New HomePod mini will allow users to control Pandora with Siri

AppleInsider · October 13, 2020 7:09PM

Music lovers will soon be able to use Siri to control Pandora on the new HomePod mini, enabling them to play their favorite podcasts and music with voice commands.

New HomePod mini will allow users to control Pandora with Siri

Apple announced the new HomePod mini, a budget-friendly version of their full-featured HomePod at their October 13, "Hi, Speed" event. During the event, Apple emphasized how the new smart speaker will soon work with a myriad of third-party apps, including Pandora.

Pandora, a popular music streaming service, will be able o be controlled with Siri voice queries that could include commands like "Hey Siri, play some relaxing music on Pandora."

Users will need to have the latest version of the Pandora app on their iPhone or iPad to take advantage of the new feature. They will also need to connect Pandora directly with the HomePod, which can be done through Pandora's app.

Additionally, users will be able to select Pandora as their preferred music service on HomePod, which would allow for simple voice commands like "Hey Siri, play Modest Mouse."

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winstoner71 · October 13, 2020 7:40PM

Mindblown that people still use Pandora. Sincerely, Someone that used to use Pandora

cmbappl · October 13, 2020 7:59PM

I was hoping they would connect to Apple TV. 😕

beats · October 13, 2020 8:04PM

Happy to see Apple remove the scumbag companies from the presentation. How anti-competitive for Apple to promote other 3rd parties and integrate them into their products.

Cmbappl said:

I was hoping they would connect to Apple TV. 😕

Why wouldn't they?

cmbappl · October 13, 2020 8:17PM

According to Apple‘s website they don’t work for home theater with Apple TV

jcs2305 · October 13, 2020 8:25PM

Cmbappl said:

According to Apple‘s website they don’t work for home theater with Apple TV

This is from Apple.com?

https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

Pick up an incoming call from your iPhone, listen to music on your Mac, or upgrade your TV experience by taking the sound from your Apple TV to the next level — they all connect to HomePod mini.

vorpel · October 13, 2020 8:26PM

Disappointed that Spotify is left off.

elijahg · October 13, 2020 8:29PM

The way this article is written implies Pandora integration works *only* on the HomePod mini. Is that the case?

pujones1 · October 13, 2020 8:35PM

Isn’t the S5 the chip from the watch? Am I mistaken? If so then all these features should work the same on the full size HomePod right? I know they mentioned the UWB chip but is that in the mini or does it just have to be in your phone?

apple_bar · October 13, 2020 8:56PM

jcs2305 said:

Cmbappl said:

According to Apple‘s website they don’t work for home theater with Apple TV

This is from Apple.com?

https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

Pick up an incoming call from your iPhone, listen to music on your Mac, or upgrade your TV experience by taking the sound from your Apple TV to the next level — they all connect to HomePod mini.

I think he is talking about the “Home theater with Apple TV 4K” which is available on HomePod but is not available to HomePod mini

edited October 2020

jcs2305 · October 13, 2020 9:05PM

vorpel said:

Disappointed that Spotify is left off.

Left off how? IOS 14 gave us the ability to pic a primary music service on Homepod. From what I know Spotify needs to add this functionality to it's app for this to work.

Open Home App Click on Home icon top left Click on Home Settings at the bottom of the menu In the People Section, click on you (the primary user if you are set up as a family) Wait a few seconds and then below "Show Me on Apple TV" a MEDIA section will appear. In the MEDIA section you will be able to pick your default music service. I have it open as I am typing this but I don't use Spotify so I can't make the switch.

mike wuerthele · October 13, 2020 9:07PM

elijahg said:

The way this article is written implies Pandora integration works *only* on the HomePod mini. Is that the case?

So far. Spotify has to add the integration.

mike wuerthele · October 13, 2020 9:09PM

Apple_Bar said:

jcs2305 said:

Cmbappl said:

According to Apple‘s website they don’t work for home theater with Apple TV

This is from Apple.com?

https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

Pick up an incoming call from your iPhone, listen to music on your Mac, or upgrade your TV experience by taking the sound from your Apple TV to the next level — they all connect to HomePod mini.

I think he is talking about the “Home theater with Apple TV 4K” which is available on HomePod but is not available to HomePod mini

For clarity, here, the HomePod mini can still be used for stereo on the Apple TV 4K. It cannot be used for spatial audio. I suspect the reasoning is smaller speaker and microphone arrays on the mini.

edited October 2020

vorpel · October 13, 2020 9:28PM

jcs2305 said:

vorpel said:

Disappointed that Spotify is left off.

Left off how? IOS 14 gave us the ability to pic a primary music service on Homepod. From what I know Spotify needs to add this functionality to it's app for this to work.

Open Home App Click on Home icon top left Click on Home Settings at the bottom of the menu In the People Section, click on you (the primary user if you are set up as a family) Wait a few seconds and then below "Show Me on Apple TV" a MEDIA section will appear. In the MEDIA section you will be able to pick your default music service. I have it open as I am typing this but I don't use Spotify so I can't make the switch.

Thanks for the info. I never got the HomePod as I had setup Sonos with in ceiling speakers years ago, so the It would have been somewhat redundant. I didn’t realize that it was a different app setup for Spotify (over what is on your phone). This is very helpful! I would like to replace the home automation tasks that the Echo is doing right now and the lower price of the new HomePod Mini is attractive.

22july2013 · October 13, 2020 9:56PM

Mike Wuerthele said:

elijahg said:

The way this article is written implies Pandora integration works *only* on the HomePod mini. Is that the case?

So far. Spotify has to add the integration.

Do you think Spotify will be adding integration, considering that they think Apple is the devil? Will they integrate with the devil? Will they make their bed with the devil? (I was tempted to link to the video of Saddam with the devil from South Park, but decided that that was too rude.)

apple_bar · October 13, 2020 10:37PM

Mike Wuerthele said:

Apple_Bar said:

jcs2305 said:

Cmbappl said:

According to Apple‘s website they don’t work for home theater with Apple TV

This is from Apple.com?

https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

Pick up an incoming call from your iPhone, listen to music on your Mac, or upgrade your TV experience by taking the sound from your Apple TV to the next level — they all connect to HomePod mini.

I think he is talking about the “Home theater with Apple TV 4K” which is available on HomePod but is not available to HomePod mini

For clarity, here, the HomePod mini can still be used for stereo on the Apple TV 4K. It cannot be used for spatial audio. I suspect the reasoning is smaller speaker and microphone arrays on the mini.

Stereo Pair: YES

Home Theater with Apple TV 4K: NO

strangedays · October 13, 2020 10:37PM

Cmbappl said:

I was hoping they would connect to Apple TV. 😕

They do of course.

strangedays · October 13, 2020 10:39PM

Apple_Bar said:

jcs2305 said:

Cmbappl said:

According to Apple‘s website they don’t work for home theater with Apple TV

This is from Apple.com?

https://www.apple.com/homepod-mini/

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

Pick up an incoming call from your iPhone, listen to music on your Mac, or upgrade your TV experience by taking the sound from your Apple TV to the next level — they all connect to HomePod mini.

I think he is talking about the “Home theater with Apple TV 4K” which is available on HomePod but is not available to HomePod mini

What are you referring to?

edit: found it, on The Loop:

“A new feature is coming for only for the HomePod that will add an immersive home theater experience when paired with an Apple TV 4K. To get the 5.1, 7.1 surround, and Dolby Atmos, you need to pair one or two HomePod speakers to the Apple TV. This feature requires the spatial sound support of HomePod, so it isn’t available for the HomePod mini.”

edited October 2020

canukstorm · October 13, 2020 11:39PM

pujones1 said:

Isn’t the S5 the chip from the watch? Am I mistaken? If so then all these features should work the same on the full size HomePod right? I know they mentioned the UWB chip but is that in the mini or does it just have to be in your phone?

Not mistaken. It is from the Watch.

New HomePod mini will allow users to control Pandora with Siri

Comments

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.

HomePod mini works effortlessly with your Apple devices.