While we had a pretty good idea of what to expect going into today's Apple event, Apple kicked it off by giving us an update on the HomePod mini. As it turns out, the HomePod mini is about to get new models in several different colors. While there don't seem to be any changes from a hardware standpoint, these new colors give prospective buyers options aside from the standard white and space gray models.
Beta software is labeled "beta" for a reason. They are often distributed only to people willing to test software for bugs and are willing to take the risk using potentially unstable software. Of course, some beta versions are in a better state than others but that doesn't remove the chance of a bad release wreaking havoc on devices. That is the unfortunate reality that owners of some HomePods are now facing after what they claim to be a rather buggy HomePod Software 15 beta caused smart speakers to overheat and, in some cases, fry the logic board beyond repair.
Devices come and go, no matter how popular or how loved. Sometimes older devices are replaced by newer models, but there are also times when they are completely retired instead. The latter is the case for the first Apple smart speaker, the much-delayed HomePod that the company announced would be discontinued. Supplies of the full-sized speaker have finally gone out of stock but, while it can no longer be purchased from direct channels, nothing really changes for those who already own one, at least not yet.
Before iPhones became its hottest products, Apple's name was also synonymous with music, both for its iPods as well as iTunes. These days, those roles have been taken up by the iPhone and HomePod speakers as well as the new Apple Music streaming service. Right at the start of its annual developer conference, Apple is flipping the switch to finally give Music some long-awaited features. But as enticing as Spatial Audio and Lossless Audio sounds, no pun intended, you'll have to make sure you actually have the hardware capable of supporting those modes.
Apple is enabling the ability to use HomePod mini speakers for your Apple TV's audio, echoing a feature that originally was offered only on the original HomePod. The ability to connect HomePod to the Apple TV and use it instead of your TV's speakers was an easy route to getting an audio upgrade.
A new Apple device was tipped this week with a look and aim unlike any we've seen before. This new device is not a phone, or a tablet, or a laptop. It's not a desktop computer - but it can compute. It would appear that Apple's latest development is in a device that's something like a cross between a HomePod and an Apple TV, potentially making Apple TV a device with a screen, at long last.
Audiophiles who like the Apple HomePod and HomePod Mini smart speakers will like the latest news. New support documents have been published by Apple indicating that both the original HomePod and the new HomePod Mini are being updated to support the new lossless tier of Apple Music. The new feature is tipped in the support document with a sentence that reads support is coming in a future software update.
Apple may have discontinued the full-sized HomePod, but that only means its latest Apple TV feature for using the smart speakers for home entertainment is all the more bittersweet. The newest update builds on Apple TV's support for using one or two HomePod as the stereo speakers for your entertainment system.
HomePod users can now ask for music from streaming service Deezer, with the Apple smart speakers expanding Siri support. The new voice functionality works with both the original, discontinued HomePod and the newer, smaller, HomePod mini.
A new Apple TV that would double as a FaceTime video calling camera and a smart speaker is reportedly in the works, potentially giving the company's home entertainment and smart home offering a significant boost. The current Apple TV 4K is generally considered to be long-overdue a replacement, having been initially released all the way back in 2017.
It's been a day of interesting reports surrounding Apple's HomePod. Earlier today, we learned that there's a secret sensor hiding in the HomePod mini, and while that sensor may not be active right now, it could enable specific functionality in the future. Not only that, but there's also whispers of Apple's plans for the future of the HomePod line, and we could see the company launch something meant to go toe-to-toe with the likes of the Echo Show.
A currently dormant new sensor in Apple's HomePod mini could help make the Siri-powered smart speaker a more useful part of the smart home, should the company decide to enable it in future. Launched in November 2020, the HomePod mini was initially a smaller, more affordable sibling to the original HomePod. Now, with that bigger version officially discontinued, the $99 model is the only smart speaker Apple offers.