Apple has released HomePod software 27.2, adding Sound Glow, lock controls and the option to use a HomePod as the speaker for a Mac, according to Apple’s HomePod software release notes.
Sound Glow turns the top of HomePod mini, HomePod mini 2 and HomePod (2nd generation) into a display that pulses and glows in sync with whatever is playing. When Apple announced the feature with HomePod mini 2, it said the light reacts in real time to bass and treble, and that “the song’s album artwork from Now Playing generates a colour-matched light experience that’s unique to every song”. Choosing a soundscape such as rain triggers its own animation.
Lock controls disables the touch controls on top of the speaker, so accidental taps no longer pause music, skip songs or change the volume. The new Mac option lets a single HomePod or a stereo pair act as the audio output for everything on a Mac; Apple says it works on all Macs with Wi-Fi 6E or later.
The update also lays the groundwork for home theatre surround sound with four HomePods, which needs the Apple TV 4K (4th generation) that reaches stores on 13 November. Front and rear pairs must each be matching HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers, and Apple TV calibrates timing and levels to where each speaker sits. HomePod mini 2 itself arrives in stores on 30 October and is compatible with HomePod software 27.2. The feature was previously hinted at in code; see also our HomePod mini 2 launch story.