When Apple launched the HomePod in February of this year, early users squawked in equal measures about its unbelievable audio capabilities and the fact that it was a WiFi-connected smart speaker that didn’t “talk” to other speakers. Its limits, not just around stereo pairing and multi-room audio but also around some basic voice commands, established it early on as a $349 product that only true Apple fans or audiophiles should consider[1].
But Apple promised then that key updates were in the works for HomePod, that super impressive sound machine built into a body like a soft roll of toilet paper. Now, a week ahead of its giant annual software conference, those key updates have come. iOS 11.4 is being released today, and with it comes HomePod stereo pairing and AirPlay 2. AirPlay 2 will not only let iOS users connect with multiple HomePods, but also adds some Siri support to non-Apple smart speakers.
HomePod is still one of the more expensive smart speakers in its class, and Apple doesn’t plan to offer any kind of bundle deal on the hardware. And it’s still really optimized for Apple Music. While WIRED hasn’t had the chance to test the new features yet, things like searching for songs using voice and controlling multi-room volume for a non-Apple streaming service (like Spotify) won't work the way they will with Apple Music. But generally speaking, the iOS 11.4 update gives HomePod some of the features that have long existed in competing speakers like Sonos, Google Home, and Amazon Echo.
Much like the initial set up process of a single HomePod, stereo pairing is supposed to be mind-numbingly simple. Once you’ve set up one HomePod, you’re supposed to be able to just power on a second and...