Apple HomePod Mini Is More Than A Wireless Speaker
October 14, 2020Apple has introduced a new wireless speaker called the HomePod mini. This little device is the newest addition to Apple’s HomePod family. Measuring just 34cm (3.3-inches) tall, it promises to do a lot more than just play music.
It’s designed to work with Apple Music, podcasts, radio stations from iHeartRadio, radio.com, TuneIn, and in the coming months Pandora and Amazon Music. Several HomePod mini speakers can work together to stream content to multiple rooms.
Alternatively, two of them can be placed in a single room to form a stereo pair, which should provide a wider soundstage for a better experience.
Powered by Apple’s S5 chip, the HomePod mini features an acoustic waveguide to direct the flow of sound down and out toward the bottom of the speaker. As such, it can be placed just about anywhere without hurting quality.
Integrated with Siri, it can identify who is speaking and tailor music and podcasts to their preferences. It can also respond to personal requests, like accessing messages, reminders, notes, and calendar appointments, or making and answering phone calls.
This device works with any Apple device, so you can use it to answer calls, stream music from your iPhone, Mac or Apple TV. Personalized listening suggestions are pushed to your iPhone when you’re in close proximity to a HomePod mini. Its controls are also made available to you.
Besides this, the HomePod mini can also control smart home accessories. Using voice commands, you can tell Siri to turn off your lights or lock your doors or change the temperature. This can be done even when you’re not at home, which is a nice touch.
Apple’s also included an intercom feature. One person can send an Intercom message from one HomePod to another. There could even be multiple HomePod minis around the home, but your voice will be received by the intended person.
Additional Features
- Siri Shortcuts created on iPhone and iPad are accessible on HomePod mini, so users can ask Siri on HomePod mini to start a pot of coffee, control a robot vacuum, add milk to the grocery list, and more.
- Ambient sounds, including rain, a fireplace, a stream, and more, offer the perfect background noise to focus, relax, or fall asleep. Siri can set a sleep timer so the sounds automatically stop playing.
- Find My helps locate a misplaced iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Mac, or Apple Watch by playing a sound to pinpoint its location.
- Web search results from HomePod mini can be sent directly to the user’s iPhone for easy viewing.
- Music alarms let users wake up to a favorite song, playlist, or radio station from Apple Music.
HomePod mini will be available in white and space gray for $99 from apple.com, in the Apple Store app, and Apple Store locations.
