Apple Inviting Some Users to Beta Test New HomePod Software - MacRumors
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Apple Inviting Some Users to Beta Test New HomePod Software

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Apple is inviting some AppleSeed members to test the new HomePod software as well as the new versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, according to reports on the MacRumors forums.

homepodbetaprogram
Those invited to test the new ‌HomePod‌ software will be able to try out new features ahead of release. With the update, the ‌HomePod‌ is gaining support for third-party music services for the first time, a feature that will allow the speaker to work with Spotify, Pandora, and other music options by default without the need to use AirPlay.

‌HomePod‌, which serves as a home hub option for HomeKit, is also getting a new feature that will let it announce when a HomeKit-connected doorbell has been rung.

Apple's ‌HomePod‌ software is usually tested internally and is not typically provided to developers, so we'll need to wait to see if a version is eventually added to the developer site or distributed to public beta testers. If not, most users will need to wait until the new software is released in the fall to try it out.

Related Roundup: HomePod
Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Neutral)

Top Rated Comments

H3LL5P4WN Avatar
H3LL5P4WN
76 months ago
All I want is for them to function as a stereo pair of speakers for the Apple TV, as advertised, and as last worked reliably in tvOS11.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Banich2
76 months ago

All I want is for them to function as a stereo pair of speakers for the Apple TV, as advertised, and as last worked reliably in tvOS11.
I know! I have to select them every single time!
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
E
ersan191
76 months ago
I got invited - I have an active developer account and I've submitted a lot of beta feedbacks over the past few years, don't know what did it. So far HomePod OS 14 has been pretty buggy - wouldn't recommend for general use. A couple times it has started playing a song with literally no way of stopping it (hey siri stop, pause, skip, stop playing, etc. don't work) and its responses are much slower than before.

It does not currently work with Spotify, by the way.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeauGiles Avatar
BeauGiles
76 months ago

“AppleSeed”? What the hell is that? I’ve never heard of such a thing.
https://appleseed.apple.com

Basically a private targeted beta program, not 'public' like the public beta, and not developer focused - could be everyday users, Apple Store staff, etc.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
P
Pimmp
76 months ago
How about more than two homepods as surround speakers, thought that was in the pipeline
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
Justjay27
76 months ago
Did anyone else notice during the WWDC there was a HomePod mini during the Apple TV presentation?
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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