Apple is separating the new smartphones into its usual low-cost versus high-cost categories, with big differences between the two models coming down to the camera, display, and battery life.
iOS 13 & watchOS 6 Now Available
HomePod 12.1.1 Update and Shortcuts 2.1.2 Released, But No Sign of watchOS 5.1.2 Yet
Alongside the public release of iOS 12.1.1, macOS Mojave 10.14.2, and tvOS 12.1.1, Apple today released a companion 12.1.1 software update for the HomePod and updated its Shortcuts app for iOS 12 to version 2.1.2.
The software update for HomePod is a relatively minor one, adding Siri support for Cantonese and Mandarin in China and a Cantonese dialect in Hong Kong ahead of the HomePod's release in those regions in early 2019. In addition, the LEDs on the top of the HomePod will now illuminate during Group FaceTime calls.
The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod upon updating to iOS 12.1.1 on a paired iPhone, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following these instructions.
Shortcuts 2.1.2, a free update on the App Store, features a new "Post to Tumblr" action, iCloud sync improvements, localization improvements, and a long list of bug fixes per Apple's release notes:
The software update for HomePod is a relatively minor one, adding Siri support for Cantonese and Mandarin in China and a Cantonese dialect in Hong Kong ahead of the HomePod's release in those regions in early 2019. In addition, the LEDs on the top of the HomePod will now illuminate during Group FaceTime calls.
The new HomePod software will be installed automatically on the HomePod upon updating to iOS 12.1.1 on a paired iPhone, but you can also manually update and check your software version by following these instructions.
Shortcuts 2.1.2, a free update on the App Store, features a new "Post to Tumblr" action, iCloud sync improvements, localization improvements, and a long list of bug fixes per Apple's release notes:
- Fixed an issue where the screen describing which apps and services are used by a shortcut may not appear when downloading a shortcut
- Fixed an issue that caused shortcuts with the Open App or Play Sound actions to fail when Siri is used to run the shortcuts
- Fixed an issue where shortcuts with Repeat with Each actions may freeze when they're run from the widget or Library tab
- Fixed an issue where the Phone Number action may not understand phone numbers that contain commas (pauses) or have long extension codes
- Fixed an issue where the Show Directions action may not work when it's run from the Shortcuts Today View widget on the Lock screen
- Fixed an issue where the Add New Reminder action doesn't work when a time or location isn't entered
- Fixed an issue where the Send Payment action may not appear to finish when making Apple Pay Cash payments
- Fixed an issue where the Ask for Input action's default answer field for dates wouldn’t support 24-hour time
- Fixed an issue where the Get Name of Emoji action showed the emoji name in English when the device is set to another language
- Fixed an issue where some shortcuts may show an error message when they're run from Search
- Fixed an issue where shortcuts may fail to download web pages with long Unicode titles
- Fixed an issue where the Run Editorial Workflow action doesn't pass a result
Related Roundup: HomePod
Tag: Shortcuts
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)
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Top Rated Comments
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10 months ago
Considering the last update bricked my Series 4... go ahead and triple check Apple.
10 months ago
Apple will kill the HomePod soon or they need to figure out something new. This thing is pretty much useless.
Wholeheartedly disagree. I use mine all the time. Its a speaker. Improve Siri and its on par with Amazon and Google. The only difference is the HomePod sounds great.
10 months ago
I love being able to update the HomePods while at work. Wish the same could be done with the Apple TV
10 months ago
Of course the update that we all been waiting for is the one that's not released yet.
10 months ago
Wholeheartedly disagree. I use mine all the time. Its a speaker. Improve Siri and its on par with Amazon and Google. The only difference is the HomePod sounds great.
Not sure what revolutionary features people expect out of a speaker. Seriously. It’s a speaker. The smartness will be improved over time, but if people are looking to have their socks blown off by it...wtf kinda expectations do they have?
10 months ago
Yeah, waiting for watchOS 5.1.2, but stable is critical since you can't restore it like you can with an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV.
Actually you can - if you have an ibus:
[MEDIA=youtube]gR7miVu0pMA[/MEDIA]
At about 2:25 in the video look closely at itunes when he plugs his apple watch into his computer.
itunes changes to reveal a hidden feature of itunes ability to do a complete restore of the apple watch, just the same way it can restore ios and apple tv devices.
He then proceeds to do the complete restore of the apple watch.
10 months ago
Shortcuts 2.1.2, a free update on the App Store, features a new "Post to Tumblr" action
So, there's only a limited window for creating and using some ... fanciful shortcuts, in the weeks between this Shortcuts update being released, and the date when Tumblr stops letting people post porn.
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