Oliver Haslam·

Apple Releases HomePod Software 14.1 With The New Intercom Feature Baked In, And More

Apple today did something that it doesn’t do all that often – it released a software update for the HomePod, and the HomePod mini, for that matter.

The new update adds a couple of new features, the first of which is Intercom.

Announced during the iPhone 12 event, Intercom will allow users to send and receive audio messages from one device to another using iCloud Family Sharing. It’ll work with HomePods, iPhones, iPads, and even CarPlay, according to Apple.

Alongside Intercom, this new update will also make it easier to open search results from a HomePod right on an iPhone or iPad using Handoff. Users can also now set songs as their alarm tones if they so wish.

The full list of release notes includes:

Software version 14.1 includes support for HomePod mini and new Siri and Intercom features. This update also includes bug fixes and improvements.

HomePod mini

  • Setup and automatically transfer your Apple ID, Apple Music, Siri and Wi-Fi settings to HomePod mini

Siri

  • Siri suggestions appear in Maps when you ask HomePod for information about a location
  • Web search requests to HomePod can be sent from HomePod to your iPhone
  • Siri can now stop alarms, timers, and media across HomePod speakers
  • Voice recognition support for Podcasts for multiple users in the home

Intercom

  • Ask HomePod to make announcements to other HomePod speakers throughout your home
  • Intercom to all HomePod speakers
  • Intercom to a HomePod in a specific room or zone

Other improvements and fixes

  • Add music to your alarms and wake up to your personal song, playlist, or radio station from Apple Music
  • Fixes an issue where stereo pairs can sometimes play out of sync
  • Improves reliability when using Siri to control multiple speakers
  • Optimizes Siri performance

Let us know how this update fared for you on your HomePod setup!

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