HomePod Beta 2 Adds Option to Select New Default Services for Music, Podcasts and Audiobooks

Tuesday July 7, 2020 10:49 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple has provided HomePod beta software to a selection of AppleSeed testers, and today released a second version of the ‌HomePod‌ update alongside iOS 14 beta 2.

The second ‌HomePod‌ software beta update adds an option to select a new default service for Apple Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks as noted on Twitter and the MacRumors forum.

Apple at WWDC did not publicly announce the new option that will allow other music services to be set as the default on the ‌HomePod‌, but there was a brief mention of the feature on a HomeKit-related slide.

At the current time, third-party music services like Spotify can only be streamed on the ‌‌HomePod‌‌ using AirPlay and an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The new feature will presumably allow Spotify and other music services to be set as the default music service, letting users ask Siri to stream music from Spotify.

Third-party app developers may need to implement support for the ‌HomePod‌, as Spotify is not listed as an option at the current time.

Related Roundup: HomePod

Buyer's Guide: HomePod (Don't Buy)

Top Rated Comments

AngerDanger

10 months ago

Alright, who are you, and what did you do with the real Apple?!

Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)

goobot

10 months ago

Let’s add Bluetooth too.

Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)

goobot

10 months ago

How could you go back to bluetooth after W1/H1 and AirPlay? It was a sigh of relief to finally rid my house of those standard bluetooth devices.

So that way if I have a non Apple device I want to use or a friend comes over and doesn’t have an iPhone I can still use it.

Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)

boss.king

10 months ago

Alright, who are you, and what did you do with the real Apple?!

Anti-trust hearings are a hell of a drug.

How could you go back to bluetooth after W1/H1 and AirPlay? It was a sigh of relief to finally rid my house of those standard bluetooth devices.

More compatibility is better than less compatibility. It would take almost no effort to enable, and would only be used if the device didn't have the special Apple chips. Why wouldn't you want that ability?

Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Shing

10 months ago

If SiriusXM is included I’ll buy a HomePod.

Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Steelers7510

10 months ago

I've never wanted a HomePod until now.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Read All Comments

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