AppleInsider Staff
After pulling iOS 13.2 for HomePod due to reports that the software was bricking devices, Apple on Wednesday released a tweaked version of the firmware to rectify the apparent issues and enable new features like audio handoff and multi-user support.
The update arrives two days after Apple pushed out iOS 13.2 to enable promised features including music handoff from iPhone, user identification technology, ambient sound generation and sleep timers.
Shortly after Monday's release, users began to report problems with the new firmware. On AppleInsider's forums, for example, HomePod owners complained of an issue that sent the speaker into what appeared to be a boot loop that renders the smart speaker inoperable.
Users impacted by the issue were left with an unresponsive HomePod that displayed a constantly spinning white light on its screen.
A number of owners attempted to perform a factory reset by unplugging the speaker and performing a touch-and-hold gesture on the capacitive control panel, but to no avail. Unpairing the device from the Home app also proved ineffective.
On Reddit, user "VALIDNULL," who experienced identical problems, said an Apple support representative instructed them to take their HomePod in for replacement.
Apple pulled iOS 13.2 hours after its initial release and quietly updated a support document covering HomePod reset procedures to warn users of the error.
"If your HomePod is running iOS 13.2, don't follow these steps," Apple says. "If you've already reset or removed your HomePod from the Home app, contact Apple Support."
While release notes accompanying today's iOS 13.2.1 release do not mention bricking issues, the software is thought to address those concerns.
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Chip Loder
Malcolm Owen
34 Comments
My Home app has shown 13.2 since release and after it was pulled. Hitting Update has update requested indefinitely. Still showing 13.2 with no sign of 13.2.1. Any idea how to shift it onto the latest release?
Wow that was quick. Must have been an easy fix. Looking forward to giving it a go!
Okay, I'll be the boring person. I was on of those idiots who was actually able to install 3.2 on my, stereo pair of HomePods, but it took forever, and AirPlay 2 was totally borked after the update. Today, 3.2.1 installed without incident in a reasonable amount of time on the same HomePods, and AirPlay 2 now works more or less as advertised, as does Handoff, and as many of the other advertised new features as I've been able to test. (I live alone, so no multiple voice recognition tests until family comes for a visit.)
So okay, Apple, peace. But maybe next time you'll remember this Catalina/iOs/iPadOS/HomePod mess and either stagger your hardware/software releases, reorganize Federighi's division, or something -- anything -- to save your customers from going through this again. Your software isn't running exclusively on hobbies or toys, or occasionally used geek devices as it once did. Quite simply, these i-things and Mac-things and Apple-things are like electricity or municipal water supplies. They're how we live. If you want to rule our world, Tim, you gotta do better than this....