// 9TO5MAC — MOBILE & WEB
HomePod is about to get free upgrade with these new features
Apple unveiled three new Home products this week: HomeView, HomePod mini 2, and a new Apple TV 4K. While there’s no new full-size HomePod launching, Apple did announce three features coming to the existing HomePod 2 via a free software update.
If you have an Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhone, your HomePod will get the new Sound Glow feature that’s also coming to HomePod mini 2.
Per Apple’s webpage for HomePod (2nd generation): “with Sound Glow, the top of your HomePod lights up with colors that match your album artwork, pulsing in tune with the music.”
The HomePod mini 2 announcement adds more details, which hopefully will be the same on the larger HomePod:
With Sound Glow, the top of HomePod mini transforms into a visual canvas that glows and pulses in sync with the music, reacting in real time to bass and treble. The song’s album artwork from Now Playing generates a color-matched light experience that’s unique to every song, and users can pick a soundscape like rain to trigger bespoke animations for a soothing atmosphere.
Apple has long let you use a HomePod as a speaker for your Mac via AirPlay. But soon, you’ll be able to set HomePod as the default Mac speaker for a more seamless, reliable connection.
Like Sound Glow, Apple announced this feature for HomePod mini 2, but its fine print says:
Compatible with HomePod mini 2 and HomePod (2nd generation) with support on all Mac desktops and laptops with Wi-Fi 6E or later.
So if you want to upgrade your Mac speaker setup with the HomePod, or a stereo pair of HomePods, that will soon be easier than ever.
If you want the best, all-Apple home theater experience, a new surround sound feature for HomePod and Apple TV 4K will deliver that.