod and HomePod mini at a later time.

Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos can be enabled through the Home app. Open up Home Settings, tap on your profile, and then under Media, tap on Apple Music. From there, toggle on Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos. Note that these options appear in the iOS 15.1 beta, but the HomePod 15.1 beta seems to be needed to actually use the features on the HomePod.

If all goes well, these features should launch with the HomePod 15.1 software that is set to be released alongside iOS 15.1. Since the iOS 15.1 was just provided to developers today, we likely have several weeks of testing to go.

Article Link: HomePod 15.1 Beta Adds Lossless Audio and Dolby Atmos Support

 

[zorinlynx]

I'm confused; don't the HomePod and HomePod Mini use AirPlay, which as far as I know, has always been lossless?

 

[Lerenard3000]

Anyone wants to kill its HomePod?

 

[jazz1]

Would there be any chance this could fix the horrible problems the MiniHomePods have with synchronizing video (people's lip movement), with video sound with Macs? iOS 15 did not. I run two in stereo from my M1 MacMini and constantly have to re-boot after pausing the video, or sleeping the MacMini to synchronize video sound with video action.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

I'm a little surprised that the HomePod continues to be sold and get software updates. I'd think Apple would get the hint.

I feel like Tim Cook's legacy should be remembered as being Siri. She was introduced at the first keynote where Tim lead, and despite the constant evidence that she needed massive improvements, he never did and instead just kept shoving her into more places she wasn't wanted.

Maybe Tim's successor will kill Siri as their first action. Then the HomePod.

It'll be like how Steve started his second run as CEO - he just axed all the stupid distractions that Apple had on their plate and focused on the core things that Apple should do right.

If you're going to sell a product at all, make it GREAT. And if it's not great, don't bother. HomePod and Siri are both things that should never have left R&D at Apple. The Apple Watch... has potential. Apple just keeps missing the mark. It feels like they need somebody new in-charge of the Apple Watch to bring it from OK to GREAT.

 

[Massy1989]

Anyone in the know that a HomePod 15 beta bricked *several* HomePods when tied to AppleTV is scared to touch this update.

 

[NARadyk]

Would there be any chance this could fix the horrible problems the MiniHomePods have with synchronizing video (people's lip movement), with video sound with Macs? iOS 15 did not. I run two in stereo from my M1 MacMini and constantly have to re-boot after pausing the video, or sleeping the MacMini to synchronize video sound with video action.

Having a very similar issue with my Apple TV 4K + HomePods set up. Infuriating at times.

 

[mashdots]

I for one am excited for this. It'll be great to finally take advantage of higher audio quality.

 

[munpip214]

I'm confused; don't the HomePod and HomePod Mini use AirPlay, which as far as I know, has always been lossless?

Yes but playback directly from Apple Music didn’t. Aka the HomePod downloading music. Not using airplay

 

[alecc131]

I have 15.1 installed on iPhone and HomePod mini. Only Lossless will play on HomePod (indicated by the icon in the Music app). Cannot get Dolby Atmos to play. Perhaps Atmos stand-alone will only work on HomePod OG.

 

[Rychiar]

the mini's are getting Atmos now too?

 

[Return Zero]

The HomePod is dead. Long live the HomePod.

 

[unobtainium]

Having a very similar issue with my Apple TV 4K + HomePods set up. Infuriating at times.

Have you run wireless audio sync for each of the video modes on your Apple TV? (4K SDR, 1080p SDR, 4K HDR, etc.)? It has to be run for each of those modes because the TV will have a slightly different delay for each one.

 

[jarman92]

I'm a little surprised that the HomePod continues to be sold and get software updates. I'd think Apple would get the hint.

I feel like Tim Cook's legacy should be remembered as being Siri. She was introduced at the first keynote where Tim lead, and despite the constant evidence that she needed massive improvements, he never did and instead just kept shoving her into more places she wasn't wanted.

Maybe Tim's successor will kill Siri as their first action. Then the HomePod.

It'll be like how Steve started his second run as CEO - he just axed all the stupid distractions that Apple had on their plate and focused on the core things that Apple should do right.

If you're going to sell a product at all, make it GREAT. And if it's not great, don't bother. HomePod and Siri are both things that should never have left R&D at Apple. The Apple Watch... has potential. Apple just keeps missing the mark. It feels like they need somebody new in-charge of the Apple Watch to bring it from OK to GREAT.

Pretty sure Tim Cook’s legacy will be leading Apple to becoming the world’s first $1 trillion company, and then the world’s first $2 trillion company, and very likely the world’s first $3 trillion company.

 

[bigandtasty]

Sure hope this addresses fartgate and gets my HomePod back to working the way it was prior to 14.6, speakers a dang paperweight at this point

 

[B4rbelith]

I'm a little surprised that the HomePod continues to be sold and get software updates. I'd think Apple would get the hint.

I feel like Tim Cook's legacy should be remembered as being Siri. She was introduced at the first keynote where Tim lead, and despite the constant evidence that she needed massive improvements, he never did and instead just kept shoving her into more places she wasn't wanted.

Maybe Tim's successor will kill Siri as their first action. Then the HomePod.

It'll be like how Steve started his second run as CEO - he just axed all the stupid distractions that Apple had on their plate and focused on the core things that Apple should do right.

If you're going to sell a product at all, make it GREAT. And if it's not great, don't bother. HomePod and Siri are both things that should never have left R&D at Apple. The Apple Watch... has potential. Apple just keeps missing the mark. It feels like they need somebody new in-charge of the Apple Watch to bring it from OK to GREAT.

HomePod was discontinued months ago. Shame as it's a quality product. I've got two and they sound mint.

 

[Morgenland]

Great news. Can't wait for it! I have 4 of the 'old' good HomePods in my great room.

I'm curious whether Apple gets even more room out of DollyAtmos ? in such a configuration, provided that their acoustic lab developers were also allowed to provide the potential for these rather rare customer cases.

 

[MauiPa]

I'm a little surprised that the HomePod continues to be sold and get software updates. I'd think Apple would get the hint.

I feel like Tim Cook's legacy should be remembered as being Siri. She was introduced at the first keynote where Tim lead, and despite the constant evidence that she needed massive improvements, he never did and instead just kept shoving her into more places she wasn't wanted.

Maybe Tim's successor will kill Siri as their first action. Then the HomePod.

It'll be like how Steve started his second run as CEO - he just axed all the stupid distractions that Apple had on their plate and focused on the core things that Apple should do right.

If you're going to sell a product at all, make it GREAT. And if it's not great, don't bother. HomePod and Siri are both things that should never have left R&D at Apple. The Apple Watch... has potential. Apple just keeps missing the mark. It feels like they need somebody new in-charge of the Apple Watch to bring it from OK to GREAT.

John snow, it is you!

 

[northnz]

Can someone with Homepods set as default audio confirm some behaviour for me?

I have 2 minis as a stereo pair with an AppleTV 4k (original version)

Setting them as default audio works, however

1. Siri remote doesn’t change volume of whatever is playing
2. The paired homepods are available as an Airplay Target for other devices however nothing plays (despite it seeming like they are the selected target)

I can change the volume of the default output using the TV remote, but this seems backwards to me.

Is this all expected behaviour?

 

[wigby]

I'm a little surprised that the HomePod continues to be sold and get software updates. I'd think Apple would get the hint.

HomePod was killed off earlier this year by Apple. They still support it but no longer sell it.

 

[citysnaps]

I'm a little surprised that the HomePod continues to be sold and get software updates. I'd think Apple would get the hint.

I feel like Tim Cook's legacy should be remembered as being Siri. She was introduced at the first keynote where Tim lead, and despite the constant evidence that she needed massive improvements, he never did and instead just kept shoving her into more places she wasn't wanted.

Maybe Tim's successor will kill Siri as their first action. Then the HomePod.

It'll be like how Steve started his second run as CEO - he just axed all the stupid distractions that Apple had on their plate and focused on the core things that Apple should do right.

If you're going to sell a product at all, make it GREAT. And if it's not great, don't bother. HomePod and Siri are both things that should never have left R&D at Apple. The Apple Watch... has potential. Apple just keeps missing the mark. It feels like they need somebody new in-charge of the Apple Watch to bring it from OK to GREAT.

I have seven HomePods; four originals organized as two stereo pairs - one pair in my living room and another pair in my woodshop, a single original in my wife's studio, and two HomePod Minis.

All are superb producing music and taking Siri commands- I have zero complaints with any of them. Hat-tip to Tim Cook for developing them!

 

[ghanwani]

No point showing us pictures of a product that Apple no longer sells.

 

[citysnaps]

No point showing us pictures of a product that Apple no longer sells.

The point of the picture is not to sell HomePods. It's to let people know who own them there's a beta update available. Easy.

 

[MauiPa]

Sure hope this addresses fartgate and gets my HomePod back to working the way it was prior to 14.6, speakers a dang paperweight at this point

Did you try not using it for about 6 days? then try resetting it, you know finger down. You might need to ensure the volume is high enough to hear it, tap, tap the + a few times. I have one HomePod that seems to be susceptible to something (hacking, power spikes, out of phase power? who knows) and it stops working when in the kitchen. I have idled it for 4-6 days, then reset it successfully (no more kitchen your you HomePod). I'm still going with humidity or temperature (from bad power) as a guess, I mean they are enclosed units, but why take so long to reset a thermal trip?

anyway, it successfully resets and then works great. I am on 15 customer seed, There was a flaky wireless status where it said it was not on same network (even though it was). And with at least one version of beta, it was not recognized by iOS, but that was some beta iterations ago

 

[MauiPa]

My only thoughts on the article is that I am pretty certain lossless and Atmos were there on prior betas, but after update, I have no way of checking. I know they were there for MAC, iOS and AppleTV, so I guess it could have been only when used as an airplay device, but my memory says other