The HomePod is criticized for its lack of ease of use, despite its impressive sound and attractive design. We said that in our revised HomePod review earlier this year. The list of apps that work natively with the smart speaker is limited, and Array users also have to rely on their phone’s AirPlay content rather than just asking Siri.
That may be about to be replaced, as iOS 17 will introduce the ability for users to ask Siri to work as a middleman and stream content to AirPlay from any app installed on their iPhone or iPad.
First revealed at WWDC, the procedure works even if the app in question isn’t HomePod, as it’s based on the SiriKit API.
In practice, this means you can always ask Siri to play Spotify (not compatible with Apple’s speaker) through your HomePod instead of having to stream it yourself.
“Once HomePod processes a request, an intent from SiriKit is sent to the iPhone, where Siri your app and AirPlay content are sent back to the speaker,” Apple explained.
Unfortunately, the problem is that your iPhone or iPad will want to be provided and on the same Wi-Fi network as your HomePod for this to work. So, local HomePod apps like iHeartRadio, Pandora, or Apple Music have the merit in this regard.
But still, this progression opens up the HomePod in a way that has never been imaginable before when it comes to the hands-free experience. Audiobooks, podcasts, radio stations, and guided meditations are examples of media that will soon be accessible on the speaker via Siri.
According to Apple: “Any app that supports SiriKit Media Intents today will use this feature without additional modifications. “
The company added: “Everything your app can do on iOS will work on HomePod. For example, app users can request to pay attention to artists, albums, songs, music genres, and hits. “
To avoid confusion when other people are signed up for a home app, Apple says it will use voice popularity to make sure the request is sent to the right person’s device.
And, as icing on the cake, Apple has also shown that AirPlay will be more reliable with iOS 17 and the software will be intelligently informed about your listening behavior to recommend AirPlay when there is a compatible speaker nearby and on the same network.
Of course, this is just one of the new features in the next edition of Apple’s cellular operating system. We expect it to arrive in autumn alongside the iPhone 15 series and detail all the smarter features of 11 iOS 17 coming to your iPhone here. .
Jeff is the British editor of Tom’s Guide and handles the daily production of the site’s British contingent. Getting up early and heading straight to the coffee machine, Jeff loves nothing more than dealing with the zeitgeist of the tech news of the day.
A journalist by generation for more than a decade, he traveled around the world testing each and every device he could get his hands on. Jeff has a voluntary interest in fitness and wearables, as well as the latest tablets and laptops.
A fallen player, he fondly remembers the days when disorders were resolved by cartridge and blowing dust.
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