From Engadget · Billy Steele · · 2m
Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 get Siri AI and audio upgrades
Apple's new streaming box and speaker bring hands-free Siri, better home theater sound, and desktop audio options to the living room and beyond.
In brief
Apple's new streaming box and speaker bring hands-free Siri, better home theater sound, and desktop audio options to the living room and beyond. Apple updated the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI for content discovery, improved audio for home theater, and new features like remote finding and Sound Glow…
Apple updates two home devices
Apple announced updated versions of the HomePod mini speaker and Apple TV 4K at its Welcome home event, with new features for Siri AI and audio.
Siri AI comes to Apple TV 4K
The Apple TV 4K now has Siri AI for content discovery. You can ask it to play shows friends texted you about. Far field microphones make it hands-free from your couch.
“play the show Sam texted me about”
Siri answers questions without interrupting
Siri AI can answer questions about content like whether Ted Lasso is a real person or if AFC Richmond is an actual football club.Responses appear as text in the corner, never spoken over your show.
New remote can beep when lost
The Apple TV 4K remote has a new feature that plays a sound when you ask Siri to help find it, similar to how you can find AirPods by playing a sound.
HomePod mini 2 gets S10 chip
The HomePod mini 2 is powered by the S10 chip, a big upgrade over the S5 in the 2020 model. Siri AI will come to the speaker at a later date after launch.
Sound Glow mimics album artwork
The HomePod mini 2 features Sound Glow, which displays album artwork on its back-lit touch panel. When playing soundscapes, the lights mirror things like rain drops and waves.
Four HomePods now work for home theater
You can now use up to four HomePod speakers with the Apple TV 4K for home theater audio, up from two as a stereo pair.
HomePod mini 2 works as Mac speakers
A pair of HomePod mini 2 speakers can sync with any Mac over AirPlay to function as desktop speakers. At around three hundred dollars for two, this offers a plausible upgrade over built-in iMac speakers.
The main idea
Apple updated the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini 2 with Siri AI for content discovery, improved audio for home theater, and new features like remote finding and Sound Glow.
