A Look At The Audio Updates And Siri AI
Key Points:
- The new Apple TV 4K introduces hands-free Siri AI with far-field microphones, allowing users to control content and ask questions using natural language, such as "play the show Sam texted me about," with responses displayed as text on screen without interrupting audio.
- The updated Apple TV 4K remote now includes a feature that plays a sound to help users locate it when lost, similar to the Find My feature for AirPods, enhancing convenience for households prone to misplacing remotes.
- The HomePod mini 2 has been upgraded with the S10 chip, enabling future Siri AI capabilities, though this feature is not available at launch; current improvements include the Sound Glow light display that reacts to audio and expanded surround sound support with up to four HomePods for enhanced home theater audio.
- Using four HomePod speakers (two second-gen HomePods and two HomePod mini 2s) with the new Apple TV 4K delivers a richer, more immersive audio experience, but this setup may be impractical for most users due to cost and space considerations.
- The HomePod mini 2 can now be paired via AirPlay with any Mac to serve as desktop speakers, offering a significant audio upgrade for iMac users at a more accessible price point compared to the full four-speaker home theater setup.