Apple's HomePod 27.2 update adds Sound Glow, a light show on top of the speaker, plus surround sound with the new Apple TV 4K and a way to lock the touch controls.
Apple has released HomePod software 27.2, and its headline feature is a light show. A new option called Sound Glow makes the top of a HomePod or HomePod mini glow and pulse in time with whatever is playing. The colors come from the album art.
Sound Glow turns the top of the speaker into a small visual display. It works with songs, podcasts and Apple's ambient music feature. Apple's release notes also mention matching light animations for soundscapes. The option is available on the HomePod mini, the HomePod (2nd generation) and the upcoming HomePod mini 2.
The update adds more than lights. Apple lists these changes in its release notes:
The surround setup needs matching front and rear pairs of HomePod mini 2 or HomePod (2nd generation) speakers. The notes do not list the original HomePod mini for that feature.
Lock Controls is aimed at a common annoyance. A stray tap on top of the speaker can pause music, skip a song or change the volume. With the lock on, those taps do nothing. For the Mac feature, Apple says it uses a responsive and persistent AirPlay connection, which is Apple's way of sending sound wirelessly to a speaker.
If automatic updates are on, the software installs by itself. To do it by hand, open the Home app on an iPhone, iPad or Mac. Tap the More button, choose Home Settings, then Software Update.
The HomePod mini 2 launches on Friday, October 30. The new Apple TV 4K arrives on November 13. The material does not give prices for either device. Surround sound with four speakers will need that new Apple TV, so the feature has to wait until it ships.
If you own a HomePod, update it through the Home app or let automatic updates handle it to get Sound Glow and Lock Controls.
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