YouTube Music Integration Comes to HomePod

[MacRumors]

YouTube Music is now available directly on Apple's HomePod and HomePod mini, thanks to new Siri integration support in the YouTube Music app.

The change means subscribers to the streaming service can now choose to use voice commands to start YouTube Music on a HomePod, without having to append "on YouTube Music" to every request. From Google's support document:

YouTube Music is supported on the following Apple HomePod models: Apple HomePod 1st Generation, Apple HomePod 2nd Generation, Apple HomePod Mini.

With YouTube Music on Apple HomePod, you can:
– Use Siri voice commands or physical touch controls on Apple HomePod to play music
– Handoff playback between your Apple HomePod and iPhone, and vice versa
– Control playback in the Apple Home app.

Support for the option was announced by YouTube Music in a Reddit post spotted by 9to5Google. The update has been expected since September, when hidden code was revealed in the app.

To set up Siri integration for YouTube Music, make sure you have updated the app, then follow these steps.

1. Open the YouTube Music app.
2. Tap your profile image in the top-right corner.
3. Go to Settings ➝ Connected Apps.
4. Select Connect with HomePod.
5. Tap Use in Home.

If you don't see the option in YouTube Music, try force-closing the app and re-opening it.

After you have done that, you will need to select YouTube as the "Default Service" for your HomePod(s).

1. Open the Home app on iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap the More button (three encircled dots) in the top-right corner.
3. Tap Home Settings.
4. Tap your username under the "People" section.
5. Tap Default Service and choose YouTube Music.

Note that to connect YouTube Music to HomePod, you will need to have either a YouTube Music or YouTube Premium account.

Apple has supported a handful of third-party music services on ‌HomePod‌ for the last couple of years, and the functionality is already available with Pandora, iHeartRadio, Deezer, and TuneIn Radio.

Other music services including Spotify have not supported this option even though Apple made the SiriKit Media feature available in iOS 14, so it remains limited in scope. With the direct play function, users can set a third-party service as a default music option, and when ‌Siri‌ on ‌HomePod‌ is asked to play content, ‌Siri‌ will play music from the selected service.

Article Link: YouTube Music Integration Comes to HomePod

 

[JuicyGoomba]

You have to wonder at this point if Spotify will ever see any sense? It's kind of getting embarrassing.

Similar situation to Epic refusing to put Fortnite back on iOS. They're now laying off staff due to massive losses, but throwing Fortnite on the App Store even temporarily would likely be a very significant revenue uplift.

YTM support likely only caters to a handful of people on iOS that both use the service and own a homepod... But they're supporting it. Spotify have millions of users in this scenario and would rather be petty children.

 

[ackmondual]

Note that to connect YouTube Music to HomePod, you will need to have either a YouTube Music or YouTube Premium account.

Huh... didn't know you can get just YouTube Music, but makes sense. More people get YouTube Premium, while wishing they could leave off YT Music and save the $$. Did know one person who actually got YouTube Premium only for YT Music! One nice feature he mentioned was you can upload your own music on there and access it anywhere!

 

[iBluetooth]

Spotify, now add Homepods! Is the hold out worth loosing future customers?

 

[deaglecat]

Tap to transfer the playing song ?

 

[syklee26]

This is a pretty big move. Good for Homepod users.

With that said, one of my Homepod's bass got blown out for no reason. Is this frequent?

 

[cgs1xx]

My homepods won’t even play Apple Music, one day that stopped working and nothing I’ve tried resolves the problem. But I just use airplay now and it’s fine and I get to listen to versions of my albums from my library instead of the standard Apple Music versions. It’s interesting how you can be fully inside Apple’s eco system and some things don’t “just work”.

 

[Hank001]

"Hey Siri, play me some music from Hollywood Wildlife on the living room HomePods"

- ok, timer set for 6 minutes.

 

[JuicyGoomba]

My homepods won’t even play Apple Music, one day that stopped working and nothing I’ve tried resolves the problem. But I just use airplay now and it’s fine and I get to listen to versions of my albums from my library instead of the standard Apple Music versions. It’s interesting how you can be fully inside Apple’s eco system and some things don’t “just work”.

I've honestly found that most things don't work within the "ecosystem". Many people simply fall for the Apple marketing engine and end up believing in it.

Apple don't really do anything innovative at a software level anymore. They laid the foundation when Jobs was around, then after his passing they've simply refocused on bleeding dry what was left.

iOS, and now MacOS, are archaic. They need either a rewrite from the ground up to remove the bloat and actually optimise, especially where GUI performance is concerned. They could cut the bloat from what they have, but I don't actually recall Apple ever really deprecating little used "features". Google take a lot of flak for killing a lot of features, but they have the numbers that say only a couple of % of people actually use it. So they gut it from the code, keep everything streamlined, and ignore the vocal minority that complain. Harsh but ruthless and efficient.

 

[scsskid]

i dont see the option settings / connected apps in ios youtube music app

app is up to date

maybe US only?

edit: oh I will try the mentioned workaround

 

[Chiromac81]

How about native Spotify integration on the HomePod??

Then on the watch while they are at it!

 

[MacMan988]

Thanks Siri!

 

[Shanghaichica]

I don’t want it.

 

[TJ82]

Finally, these things can do something useful. If I even look at one of our Mini's sideways it starts playing some rubbish on that trashy Apple Beats One station or whatever it's called. Seems to be some sort of junkyard for noisy clowns.

Going to see if this Youtube integration actually works. Wouldn't trust Siri to count to 10.

 

[NightFox]

...One nice feature he mentioned was you can upload your own music on there and access it anywhere!

You can do that with Apple's iTunes Match service too, though I'm not sure how well it's supported on non-Apple devices.

 

[Octavius8]

Now Spotify and we might have something moderately competitive. Not much, but better than the current paper weight status and value it currently has for me.

 

[Octavius8]

I've honestly found that most things don't work within the "ecosystem". Many people simply fall for the Apple marketing engine and end up believing in it.

Apple don't really do anything innovative at a software level anymore. They laid the foundation when Jobs was around, then after his passing they've simply refocused on bleeding dry what was left.

iOS, and now MacOS, are archaic. They need either a rewrite from the ground up to remove the bloat and actually optimise, especially where GUI performance is concerned. They could cut the bloat from what they have, but I don't actually recall Apple ever really deprecating little used "features". Google take a lot of flak for killing a lot of features, but they have the numbers that say only a couple of % of people actually use it. So they gut it from the code, keep everything streamlined, and ignore the vocal minority that complain. Harsh but ruthless and efficient.

Apple has removed A LOT of features from IOS, iPhones and Mac OS: iOS is the only OS where you can’t edit a mistyped number in the phone pad (before Apple allowed it, they removed it because Americans don’t use that), removed 3D Touch, removed finger print sensor (Androids have 2 biometric systems, Apple only 1), the keyboard features are super basic, no good multi language support in a single keyboard, as Google supports, no key resizing, etc.). In thr Mac they have removed a LOT of services such as support for some file sharing protocols, a lot of changes to many APIs to access files, a lot of changes and removals of 3D acceleration APIs, etc. Apple has killed unilaterally soooooo many useful features just because American market “does not use”.

 

[JippaLippa]

Tried the service as I'm already on premium, but I don't like it (at least the web interface).
No options at all and I don't like youtube merging my video playlists with the music playlist.
Very messy.

 

[JippaLippa]

I've honestly found that most things don't work within the "ecosystem". Many people simply fall for the Apple marketing engine and end up believing in it.

Apple don't really do anything innovative at a software level anymore. They laid the foundation when Jobs was around, then after his passing they've simply refocused on bleeding dry what was left.

iOS, and now MacOS, are archaic. They need either a rewrite from the ground up to remove the bloat and actually optimise, especially where GUI performance is concerned. They could cut the bloat from what they have, but I don't actually recall Apple ever really deprecating little used "features". Google take a lot of flak for killing a lot of features, but they have the numbers that say only a couple of % of people actually use it. So they gut it from the code, keep everything streamlined, and ignore the vocal minority that complain. Harsh but ruthless and efficient.

I have been noticing some lag in my macOS interface lately, and having an M1 ultra that's unexcusable.
I'm still on Ventura, but I hope Sonoma will improve things.

 

[steve09090]

I've honestly found that most things don't work within the "ecosystem". Many people simply fall for the Apple marketing engine and end up believing in it.

Apple don't really do anything innovative at a software level anymore. They laid the foundation when Jobs was around, then after his passing they've simply refocused on bleeding dry what was left.

iOS, and now MacOS, are archaic. They need either a rewrite from the ground up to remove the bloat and actually optimise, especially where GUI performance is concerned. They could cut the bloat from what they have, but I don't actually recall Apple ever really deprecating little used "features". Google take a lot of flak for killing a lot of features, but they have the numbers that say only a couple of % of people actually use it. So they gut it from the code, keep everything streamlined, and ignore the vocal minority that complain. Harsh but ruthless and efficient.

Always fun (boring) to hear the anti-Cook side of things. The Apple ecosystem works very very well. Bloat? 😂😂😂. What a load of bs.

I'm wondering how well you are airdropping images & files between the Android tablet, phone and laptop.

 

[LIVEFRMNYC]

I've been YT Premium for years now, so this is great news. I'm extremely close to canceling my Spotify account. I'll probably need to manually duplicate my playlists to Apple Music which will be a PITA.

 

[CarAnalogy]

Yes! Finally! This alone is a huge improvement (assuming it works properly.) As a bonus, the process of turning it on showed me how to turn OFF Apple Music so maybe Siri will FINALLY quit trying to figure out what to play on Apple Music in response to “turn on the lights.”

 

[CarAnalogy]

I've been YT Premium for years now, so this is great news. I'm extremely close to canceling my Spotify account. I'll probably need to manually duplicate my playlists to Apple Music which will be a PITA.

YT Premium coming with both ad-free YouTube and the (now, after many years) not actually too bad YT Music service is too good a deal for me. Tried Apple One but my family just doesn’t care about the Apple services so it’s just duplicating stuff I have. YT Music also has music videos and music that no other service has. If you want something unusual, it’s not going to be on Apple Music. Try to find the full version of “5000 Candles in the Wind” anywhere else.

 

[Sevendaymelee]

Wow. It finally caught up to iPhone 4! lol

 

[klasma]

Playing named mixes with Siri works, nice.

Now if only we could use that as an alarm tone