Apple Announces Range of New Home Features for HomePod Mini, Apple TV, and Apple Watch

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Apple today announced a range of new smart home features for HomePod mini, Apple TV, and Apple Watch, as well as third-party Siri integration on accessories for the first time.

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‌Siri‌ on the HomePod now supports making commands to control content on an ‌Apple TV‌. The ‌HomePod mini‌ can also be set as a default output for an ‌Apple TV‌.

SharePlay will work with the ‌Apple TV‌ through FaceTime on another device, and tvOS now features a Shared With You row. There is also a new For All of You row in the TV app to recommend shows and movies suitable for all users on the device.

HomeKit accessory makers can now integrate ‌Siri‌ voice control for the first time. "Hey ‌Siri‌"-enabled accessories will relay requests through a ‌HomePod‌ or ‌HomePod mini‌, and will support ‌Siri‌ features such as Personal Requests, Intercom, timers, and alarms. The first third-party Siri-enabled smart home accessories will be available later this year.

home features 2021

The Home app for Apple Watch has been redesigned in watchOS 8, offering more convenient access to accessories and scenes as needed in a particular moment, and the ability to control accessories by room. Users with a HomeKit-enabled camera can view who is at their front door directly on their Apple Watch.

Apple also highlighted support for home keys in the Wallet app, Package Detection, new ‌Apple TV‌ screensavers, Matter accessory support, and ‌HomeKit‌ camera enhancements.

Tags: HomeKit Guide, Siri Guide, Home

Top Rated Comments

kp98077 Avatar
kp98077
2 weeks ago
i still have NO idea why they did away with the normal size home pod.... sounded SO much better than the mini...
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mattb326 Avatar
Mattb326
2 weeks ago
But can I dream and hope that Siri could be the default voice assistant on Sonos? Could we get rid of google and Alexa all together?
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BMox81 Avatar
BMox81
2 weeks ago
Get Siri in my Sonos Beam and One!
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kp98077 Avatar
kp98077
2 weeks ago
yes because everyone lives in a house like that! LOL
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
AlbinoPigeon Avatar
AlbinoPigeon
2 weeks ago
Argh, is it too much to ask for FaceTime on the biggest screen in your home? A camera add on to ATV is the biggest no brainer and yet it’s no where to be seen.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Madmic23 Avatar
Madmic23
2 weeks ago
Whoa, they said they're opening Siri up to be added to other devices! They showed it working on an Ecobee in the video, but I want this on my Sonos One! :)
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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