Apple is expected to soon release iOS 17.4, iPadOS 17.4, and tvOS 17.4, and HomePod 17.4 software updates. The HomePod 17.4 update will include a small but sure-to-be-appreciated change to Siri.
HomePod 17.4 brings the ability for Siri to learn a user’s preferred media service. That means users will no longer be required to include an app name when telling Siri to play content. Users will also not be required to go through the process of setting up a default third-party app
From Apple’s release notes:
This update enables Siri to learn your preferred media service, so you no longer need to include the name of the media app in your request.
If a user has YouTube Music, for example, they won’t need to say “Play [song name] on YouTube Music” to not play the song in Apple Music, nor will the user need to set YouTube Music as their default music service in the Home app.
The end result is that Siri on the HomePod and HomePod mini will work the same way it already does on the iPhone and iPad. Both devices ask users for their preferred app when playing content for the first time.
Third-party apps that work directly with the HomePod include YouTube Music, Deezer, Pandora, TuneIn, and iHeartRadio. Streaming music services need to support HomePod for the feature to work.
The HomePod 17.4 update also includes performance and stability improvements. The HomePod 17.4 software could be released to the public as soon as later this week.
(Via MacRumors)