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               Apple Releases HomePod Software 16.3 and tvOS 16.3

   Adam Engst

   Apple's release machine took a break yesterday before unveiling HomePod
   Software 16.3 and tvOS 16.3 (see '[1]Apple Releases iOS 16.3, iPadOS
   16.3, and macOS 13.2 Ventura with Hardware Security Key Support,' 23
   January 2023). Those remaining two updates are now available, and while
   they are usually afterthoughts'and tvOS 16.3 remains one'HomePod
   Software 16.3 is actually quite interesting.

   HomePods and Apple TVs generally update on their own, and I see no
   reason to prevent that. If you're excited about one of the new features
   in HomePod Software 16.3, you could give it a nudge to make sure you
   get it right away.

HomePod Software 16.3

   Although it's unsurprising that [2]HomePod Software 16.3 would include
   support for the just-released second-generation HomePod (see
   '[3]Second-Generation HomePod Supports Spatial Audio,
   Temperature/Humidity Monitoring, and Sound Recognition,' 18 January
   2023), it also has improvements that owners of the first-generation
   HomePod or HomePod mini will also appreciate.

   For instance, Apple updated the volume controls on the first-generation
   HomePod to give you more granular adjustments at lower volumes. Both
   full-size HomePods benefit from new audio tuning that optimizes spoken
   content like podcasts for greater clarity.

   The remaining changes are focused on smart home interactions and Siri:
     * You can now take advantage of temperature and humidity sensing in
       the HomePod mini and second-generation HomePod to trigger Home
       automations.
     * Remastered ambient sounds are more immersive, and you can now add
       them to scenes, automations, and alarms in the Home app.
     * Find My on HomePod now enables you to ask Siri for the location of
       friends and family who share their locations with you.
     * You can set up recurring Home automations using just your voice. I
       haven't had a chance to test this, but I recommend double-checking
       the results in the Home app.
     * HomePods will now play a Siri confirmation tone to indicate when
       smart home requests are completed for accessories that may not
       visibly show a change or are located in a different room.
       Currently, Siri confirms such actions with a voice response.

   There are several ways to kickstart HomePod updates. I found that
   tapping the '¢'¢'¢ button in the upper right of the iOS Home app and
   then selecting Home Settings > Software Update caused all three of our
   HomePods to start downloading the update. I presume it would have
   installed on its own, but I gave it a push by pressing a HomePod tile
   in the Home app, selecting Accessory Details, scrolling down (or
   tapping the gear icon) to reveal the necessary controls, and then
   tapping Update.

tvOS 16.3

   Not a lot to see here, folks. With regard to [4]tvOS 16.3, Apple merely
   says that it 'includes general performance and stability improvements.'
   It also includes fixes for [5]10 security vulnerabilities. Let it
   install on its own.

References

   Visible links
   1. https://tidbits.com/2023/01/23/apple-releases-ios-16-3-ipados-16-3-and-macos-13-2-ventura-with-hardware-security-key-support/
   2. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208714
   3. https://tidbits.com/2023/01/18/second-generation-homepod-adds-spatial-audio-temperature-humidity-monitoring-and-sound-recognition/
   4. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT207936
   5. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT213601

   Hidden links:
   6. https://tidbits.com/wp/../uploads/2023/01/HomePod-Software-16.3-scaled.jpg

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