iOS 16.6 Hints at HomePod and HomePod Mini Launching in Israel Soon

[MacRumors]

Apple will likely release the second-generation HomePod and the HomePod mini in Israel soon, as the iOS 16.6 Release Candidate adds Hebrew support for Siri on the HomePod, according to Israeli website The Verifier. Apple does not have an online store or retail stores in Israel, so the speakers would be sold at authorized resellers in the country.

The website notes that Apple has been allowing select users in Israel to test Hebrew support for Siri on HomePods, which is something it has done before in some other countries where the speakers eventually launched. It's unclear exactly when HomePods will launch in Israel, but availability will likely begin in the coming months.

Apple first released the HomePod mini in October 2020 in the U.S. and select other countries, and the speaker and has not received any major hardware upgrades since. New color options launched in November 2021, and the speaker's temperature and humidity sensor was enabled earlier this year. The second-generation HomePod launched in January, nearly two years after Apple had discontinued the original full-sized model.

Apple launched the HomePod and HomePod mini in Chile, Singapore, and Denmark earlier this year, and in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and South Africa late last year.

Article Link: iOS 16.6 Hints at HomePod and HomePod Mini Launching in Israel Soon

 

[alexjholland]

What about Portugal?

I’m a British expat here and have to order my HomePods from Spain and Germany.

I don’t even want to use them in Portuguese. Just English. But because they don’t have Portuguese support (only Brazilian Portuguese) you can’t buy them in any store here - or on the Apple website.

(We also have no official Apple stores.)

 

[Apple Fan 2008]

This makes sense, if they’re making chips there you might as well give the people there more products.

 

[jasheeky]

that's an interesting announcement.

 

[Worlrl]

Until Siri will support bi language it’s really annoying to use in Hebrew.
If Siri set on Hebrew I can call my contacts but let say I want her to play a song in English she wouldn’t understand.
Same thing backwards

 

[JosephAW]

Still holding out until they're $49

 

[AtomicDusk]

Great! hopefully they have a good demand there and get Apple to keep improving these speakers

 

[DTphonehome]

מזל טוב!

 

[phrehdd]

Still holding out until they're $49

What does that mean?

 

[phrehdd]

Great! hopefully they have a good demand there and get Apple to keep improving these speakers

I was looking forward to Homepods serving a few purposes in a home setting but it is hard to tell just how invested Apple is when the functionality (knowing how chips are today) is being kept limited. I'll be curious if they have any notable fanbase in Israel with the language addition as well.

 

[boswald]

Still rocking the OG Space Grey HomePods. One of my favorite Apple products.

 

[VCTGomes]

Israel!? Where's Brazil?

 

[Supercyborgninja]

Wonder if this will extend to Palestine too?

 

[alexandr]

Israel!? Where's Brazil?

Where is Brazil!?

 

[phrehdd]

Wonder if this will extend to Palestine too?

Gaza and "West Bank" ? Probably. Then again, lots of tech is made in Israel so it would make sense that sooner or later it would end up there.

 

[phrehdd]

Israel!? Where's Brazil?

Yes Israel. Try another thread for Brazil or start one.

 

[svish]

Good to hear that it is being made available in more countries.

 

[hagar]

Great! The whole world should be able to enjoy the pleasure of shouting at a clueless voice assistant.

 

[srknpower]

Israel is fine. But isn’t is coming to Turkey? We have had Turkish Siri since 2015 but HomePod still isn’t supporting it

 

[Agent007]

"Alexa, play Matisyahu"

"I can't find any music by Benjamin Netanyahu."