Home LivingSmart HomeApple HomePod gets a great free upgrade with a neat new trickThis could save users a whole heap of time!When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Home LivingSmart HomeApple HomePod gets a great free upgrade with a neat new trickThis could save users a whole heap of time!When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

This could save users a whole heap of time!

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple HomePod

(Image credit: Apple)

Quick SummaryThe latest software update for the Apple HomePod series has arrived.The main event this time is a new learning algorithm for Siri, which should save users time with common requests.

The latest software update for the Apple HomePod series has arrived.The main event this time is a new learning algorithm for Siri, which should save users time with common requests.

The latest software update for the Apple HomePod series has arrived.The main event this time is a new learning algorithm for Siri, which should save users time with common requests.

The latest software update for the Apple HomePod series has arrived.

The main event this time is a new learning algorithm for Siri, which should save users time with common requests.

If you’rebuilding your smart home, chances are you have a smart speaker. These are fantastic building blocks, often acting as the nucleus of the whole system.

Now, the range has received a neat upgrade – and it could save you quite a bit of time. As part of the HomePod Software 17.4 update, users will no longer need to specify a media service when requesting music playback.

Instead, Siri will learn what service you prefer to use, and automatically use that as the base. That means you’ll no longer need to say, “Siri, play the High School Musical 2 soundtrack onDeezer” – Siri will already know that you use Deezer.

While it may not sound like much, that is a significant upgrade. Those few seconds used to specify which platform you use can add up. Couple that with the frustration of waiting for Siri to find the correct platform – and inevitably not succeed – and the result could be far longer than it seems.

It’s interesting to note the wording of the release. That makes it very clear that Siri will learn what you like, rather than the user having to input their preferences. In fact, the option to manually add a preference has been removed from the Home app as part of this.

Frustratingly, the biggest music service provider is not included on that list. Spotify is still not compatible with the HomePod directly – you’ll need to use a workaround with the content being streamed from youriPhoneover AirPlay.

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Still, for users ofApple Music,YouTube Music, Deezer and many more, this is a brilliant upgrade.

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