The new model arrives on October 30, but Siri AI is coming later.
Apple's news today is all about the smart home, and part of that push is an updated HomePod mini speaker. Officially dubbed the HomePod mini 2, this new version looks almost exactly like the original mini, save for a few new colors for its fabric cover. There are some new features that are exclusive to this version too, and eventually the company's smallest smart speaker will work with Siri AI. However, that capability won't arrive until later.
Almost all of the HomePod mini 2's new features are audio-related. First, a tool called Sound Glow will mimic album artwork on the speaker's light panel by showing thie same colors. If you opt for a soundscape, that area will display lights in a pattern similar to raindrops or ocean waves, as two examples. You can also use two HomePod minis as speakers for your Mac or MacBook over AirPlay, and the connection will remain persistent until you change it. This will work with any Mac.
In the living room, you can use four units of the HomePod mini 2 as surround sound speakers with a new Apple TV 4K. This feature works with the second-gen HomePod as well, so you can have two of each of Apple's speakers connected to your TV, if that's the configuration you prefer. Before, you could only use two HomePod speakers in the living room, so this expansion lets you use up to four.
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