Mikey Campbell
Continuing a recent surge in HomePod-related tutorial videos, Apple on Friday posted a fresh explainer to its official YouTube support channel covering general device features, from music playback to Siri commands.
Titled "How to get the most from HomePod," Apple's latest mini lesson runs over three minutes long and goes over a series of basic HomePod functions including Personal Requests, talking to Siri and controlling smart home accessories.
Starting with music, Apple notes Siri on HomePod can be tasked to play specific songs, tracks by artist, user playlists or genres. Leaning on Apple Music curation, the device can also create specialized playlists tailored to a particular activity or mood. Users can also turn to their iPhone to take control of HomePod playback, Apple says.
Moving on to phone calls, the company shows users how to use HomePod as a speaker phone. Simply accept or place a call, tap on the audio button and select HomePod from the list of available devices. Tapping on HomePod's touch panel — which pulses green during a call — ends the conversation.
Apple also touches on Personal Requests, or the accessing of data that users may deem sensitive. When connected to the same Wi-Fi network as a paired iPhone, and with Personal Requests enabled, Siri on HomePod can send and receive messages, add reminders a create notes. For those who want to keep their correspondence private, there is a way to disable Personal Requests using the Home app.
The video goes on to detail methods of conducting basic internet queries and controlling smart home accessories like connected lights.
Today's tutorial follows a slate of three HomePod how-to videos published on Saturday. Following the same format, Apple went over music playback, physical touch controls and adjusting HomePod settings using the Home app in iOS.
If you just purchased a HomePod, make sure to check out AppleInsider's collection of HomePod tips, where we delve deep into the smart speaker's capabilities.
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20 Comments
Having used HomePod for a week now, Siri is definitely it’s weakest link, it’s not as accurate as the iPhone, it’s lacking some key functionality, such as play my audio book. The sound is fantastic so I can only hope Siri gets better and it develops further with firmware updates.
Siri fuck*ng sucks. I’m fed up. The HomePod wasn’t able to play a playlist that was on Apple Music and my phone, no matter how many times I tried to phrase it (as I mentioned in a recent post).
Now, I just tried telling Siri, “play my new music mix starting with the song Commit” (that was the next song on the playlist that I had just been listening to on my phone, so trying to switch over where I left off on HomePod). Siri’s response, “now playing playlist fire fire.” I have never listened to any playlist with the word fire in it, let alone a playlist called “fire fire”.
It’s getting depressing how bad Siri is, and the implications of Siri’s failure to do basic tasks after over 6 years in development...
I have never ever been a hand-wringer when it comes to Apple. Not when Steve died. Not when Tim was being dumped on at every turn. But for Apple to keep failing so miserably at the cornerstone of their ecosystem (if not now, Siri will be, inevitably) is beyond frustrating.
I, too, find the sound quality to be excellent. While Siri hears me very well, it doesn't listen very well and frequently misidentifies what I'm asking for unless I speak unnaturally slowly and distinctly - especially when music is playing. Alexa, on the other hand, can't hear me as well as Siri - especially when music is playing, but she listens very well - even when I'm mumbling.