HomePod adds phone calls, improved Siri, search by lyrics in software update
Near the end of the "Gather Round" keynote Wednesday, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced some updated features for HomePod, including improved Siri functionality -- and they have now arrived.
Apple on Wednesday announced that it's adding some long-awaited features to the HomePod wireless speaker, including the ability to search for songs by lyrics, set multiple timers, make and receive phone calls and more.
"We've got an update to the HomePod, our breakthrough home speaker," Tim Cook said during the keynote. "We recently added stereo pairs and AirPlay 2. So now when you add a second HomePod to create a stereo pair, it creates this incredible wide immersive sound stage. You really have to hear this to believe it, it's really awesome.
"We've got some other great features that we're bringing to HomePod," Cook added. "You'll be able to search for your favorite songs by lyric, create multiple timers, make and receive phone calls right from your HomePod, and just like your Apple Watch, you can ping your iPhone or any of your Apple devices to find them around your house."
In addition Apple Watch's popular Find My Phone function can now be activated on HomePod with simple voice commands. HomePod has also added Siri Shortcuts and new Siri languages.
The HomePod, released earlier this year, now claims six percent of the global smart speaker market, according to statistics released in August by Strategy Analytics, which estimated that Apple had shipped around 700,000 HomePods up to that point.
Apple also announced that the HomePod will arrive in Mexico and Spain starting October 26.
HomePod still retails for $349.
Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.
Apple on Wednesday announced that it's adding some long-awaited features to the HomePod wireless speaker, including the ability to search for songs by lyrics, set multiple timers, make and receive phone calls and more.
"We've got an update to the HomePod, our breakthrough home speaker," Tim Cook said during the keynote. "We recently added stereo pairs and AirPlay 2. So now when you add a second HomePod to create a stereo pair, it creates this incredible wide immersive sound stage. You really have to hear this to believe it, it's really awesome.
"We've got some other great features that we're bringing to HomePod," Cook added. "You'll be able to search for your favorite songs by lyric, create multiple timers, make and receive phone calls right from your HomePod, and just like your Apple Watch, you can ping your iPhone or any of your Apple devices to find them around your house."
In addition Apple Watch's popular Find My Phone function can now be activated on HomePod with simple voice commands. HomePod has also added Siri Shortcuts and new Siri languages.
The HomePod, released earlier this year, now claims six percent of the global smart speaker market, according to statistics released in August by Strategy Analytics, which estimated that Apple had shipped around 700,000 HomePods up to that point.
Apple also announced that the HomePod will arrive in Mexico and Spain starting October 26.
HomePod still retails for $349.
Keep up with AppleInsider by downloading the AppleInsider app for iOS, and follow us on YouTube, Twitter @appleinsider and Facebook for live, late-breaking coverage. You can also check out our official Instagram account for exclusive photos.
Comments
I do not believe we doing anything wrong, I hope apple fixes this or at least recognize family sharing on the icloud and let all users and devices to use the Homepod a speaker phone.
I am not sure they mean it can listen to a song and tell you want is playing, I think that if you say the words in a song it may know what song your talking about. I just yesterday as Siri to tell me what song was playing and it came back and say not songs were playing on the play list.
The point is, Apple's price is not unreasonable for what you're getting compared to others in this market like Sonos.
Apple seems more focused on Music and they've limited some things you can do on it when you can on a iPad or iPhone. So making a cheaper MINI version, I don't know if Apple would do that. I'll tell you right now, Apple would never make a mini version that costs $50, normal price. Apple's would cost like $150 minimum.
Bose sells a sound bar for $600, no AirPlay or extra features.
I remember a Beats Pill commercial where Kendrick Lamar called Dr. Dre and they were speaking through the Pill. It was amazing!
Was added apparently. I'd like a walkie-talkie type feature.
I've seen my wife use smart-speaker calling it a couple times to talk to our daughter while putting on her makeup in the morning but couldn't honestly say if it's a regular thing or not. I've usually left for work about the same time as she's getting up. Morning's aren't her strong suit.