Latest HomePod Firmware Discovery Shares First UI Sounds of Apple's Smart Speaker

In the continued release of Apple news originating from developers digging through HomePod firmware, we now have some of the first user interface sounds that HomePod users could be hearing once the smart home speaker launches this December.

HomePod on shelf
Developer Avery Magnotti discovered the sounds within a file named "audioOS" of the HomePod firmware that Apple released this past weekend. In order of appearance in the file, the sounds are called:

alarm1.wav
Lighthouse.wav
SessionInactive-b238.wav
SetupFinal-b238.m4a
SetupStepSource-b238.m4a
SetupStepTarget-b238.m4a
timer1.wav
TwoShot-b238.wav
WOCAudioPasscodeTone.wav

To hear what the files sound like, Magnotti posted a video on his YouTube channel, sharing samples of each file listed. Alarm1 and Timer1 sound like simple tones that HomePod users might be able to choose from when setting up timers in their kitchens. The rest are a bit more unclear, although each Setup file is likely related to the initial pairing process of HomePod and a user's iPhone.


HomePod firmware-related reveals have been steadily rolling out since Saturday, revealing the general design of the iPhone 8, referencing a "split" status bar, including potential new Apple Watch skiing workouts, and more. Magnotti himself revealed yesterday that the HomePod's Siri display measures in at 272 x 340.

The reason that there are so many iPhone and Apple Watch bits of news coming out of the new HomePod firmware is because Apple's smart speaker will run on a modified version of iOS when it launches, and the firmware being investigated by developers relates to iOS 11.0.2. Apple announced the HomePod at WWDC this year, and it will launch this December for $349.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger Avatar
87 months ago
Judging by the sounds alone, it seems Apple managed to make a cylindrical Wii.

Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Michaelgtrusa Avatar
87 months ago
They sound nice to me.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
devsfan1830 Avatar
87 months ago
Stupid product... can't see the screen unless you are standing over it. What kind of an idiotic design is this?
Can't tell if you are being serious or not. There is no screen to look at. It's a speaker. The top is just fancy indicator light like what Google Home and Amazon Echo. Want to look at something? That is what your Phone/Watch/Tablet is for.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Vanilla35 Avatar
87 months ago
Sounds a little childish to me
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
blcamp Avatar
87 months ago
I have to imagine a few high-ranking folks in Cupertino are super pissed about all this information flowing so freely.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Westside guy Avatar
87 months ago
Judging by the sounds alone, it seems Apple managed to make a cylindrical Wii.
Soon to be followed by the HomePod Balance Board and the HomePod Plus controller.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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