HomePod Can Now Alert You If Your Smoke Alarm Goes Off

[MacRumors]

The Sound Recognition feature that is built into the latest version of the HomePod and the HomePod mini is now able to detect the beeping of a smoke alarm, sending you an alert if there is an emergency situation.

Announced when the new HomePod debuted in January, the Sound Recognition option is available as of today, according to TechCrunch. It can detect both activated smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, sending a notification to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.

If you're at home, you're going to hear a smoke alarm go off, but if you're away, it is a useful feature to ensure that you're alerted as soon as possible when smoke or carbon monoxide is detected. Some smoke detectors are smart and are able to send alerts, but for those who have standard hardware, the HomePod offers peace of mind.

Smoke alarm Sound Recognition can be set up using the Home app on an Apple device. HomeKit setups that incorporate a camera will be able to send a video along with the alert so that you can see at a glance what might be wrong and react accordingly.

Sound Recognition is done through the HomePod or HomePod mini and the alert is sent from device to device, with no involvement of Apple's cloud servers.

Article Link: HomePod Can Now Alert You If Your Smoke Alarm Goes Off

 

[sniffies]

It would be cool if HomePod could turn into a fire sprinkler too.

 

[vegetassj4]

instructions??

 

[munpip214]

instructions??

“Using the home app” 🤨

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

HomePod needs to alert us when cats or dogs keep knocking down the HomePod from the table.

 

[oofio2461]

They should make a Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detecter that's compatible with HomeKit.

 

[vegetassj4]

“Using the home app” 🤨

I couldn't find a setting anywhere, so I asked Siri "Hey Siri listen for smoke detector" and got this:

 

[rjp1]

I hope it detects this sound better than it does voice commands.

 

[arnoz]

They should make a Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detecter that's compatible with HomeKit.

https://www.evehome.com/en/eve-smoke ?

 

[vicviper789]

That's actually kinda neat

 

[k1121j]

I have 12 Nest protests with homebridge I already get those alerts. Cool feature tho i hope it wont duplicate alerts i already get.

 

[sw1tcher]

They should make a Smoke/Carbon Monoxide detecter that's compatible with HomeKit.

FYI: there are several Homekit enabled smoke/CO detectors on the market (First Alert, Onelink, Owl, etc)

 

[vegetassj4]

HomePod needs to alert us when cats or dogs keep knocking down the HomePod from the table.

 

[citysnaps]

Outstanding new feature, and very clever. Thinking outside of the box.

Good job Apple!

 

[munpip214]

Sound Recognition on HomePods requires Apple's updated Home app architecture. So that might explain why it’s not showing up for some

 

[mystery hill]

Sound Recognition is done through the HomePod or HomePod mini and the alert is sent from device to device, with no involvement of Apple's cloud servers.

Sound recognition is done locally on the HomePod, but the alert would be sent end-to-end encrypted via Apple’s cloud servers. @jclo

 

[ELman]

Outstanding new feature, and very clever. Thinking outside of the box.

Good job Apple!

Not really. Amazon's Alexia has had this for years.

 

[Shin-Ra]

Some are going to confuse the cryptically-named ‘Sound Check’ option (under MEDIA heading) in the Home app for this.

 

[infiniteentropy]

Just gonna say it, since nobody else has yet: this means it is constantly listening to its surroundings. May mean something, may not, but that means for this to work it must be constantly vigilant to the sounds around it.

Just a thought.

 

[foobarbaz]

I have 12 Nest protests with homebridge I already get those alerts. Cool feature tho i hope it wont duplicate alerts i already get.

Yeah, if your house is on fire, duplicate alerts would be a real bummer.

 

[n-evo]

Amazing feature. No idea where to find it though.

 

[jhollington]

Just gonna say it, since nobody else has yet: this means it is constantly listening to its surroundings. May mean something, may not, but that means for this to work it must be constantly vigilant to the sounds around it.

Well, HomePods have been listening for "Hey Siri" for years (unless you turn that off), so this isn't really anything new — and, of course, it's also an optional feature.

 

[ThankYouRob]

Some are going to confuse the cryptically-named ‘Sound Check’ option (under MEDIA heading) in the Home app for this.

Already thought 'Sound Check' was it, I have the updated HomeKit architecture...not seeing this option anywhere.

 

[klasma]

It would be cool if HomePod could turn into a fire sprinkler too.

In particular since it already has a temperature sensor.

 

[infiniteentropy]

Well, HomePods have been listening for "Hey Siri" for years (unless you turn that off), so this isn't really anything new — and, of course, it's also an optional feature.

Fair point. I don't have anything like it at home, and forgot that; my bad. I guess it's already been an accepted fact to have devices constantly listening with high tech and highly sensitive microphone arrays. Enjoy the new feature, I suppose!