Apple working on new surround sound, Party Mode features for HomePod

Apple has several new HomePod features in development, based on new code references discovered in audioOS 27. The code seemingly suggests work on a new surround sound system, something called Party Mode, and more. New HomePod features in the works A user on the MacRumors forums discovered the code references this week in audioOS 27 beta 8. Most notably, the code references support for arranging four full-sized HomePod (2nd generation) speakers into a surround sound system. Currently, HomePod supports a stereo pair configuration paired as a default speaker output for Apple TV. In the quad placement, each speaker has its own role and sound treatment. The front speakers use left- and right-specific processing, and they compensate for their potential placement close to walls and corners. Rear HomePods get an omnidirectional treatment designed to fill the space behind and around the listener. The new tuning has a processing pipeline to manage each HomePod’s woofer and tweeters, and control bass, EQ, synchronization, and calibration data. The code also references dynamic surround sound audio tuning. This would enable the quad HomePod system to change its processing to match what’s playing, such as movies or music. A new “Forklift” system is also referenced in this code. Forklift appears to combine two full-sized second-generation HomePod speakers with two other speakers with an identifier that does not match any of Apple’s existing HomePod products. Most recently, Bloomberg reported that Apple could release a new HomePod mini within the next several months. The company is also “testing a new full-sized HomePod,” but that product is not imminent. Apple released its current full-sized HomePod in February 2023. Another new feature referenced is something called “Party Mode.” According to the code, enabling Party Mode will spread the HomePod’s sound “into a wider, more ambient mix” in order to “fill a room more evenly instead of creating a perfect listening spot in front of the speakers.” Whether Apple actually ships these features remains to be seen. Still, it’s encouraging to see evidence that Apple is continuing to upgrade the home theater features of its HomePod product family. My favorite Apple deals right now: AirPods Pro 3 $199 (Reg. $249) AirTag 2: from $20 each (Reg. $29) M5 Pro MacBook Pro $2,899 (Reg. $3,199) AirPods Max 2 $479 (Reg. $549) Apple Studio Display XDR $2,969 (Reg. $3,299) Shop Amazon’s Huge Labor Day Sale Follow Chance: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.