Latest news with #HomePod
Forbes
2 days ago
- Forbes
How To Sleep Smarter With Apple Watch And HomePod: 5 Ways They Can Help
We all know sleep is crucial to our health. Wake up refreshed, and the day ahead is that bit easier. Sleep tracking can be a useful tool towards a better night's sleep, and Apple is on a mission to help. Here are five ways to optimize your zzz's. Apple Watch and sleep metrics 1 Routine Is Crucial While being described as predictable never sounds like a compliment, choosing a regular time to go to bed can make a big difference. You can create a Sleep Schedule on your Apple Watch to remind you to start winding down before you turn in. This can take a little getting used to, especially if you choose to introduce Sleep Focus at this point, which can minimize distractions not just on your Watch but your Mac and iPhone as well. Still, even if you just ask your Watch to remind you it's nearly bedtime — something that other devices such as the Whoop band also do — it can be a useful way of setting up a regular schedule. 2 HomePod mini Can Help You Drift Off Say, 'Siri, play Ambient Sounds,' for instance, and your HomePod or HomePod mini can start playing one of the soundscapes available on Apple Music. You don't need the smart speaker to do this as obviously Apple Music plays through other devices, but the sound quality is at its best on the HomePod or HomePod mini. The soundscape options include rain, forest noises, white noise and more. When it's playing, say, 'Siri, set a sleep timer for 7 minutes,' or whatever, and it'll stop playing at the right time. 3 Track Your Sleep Sleep stages shown on the iPhone This is the key metric. The Sleep setting on the Watch means the display stays dark, so you won't accidentally wake yourself when you move. And in the morning, it will give you a breakdown of how much you were awake in the night (moments of wakefulness are normal), and divide your sleep into Core, Deep Sleep and REM stages. Other trackers talk about Light sleep but Apple calls this Core, probably because there's nothing light about it. It's useful to see how much of your sleep is REM and Deep, as these are the most restorative. And there's a psychological element here: if I wake up feeling weary and think that I've only slept for an hour or so after a bad night, checking in with my Watch to find I slept much better than I thought instantly makes me feel better. 4 Check Your Vitals This is a newish Apple Watch app and it's designed to compare your metrics from night to night, so it can tell when your readings are exceptional. It looks at sleep duration, heart rate, respiratory rate and wrist temperature. Your natural readings may be different from the average, and the advantage of Vitals is how it compares your personal readings to establish what's normal for you. 5 Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea is that condition where your breathing stops repeatedly to cause disrupted sleep. Huge numbers of people remain undiagnosed, but Apple Watch can check each night and let you know if it spots any signs. Of course, you need to recharge your Watch on a regular basis. It takes half an hour for the battery to go from flat to 80% (perhaps while you're showering and brushing your teeth is a good time) and if you find your Watch is running low before you go to bed, a 15-minute charge is enough for eight hours of sleep tracking.
Stuff.tv
6 days ago
- Stuff.tv
You can now download all of Apple's 2026 iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch software updates
Apple has released the first public beta preview versions of the software it announced at its WWDC 25 developer event back in early June. So you're now able to preview the next big iPhone, Apple Watch, iPad and Mac operating systems months before their proper, full release – those are called iOS 26, watchOS 26 and iPadOS 26 plus macOS 26 Tahoe. You'll need to opt into public beta updates on your device as well as have devices fit enough to run the OS: If you're an Apple TV or HomePod afficionado, then tvOS 26 is also available. Apple isn't releasing a public version of the pre-release software for the Apple Vision Pro, however. The final software versions will also include updates for AirPods and HomePod, though it's not clear if these updates will be available in the public betas. A new look and feel for the software is the key new feature this time around. Called Liquid Glass, it brings a new look and feel to Apple's operating systems. The iPadOS 26 update is intriguing for us because it some new multitaking additions that we've long wanted, though it's still got a little way to go until it's as flexible as a Mac. As ever, it's strongly recommended that you do not install beta software on your primary device – especially your everyday iPhone, since any mishaps could leave you without a working phone or maybe have an annoying quirk you can't get rid of. You have been warned! Also read: Got an Intel-based Mac? Here's why you'll want to replace it over the next couple of years
Tom's Guide
23-07-2025
- Tom's Guide
iOS 26 beta just teased the highly anticipated HomePod with a screen
The fourth developer beta of iOS 26 has arrived and, allegedly, it comes with code that teases HomePod settings — including one setting that seems to reference a HomePod with a display. The HomePod data was discovered by MacRumors, who found the foreshadowing phrase: "Your HomePod won't be able to show you the local weather, time, or respond to Siri requests about your area." The suggestive word is "show", since right now the HomePod can't show you anything like the weather or time since there is no screen of any kind to display that information. But that could change with the upcoming Apple HomePod 3. Beyond the slightly sketchy phrasing, there doesn't appear to be more in the code, but what's there is believed to be another hint at the long-rumored next-generation HomePod speaker. Up to this point, only leaks and rumors have painted a picture of an updated Apple speaker that features an OLED iPad-like display that's supposed to be powered with a more AI-forward Siri 2.0, but no solid evidence has yet to appear. At one point, the new HomePod was supposed to launch in March of this year, but recent rumors have pushed the device into the third quarter of 2025. Part of the problem, reportedly, is that Siri integration. Many of the rumors claim that Apple wants to turn the HomePod into a home hub that utilizes AI and voice directives to control your smart home via the speaker, but that has caused a delay in development. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. In addition to advanced Siri support, the HomePod 3 is supposed to control HomeKit and Matter devices, run Apple apps and work in a similar fashion to an Amazon Echo Show. It's no secret that Apple is struggling with the building its own AI features. Recently the company was dealt a major blow to its Apple Intelligence strategy, largely because Apple keeps getting in its own way when it comes to AI. It's gotten so bad that there are even reports that Apple may hand off AI upgrades to other companies like OpenAI or Anthropic. Apple's Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak spoke with Tom's Guide during WWDC 2025 and discussed Apple's approach to AI and how the company is working to improve Apple Intelligence going forward. "We will announce the date when we're ready to seed it, and you're all ready to be able to experience it,' said Federighi said of an updated Siri 2.0. Since then, though, nothing has been announced. Despite rumors that the HomePod 3 is still coming in 2025, it's not clear when Apple will finally release it, as the company continues to grapple with its AI problem.
India Today
23-07-2025
- India Today
iOS 26 beta 4 drops major clue about Apple's first HomePod with a display
Apple has long been rumoured to be working on a HomePod with a screen. This highly anticipated Apple device is said to function as a smart home hub, controlling accessories, facilitating communication via FaceTime and Intercom, and even operating as a security system. While Apple has yet to officially confirm the launch of a HomePod with a display, the latest iOS 26 beta strongly hints on its existence and suggests that the long-rumoured HomePod with a built-in screen is finally on the recently released iOS 26 beta 4, introducing the new Liquid Glass aesthetic, fresh CarPlay wallpapers, and performance improvements. However, buried in the code is a particularly telling piece of language that further suggests Apple is indeed planning a new device for the future of the smart home. As reported by MacRumors' Juli Clover, one setting in the iOS 26 beta refers to HomePod behaviour when location access is turned off. The wording in this setting seems somewhat out of place, unless you're thinking about unreleased hardware. The setting reads: 'Your HomePod won't be able to show you the local weather, time, or respond to Siri requests about your area.'Now, the current HomePod models, including the standard HomePod and the HomePod mini, do not feature a screen and therefore cannot 'show' anything. They can respond via audio, but not visually. So, Apple's mention of a device with the ability to display information suggests that the company is indeed planning a future HomePod with display capabilities, something that's been rumoured for years but has yet to officially materialise. Over the past few years, several reports have circulated about a HomePod with an iPad-like interface but in a more compact, square form factor. With Siri integration at its core, the device is expected to act as a central hub for HomeKit and Matter smart home other rumors also suggest that this new HomePod with a display will offer more than just smart speaker functionality. It is expected to feature a 6-to-7-inch touchscreen and run lightweight versions of Apple's core apps such as Weather, Calendar, Apple Music, Photos, and Apple News. It would also likely provide visual feedback for Siri queries and serve as an interactive control panel for home automation, media playback, and daily there have been several reports mentioning the delay in the launch. According to reports, Apple has been pushing back the release of HomePod with display multiple times, primarily due to challenges with the Apple Intelligence platform and Siri's readiness to support a visual interface effectively. These software-related setbacks have reportedly shifted the expected launch from the originally speculated 2025 timeline to a more likely window in early 2026.- Ends
Phone Arena
23-07-2025
- Phone Arena
Apple's long-awaited HomePod with a screen might be coming soon
After years of rumors, Apple may finally be on the verge of releasing a HomePod with a screen. A reference to one of the company's most long-awaited products was spotted in the fourth beta of iOS 26, which might be a hint at an imminent launch. Apple has used a very curious language in reference to a location-related setting for the HomePod. The setting, which was spotted by MacRumors in the just-released iOS 26 beta 4, says the following: iOS 26 beta 4 Settings, July 2025 If you're still wondering what's so special about that message, I have a hint – it's the word 'show'. Currently, no HomePod model can show anything to anyone, as there's no screen to display the information. Multiple rumors of a new HomePod with a display have been spread in the last few years. The device may be part of Apple's new strategy for the smart home, and serve as a smart home hub. Some of the rumors about such a HomePod compare it with an iPad, but with a square display rather than a rectangular one. The device might be able to control all HomeKit and Matter devices in the home while running Apple's core apps, including Apple Music, Photos, and Calendar. Just like older HomePods, the new model is supposed to rely heavily on an integration with Siri. The assistant is supposed to be at the core of the device's voice control abilities, similar to Apple's current HomePods. Part of the reason for the delayed launch of the new HomePod might also be the issues with Apple Intelligence and the smarter version of Siri. Apple is also rumored to work on a more advanced home device, which may be equipped with a robotic arm. I wouldn't be surprised if the new HomePod arrives along with the smarter AI-powered Siri, which is rumored for next spring. Apple failed to release it along the 'Made for Apple Intelligence ' iPhone 16, so a brand-new type of device might be a fitting way to introduce its capabilities to the world.
