Apple has provided HomePod beta software to a selection of AppleSeed testers, and today released a second version of the HomePod update alongside iOS 14 beta 2.
The second HomePod software beta update adds an option to select a new default service for Apple Music, Podcasts, and Audiobooks as noted on Twitter and the MacRumors forum.
Apple at WWDC did not publicly announce the new option that will allow other music services to be set as the default on the HomePod, but there was a brief mention of the feature on a HomeKit-related slide.
At the current time, third-party music services like Spotify can only be streamed on the HomePod using AirPlay and an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. The new feature will presumably allow Spotify and other music services to be set as the default music service, letting users ask Siri to stream music from Spotify.
Third-party app developers may need to implement support for the HomePod, as Spotify is not listed as an option at the current time.
Monday October 19, 2026 1:31 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple's latest software update for the HomePod brings a new Sound Glow feature to the HomePod, HomePod mini, and HomePod mini 2. Apple introduced Sound Glow as a HomePod mini 2 feature, but it's available for the second-generation HomePod and the original HomePod mini too.
HomePod Software 27.2 is available as a release candidate update for developers and public beta testers, but it should...
Tuesday October 13, 2026 9:29 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
As was rumored prior to today's announcements, the new Apple TV 4K can connect to up to four HomePods in front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right positions, enabling an all-Apple surround sound system for home theater setups.
You can connect four of the new HomePod mini 2 speakers to the new Apple TV 4K, or you can mix and match pairs of HomePod mini 2 and full-sized HomePod 2...
Tuesday October 20, 2026 7:02 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
The new fourth-generation Apple TV 4K announced last week can connect to up to four HomePods in front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right positions, enabling an all-Apple surround sound system for home theater setups. There is also a related new feature that has not received as much attention: Whole Room Audio.
Apple says the Whole Room Audio feature spreads sound evenly across four ...
Alright, who are you, and what did you do with the real Apple?!
Anti-trust hearings are a hell of a drug.
How could you go back to bluetooth after W1/H1 and AirPlay? It was a sigh of relief to finally rid my house of those standard bluetooth devices.
More compatibility is better than less compatibility. It would take almost no effort to enable, and would only be used if the device didn't have the special Apple chips. Why wouldn't you want that ability?
