Apple has updated the internal software of its
HomePod, its new smart speaker
detailed hereand developer Steve Troughton-Smith was able to study the
code to identify some software characteristics of the beast. The HomePod
would notably use an OS very similar to iOS, without however being able to
state to accept additional apps from third-party developers, but keeping
some major features of the mobile operating system, including Siri
and different accessibility functions:
It seems obvious that allowing HomePod to use something
very similar to iOS remains an interesting strategy for Apple, since this
allows the firm to benefit from standardization of its OS and thus keep the
possibility of upgrading the capabilities of the HomePod very simply, without
nor do you have to rethink a system from scratch.
However, the HomePod and its OS are obviously much more limited than a
iPhone running iOS. The HomePod notably does not have a screen, the interface is
either vocal, thanks to Siri integrated into the speaker, or tactile thanks to a panel
touch screen with a Siri key and + and – buttons allowing you to manage
different settings, playback, volume, timer, alarms, etc. The developer
having inspected the HomePod OS code specifies that new commands
could appear in the future, given the potential of the system and the panel
tactile.
The speaker would also support accessibility features like
VoiceOver, but probably no third-party developer apps or extensions,
even if for the moment, we do not yet know Apple's intentions in
the material. Still, initially, it is with these functions
and these limits that the HomePod will be marketed, we recall, from
month of December for an American price of 349 dollars.
Also read:
The Apple HomePod in more detail- HomePod :
first opinions on sound quality
For the Apple HomePod speaker, Apple customers are more interested than in
the Apple Watch before its launch
Editor-in-chief for iPhon.fr. Pierre is like Indiana Jones, looking for the lost iOS trick. Also a long-time Mac user, Apple devices hold no secrets for him. Contact: pierre[a]iphon.fr.
