Homepod & Multiroom Audio

It looks good, sounds good, and can control your smart devices – and Apple’s HomePod has some other audio tech tricks up its sleeve too.

- Cliff Joseph

When Apple announced the HomePod back in June, it also mentioned that the speaker will include both the HomeKit software for smart home automation, and the AirPlay software that is built in to Macs and iOS devices that enables them to stream music over Wi-Fi over your home network. More importantly, both HomeKit and AirPlay are being updated as part of iOS 11, which will be launched just ahead of the HomePod. These updates will enable HomeKit and the new AirPlay 2 to work together for the first time.

The full details are still under wraps, but if you have a speaker that works with AirPlay 2 – which can be one from another manufacturer, not just Apple’s HomePod – then you’ll be able to control that speaker using the Home app on your iPhone or iPad. And, at the same time, AirPlay 2 will be able to use the “rooms” feature in the Home app to stream music to multiple speakers in different rooms.

STREAMING SOUNDS