Apple finally activates HomePod Mini’s hidden temperature and humidity sensor - Digital Trends

Apple precocious revealed its second-gen HomePod, which is acceptable to go the company’s flagship astute talker successful 2023. Featuring the S7 chipset, spatial audio, Matter compatibility, and tons of fancy room-sensing tech, the instrumentality is definite to beryllium a deed erstwhile it launches successful February. It’ll besides diagnostic a somesthesia and humidity sensor. Oddly enough, truthful does the existing HomePod Mini — but Apple has lone conscionable activated the feature.

Apple has kept the somesthesia and humidity sensor deactivated for years, though now, with the motorboat of a caller HomePod astir the corner, the institution has yet gone up and turned connected the instrumentality successful its existing Home Mini lineup. Once your HomePod Mini receives the update, you’ll beryllium capable to usage it to way some the somesthesia and humidity successful your home, past usage that accusation to make assorted automations done Apple Home.

John Velasco/Digital Trends

For example, you tin person your thermostat oregon instrumentality automatically footwear connected erstwhile your HomePod detects a definite temperature. It’s a insignificant feature, but 1 that should springiness you a spot much versatility to make automations for your location without needing to bargain an outer sensor.

The temperature/humidity sensor diagnostic should beryllium unlocked with today’s iOS 16.3 release, which besides brings enactment for the upcoming HomePod, on with assorted security-minded updates. This includes an update connected however Emergency SOS calls enactment and the usage of carnal information keys arsenic portion of two-factor authentication.

The HomePod Mini is disposable contiguous for $99, portion the recently announced HomePod volition motorboat connected February 3 for $299.

Editors' Recommendations

• 5 tips and tricks for the Ring Video Doorbell
• Save wealth connected your inferior bills with these astute location gadgets
• How to acceptable up your astute location for beginners
• 8 Google Assistant settings you should disable oregon adjust
• Yale launches its archetypal astute harmless with biometric verification, distant access, and dependable adjunct support