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HomePod Frequently Asked Questions FAQ

Article ID = 176
Article Title = HomePod Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Article Author(s) = Graham Needham (BH)
Article Created On = 5th June 2017
Article Last Updated = 26th October 2021
Article URL = https://www.macstrategy.com/article.php?176

Article Brief Description:
Frequently Asked Questions about the HomePod
Q. What is the HomePod?
A. The HomePod is a high quality speaker system with Apple Music/Siri integration.
Q. When will the HomePod be available to buy?
A. It is available to buy in the following countries:
  • France
  • Germany
  • United KIngdom
  • Spain (from 26th October 2018)
  • Australia
  • Canada
  • USA
  • Mexico (from 26th October 2018)
Q. What colours is the HomePod available in?
A. Space grey or white.
Q. How does the HomePod connect to my network/the internet?
A. Via wireless/Wi-Fi connectivity (802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi‑Fi with MIMO).
Q. What are the requirements for using a HomePod?
A. The following are required:
  • 802.11 Wi-Fi Internet access
  • iOS 11.2.5 or later running on an:
    • iPhone 5s or later
    • or iPad Pro, iPad Air or later, iPad mini 2 or later
    • or iPod touch (6th generation)
Q. Will the HomePod require an Apple Music subscription?
A. An Apple Music subscription is not required but Apple states an Apple Music subscription is required "for full music functionality".
Q. Will the HomePod work with iTunes Home Sharing?
A. No.
Q. If an Apple Music subscription is not required and iTunes Home Sharing does not work how do I play music/audio?
A. You can play music/audio from :
  • iTunes Music Purchases
  • iCloud Music Library with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription
  • Beats 1 Live Radio
  • Podcasts
…or you can use "Airplay" to directly play music/audio from other supported hardware. Apple lists the following:
  • iPhone
  • iPad
  • iPod touch
  • Apple TV
  • Mac
…with the following audio formats supported:
  • HE-AAC (V1)
  • AAC (16 to 320 Kbps)
  • protected AAC (from iTunes Store)
  • MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps)
  • MP3 VBR
  • Apple Lossless
  • AIFF
  • WAV
  • FLAC
Q. Does the HomePod work as a BlueTooth speaker?
A. No.
Q. Can the HomePod work with iPhone features?
A. Yes - HomePod can be used as a speakerphone with iPhone for crisp and clear audio quality.
Q. Does the HomePod support messaging/third party apps?
A. Yes - Through SiriKit, HomePod supports third-party messaging apps, so users can ask Siri to send a message to a friend or colleague using apps like WhatsApp. Reminders, note-taking and to-do list apps like Things and Evernote will automatically work with HomePod, so Siri can set reminders, create a new list, mark items as complete, or create and modify notes.
Q. Does the HomePod support AirPlay?
A. Yes - in fact it uses the new AirPlay 2 protocol. AirPlay 2 became available with iOS 11.4 or later.
Q. Does the HomePod support multiple speakers (around the house)?
A. Yes - they link to any speakers that support AirPlay 2. Multi-room speaker support requires AirPlay 2 which became available with iOS 11.4 or later.
Q. I'm a Hi-Fi buff and prefer listening to music in proper stereo rather than 360° sound, so this isn't for me right?
A. If there's more than one HomePod set up in the same room, the speakers can be set up as a stereo pair for an even more immersive sound experience. Stereo speaker support requires AirPlay 2 which became available with iOS 11.4 or later.
Q. If Siri is listening all the time is Apple uploading what I say to their servers/listening to me?
Q. What about my privacy?
A. The HomePod only records when you say "Hey Siri" and even then what is uploaded to Apple is anonymised and utilises end-to-end encryption to secure the data transfer.
Q. How do I know when Siri is recording?
A. There is an LED on the top of the HomePod that lights up when Siri is recording.
Q. If the HomePod is playing audio/music does "Hey Siri" still work?
A. Yes.
Q. Does the HomePod do anything else other than play audio/music?
A. Yes. It has Siri so Siri can be used for all sorts of questions and answers without any audio/music being involved. In addition a HomePod can be used as a HomeKit hub to control a wide range of HomeKit smart home accessories.
Q. Has Apple added new features over time via software updates?
A. Yes:
On 20th July 2022 Apple added the following new features via iOS 15.6:
  • Siri voice recognition support for Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Swedish, and Norwegian‌

On 14th March 2022 Apple added the following new features via iOS 15.4:
  • Support for captive Wi-Fi networks‌

On 13th December 2021 Apple added the following new features via iOS 15.2:
  • Apple Music Voice Plan support‌

On 25th October 2021 Apple added the following new features via iOS 15.1:
  • ‌(Apple) Lossless Audio via Apple Music‌
  • Dolby Atmos
  • Spatial audio - only for original HomePod models

On 26th January 2021 Apple added the following new features via iOS 14.4 only for HomePod mini in conjunction with Ultra Wideband (U1) equipped iPhones:
  • ‌Hand off music with visual, audible, and haptic effects from ‌iPhone‌ to ‌HomePod mini‌
  • Get personalized listening suggestions on ‌iPhone‌ when it is next to ‌HomePod mini‌‌‌
  • ‌Media controls automatically appear without having to unlock ‌iPhone‌ when it is close to ‌HomePod mini‌‌‌

On 5th November 2020 Apple added the following new features via iOS 14.2:
  • ‌Ask ‌Siri‌ "What's my update?" to hear a personal snapshot of your day that includes the news, weather, traffic, reminders, and calendar appointments‌‌
  • Intercom using ‌iPhone‌, ‌iPad‌, Apple Watch, ‌AirPods‌, and ‌CarPlay‌Siri‌‌
  • ‌Connect ‌HomePod‌ to ‌Apple TV‌ 4K and enjoy stereo, surround sound, and Dolby Atmos audio. Add a second ‌HomePod‌ for a more immersive soundstage‌‌

On 20th October 2020 Apple added the following new features via iOS 14.1:
  • Support for ‌HomePod mini‌: Setup and automatically transfer your Apple ID, ‌Apple Music‌, ‌Siri‌ and Wi-Fi settings to ‌HomePod mini‌
  • ‌Siri:‌‌
    • ‌Siri‌ suggestions appear in Maps when you ask ‌HomePod‌ for information about a location‌
    • Web search requests to ‌HomePod‌ can be sent from ‌HomePod‌ to your ‌iPhone‌‌
    • ‌Siri‌ can now stop alarms, timers, and media across ‌HomePod‌ speakers‌
    • Voice recognition support for Podcasts for multiple users in the home‌
  • Intercom:‌
    • Ask ‌HomePod‌ to make announcements to other ‌HomePod‌ speakers throughout your home‌
    • Intercom to all ‌HomePod‌ speakers‌
    • Intercom to a ‌HomePod‌ in a specific room or zone‌
  • Other improvements and fixes:‌
    • Add music to your alarms and wake up to your personal song, playlist, or radio station from ‌Apple Music‌‌
    • Fixes an issue where stereo pairs can sometimes play out of sync‌
    • Improves reliability when using ‌Siri‌ to control multiple speakers‌
    • Optimizes ‌Siri‌ performance‌

On 28th January 2020 Apple added the following new features via iOS 13.3.1:
  • Support for Indian English Siri voices

On 10th December 2019 Apple added the following new features via iOS 13.3:
  • Improves the ability of ‌HomePod‌ to recognize the voice profile of family members
  • Allows individual family members to enable or disable personal requests

On 28th October 2019 Apple added the following new features via iOS 13.2:
  • The ability for HomePod to recognize the voices of different family members to provide a personalized experience
  • Handoff music, podcasts or phone calls by bringing your iPhone close to HomePod
  • Add music to your HomeKit scenes
  • Play relaxing high-quality soundtracks with Ambient Sounds
  • Set sleep timers to fall asleep to music or Ambient Sounds

During 2019 Apple added the following new features:
  • Support for HomePod in China mainland, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan
  • HomePod LEDs illuminate during Group FaceTime calls
  • Support for joining some types of enterprise networks that require unique credentials

On 17th September 2018 Apple added the following new features via iOS 12:
  • Conveniently search for a song using the lyrics if you can’t remember the title (English only)
  • Create multiple named timers
  • Make and receive phone calls directly on HomePod, or simply ask Siri who is calling
  • Similar to Apple Watch, Find My iPhone on HomePod allows you to quickly locate any of your iOS or macOS devices with an audible ping
  • Calendar support to include all languages
  • View the network name in Settings
  • Siri Shortcuts
  • Additional language support:
    • Spanish in the US, Spain and Mexico
    • Canadian French

On 29th May 2018 Apple added the following new features via iOS 11.4:
  • Place two HomePod in the same room and create a stereo pair
  • Each HomePod in a pair automatically senses its location in the room
  • Advanced beamforming provides wider soundstage than traditional stereo pair
  • Use AirPlay 2 to play the same song everywhere or different songs in different rooms to multiple HomePod and other AirPlay 2-enabled speakers
  • Schedule, cancel, and stay up to date with your Calendar appointments (available in US, UK, Australia)
Q. How do I update my HomePod?
A. By default, HomePod should install updates automatically (as long as it is connected to the internet). You can also check manually.

Article Keywords: HomePod iTunes iCloud Siri AirPlay Apple Music

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