Whereas current HomePod software program updates haven’t been a lot to put in writing residence about, the upcoming HomePod 17.4 packs in a single helpful new function for people preferring to make use of different audio companies for music and podcasts.
Apple opened up the HomePod to third-party music companies alongside the discharge of the HomePod mini in 2020. The function was out there on Apple’s extra inexpensive diminutive speaker from the beginning and got here to the full-sized HomePod in a software program replace.
Earlier than that, the one method to entry third-party streaming companies was to AirPlay from a paired iPhone, with restricted assist for calling these companies up utilizing Siri. HomePod Software program 14 gave builders of those companies the power to plug immediately into the HomePod and Siri ecosystem — no iPhone required — however it was additionally as much as every service to embrace the brand new capabilities.
Some, like Pandora, Deezer, and Tidal, jumped on board eagerly, whereas others, like YouTube Music, took a bit longer. In the meantime, regardless of being initially listed as a accomplice, Amazon Music stays lacking in motion for unknown causes, and Spotify has stubbornly held its prospects hostage in its struggle with Apple.
However, one of many extra annoying limitations of the HomePod assist was that you just needed to both set the music service as a default within the Residence app in your iPhone or suffix each request with “on” or “utilizing” to name up tracks from it, as an alternative of Apple Music. Ditto for issues like podcasts and audiobooks, which default to Apple Podcasts and Apple Books, respectively, until instructed to do in any other case.
To be truthful, that’s not an enormous dealbreaker; nevertheless, it nonetheless requires you to leap via some further hoops to set your default, and it’s notably jarring when you think about that Apple figured this out three years in the past in iOS 14.5 for iPhone customers.
Fortunately, it’s bringing a few of that very same logic to its good audio system in HomePod Software program 17.4, as defined within the launch notes of the present beta:
This replace allows Siri to be taught your most popular media service, so that you not want to incorporate the identify of the media app in your request.
You’ll nonetheless want to attach any further companies you need to use to Apple’s Residence app earlier than you may name them up, as you continue to must log into your account to determine your self — one thing that may be fairly cumbersome to attempt to do through Siri in your HomePod. That is usually dealt with via the service’s iPhone app, as we’ve seen with Pandora and, extra just lately, with YouTube Music.
Nonetheless, the setting for the default service has vanished from the Residence app in iOS 17, changed as an alternative with a be aware that claims Siri will now deal with this for you:
Siri will be taught your most popular media apps for music, podcasts, and audiobooks. Non-connected media will be performed out of your private system utilizing AirPlay.
You’ll nonetheless be capable to name up particular companies by asking Siri to play one thing “on” them, however it is going to now gauge your preferences primarily based on how typically you utilize completely different companies, sometimes asking you when doubtful.
Though Apple doesn’t use Launch Candidate (RC) designations for its HomePod updates, HomePod Software program 17.4 is in what seems to be its last beta phases and can possible land on Apple’s good audio system this week.