Thursday night is a veritable Christmas Eve for loyal Apple fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of the HomePod speaker, which finally goes on sale on Friday February 9.
The long-delayed Siri-powered speaker promises to challenge the Amazon Echo and Google Home speakers, and beat the pants off both when it comes to sound quality.
Naturally, Apple wants early adopters to get the most from their HomePod as soon as possible and is furnishing owners with a host of tips.
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The helpful iOS Tips app will send users a notification within 30 minutes of HomePod being paired, according to 9to5Mac, which collated the tips that also appear on Apple’s website.
The app will also showcase a little video helping to illustrate the functionality.
In the firm’s own words: Here are the hints (h/t to Guillerme Rambo at 9to5Mac for pulling together the list) Apple is sending the way of HomePod owners:
Say Hey: Got something to ask? Just say “Hey Siri” and make your request. The light on top lets you know HomePod is listening — even when it’s playing music.
Master the volume: Say “Hey Siri, make it louder.” Or tap the controls on top.
Music for any moment: Ask for what you want to hear by title, artist, genre, activity, or mood. Your Apple Music subscription lets you choose from more than 40 million songs.
Get the weather: Hear the forecast for where you are — or where you wish you were.
More for the asking: For more stuff to try, just ask Siri what you can say. Or check out the online user guide for the whole scoop.
Tune in to the latest: Stay current with music from Beats 1, or hear today’s top stories by saying “Hey Siri, tell me the news.”
Channel your inner DJ: Ask for the song that you want to hear next.
Rock on: When you hear music you love, you can keep the vibe going.
Give me some light: To control an individual HomeKit accessory, just refer to it by name.
Check the market: You can ask about a specific stock, index, or fund. For example, “Hey Siri, how’s Apple stock doing today?”
Peace of mind: Why get up and check when you can ask? Have Siri check the status of your HomeKit accessories.
Send a message: Text quickly even when your hands are full. HomePod can send text messages using your iPhone.
Listen with AirPlay: Play almost anything from your iPhone on HomePod using AirPlay 2. In Control Center, press Music to select where to route the sound.
Check your spelling: Got a word that doesn’t look right to you? Better to check than be sorry.
Home away from home: HomePod is a home hub, so you can access and control HomeKit accessories when you’re away. Turn on Settings > your name > iCloud > Home to enable remote access.
Settle a bet: If you need to check a fact, just ask Siri.
Know the neighborhood: Ask for a restaurant recommendation, location, and the hours they’re open.
HomePod pre-orders reportedly shipping to customers with no delays.
This comes after the firm whiffed on its promise to get the speaker in consumer’s hands before the end of 2017.
First announced at WWDC in June 2017, this one has been a long time coming. Initial impressions suggest it could very much be worth the wait.
Are you among the Apple fans who raced to grab HomePod and are excitedly awaiting its arrival? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
