Apple Asks Developers to Start Optimizing Apps for HomePod Using SiriKit in iOS 11.2

iOS 11.2 beta, released this morning, introduces SiriKit support for the HomePod, according to Apple. With SiriKit for HomePod now available, Apple is asking developers to make sure SiriKit-compatible apps are optimized for HomePod ahead of the device's release.

SiriKit is designed to allow iOS and watchOS apps to work with Siri, so users can complete tasks with Siri voice commands. SiriKit is available for a wide range of apps on those two platforms, but its availability is slightly more limited when it comes to HomePod.

Third-party apps that use SiriKit Messaging, Lists, and Notes are compatible with the HomePod. Siri will recognize voice requests given to the HomePod, with those requests carried out on a linked iOS device. So, for example, users can ask HomePod to send a message to a friend, add an item to a list, or create a new note. Sample HomePod requests:

- Send a text to Eric using WhatsApp
- In WeChat, tell Eric I'll be late
- Add chocolate and bananas to my list in Things
- Create a note that says "hello" in Evernote

Developers can test the voice-only experience of their apps using Siri through headphones connected to an iOS device with the iOS 11.2 beta.

Apple plans to release the HomePod this December, but a specific launch date for the speaker has not yet been provided. When it becomes available, the HomePod will cost $349.

Related Roundups: iOS 11, HomePod

Tag: Siri

Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Buy Now)

Top Rated Comments

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nutmac

9 months ago

It's really dumb that like Apple Watch, HomePod cannot be used independently from iPhone. It should be similar to Apple TV in that it can be purchased and used without having to own an iPhone.

Rating: 6 Votes

KoolAid-Drink

9 months ago

('//www.macrumors.com/2017/10/30/ios-11-2-introduces-sirikit-for-homepod/')

iOS 11.2, released this morning ('//www.macrumors.com/2017/10/30/apple-releases-first-beta-of-ios-11-2/'),

Hmmm, shouldn't it read as beta or something like that? It can easily mislead people into thinking the actual public release version of 11.2 was released.

Rating: 6 Votes

GadgetBen

9 months ago

The limitations are why I’ve opted for the new Amazon Echo 2.

Should be delivered this Friday along with my iPhone X :D

Rating: 4 Votes

hagar

9 months ago

How does this work for multiple users? Or will everyone in the house need their own HomePod to enjoy the app-centric functionality?

I assume Apple will suggest to buy separate houses. Each with their own Homepod and Apple TV.

Rating: 3 Votes

Regime2008

9 months ago

Hahahahaha! Echo Dot hifi! Jolly good joke sir.

(As I listen to an UNCOMPRESSED original Eagles album on a Technics Turntable, Crown Amplifier, and JBL Studio Monitors.)

Pretty sure using the echo Dot, connected to those devices, would sound millions of years better than the homepod, which can't be hooked up to those devices...

Rating: 2 Votes

Vanilla35

9 months ago

It's really dumb that like Apple Watch, HomePod cannot be used independently from iPhone. It should be similar to Apple TV in that it can be purchased and used without having to own an iPhone.

Yeah wtf? I thought this thing is connected to the internet. Why can't it just utilize some sort of Homepod app extensions, which allow it to do the limited number of things it can do, specifically from those extensions. For example, adding, editing, or removing a note from Evernote. Why does it need the phone nearby?

Rating: 1 Votes

Internet Enzyme

9 months ago

Not gonna crap speakers. Nice troll attempt.

Any device that comtains stereo speakers in one housing and doubles as some sort of bluetooth smart speaker and costs $350 will guaranteed not have good sound. Good compared to other such devices possibly, but can in no way hold a candle to a decent hifi setup that a echo dot could serve

Rating: 1 Votes

dampfnudel

9 months ago

Let the data mining begin.;)

Rating: 1 Votes

Internet Enzyme

9 months ago

Hahahahaha! Echo Dot hifi! Jolly good joke sir.

(As I listen to an UNCOMPRESSED original Eagles album on a Technics Turntable, Crown Amplifier, and JBL Studio Monitors.)

Well of course it is not ideal, as the Echo Dot is feeding an already un-digitized, analog signal to the receiver, meaning you still have to put up with the Echo's internal DAC. But I don't think I'm mistaken when I say that speakers makes a larger impact on sound quality than DAC's do. Maybe I'm wrong. That doesn't change the fact that they should still release a Echo Dot style Siri box.

Rating: 1 Votes

dippnerd

9 months ago

If you have an iPhone or iPad in the same room and you say the words "Hey Siri" wanting to ask the HomePod something will it set off all the other devices, i wonder how Apple will be dealing with this.

I'd imagine it'll be handled the same way it is now, the devices will negotiate which was best suited and trigger. I frequently am in range of 2-3 devices between my watch, iPhone and iPad, and while the screens light up on other devices, typically only one ends up responding. In theory HomePod will have the best response times since it's always powered on.

You could almost think of this SiriKit integration as offering a better mic to trigger Siri for your phone. I've been kind of hoping for something like this, as there's still nothing quite like being able to take Siri with you. It'd be nice to have a Siri mic that is always powered on at home, even if it did all of the work on your phone for privacy and security sake.
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I wish more people understood this! You will not get good sounds from a soundbar, nor a housing with several speakers thrown in there. A Google home or Alexa hooked up to some nice drivers will beat a AIO all day, everyday.

I don't know that they're targeting people who want the best sound per se, they just want better sound without having to put the extra work in for a separate audio system. Think of HomePod as an evolution of the classic radio as a device. People just want to listen to music, it's not necessarily important that it has the best speaker, just better than they can buy without more work. It's a hard sell for me, I already have speakers and such, it'd just be nice to have the Siri functionality (but the Apple Watch does a good enough job there most of the time).

HomePod definitely seems like Apple is trying to hit the music market, something they've been good at for ages thanks to the iPod and such. iPod was for the individual, HomePod is for the home :)

Rating: 1 Votes

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