Apple released iOS 16 beta 2 to developers on Wednesday, two weeks after the first beta release of iOS 16 announced at WWDC 2022. The update brings several tweaks to the system and, interestingly, also adds a new menu to manage beta software from HomePod to the Home app.
HomePod beta software
The menu is hidden by default and only appears when the user has a beta profile of HomePod installed. This way, users can easily choose which of their HomePods will receive beta software updates. Previously, you had to set the beta profile for each speaker in your home.
To choose which HomePods will receive beta software, simply turn on the individual switch for each speaker. You should then receive the beta update. If you turn off the switch, the HomePod will not receive beta updates.
The new menu arrives ahead of the new betas coming to Apple’s beta software program next month, which will include the HomePod software beta for the first time. Right now, the only way to install beta software on your HomePod is to be invited through the AppleSeed program. Even developers can’t install HomePod Software 16 beta at this time.
Interestingly, only HomePod mini devices appear in the new beta menu. Maybe that’s because the original HomePod can’t be restored on a Mac if there’s a problem with the upgrade. This suggests that the public beta version of the HomePod software will not be available for the original HomePod.
New rumors from HomePod
According to recent rumors, Apple has been working on a new model of HomePod that is expected to be released sometime between late 2022 and early 2023. 9to5Mac found references to an unreleased HomePod model hidden in the code of iOS 16, which corroborates these rumors.
Details on the new HomePod are unclear at this time, but analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes the new model will be an incremental upgrade of the current HomePod mini.
Mark Gurman of Bloomberg previously reported that Apple has been experimenting with HomePod prototypes combined with the Apple TV in a single product. However, it seems that this product is far from ready for the market. There are also rumors about the return of a larger HomePod model.
It’s worth noting that iOS 16 is currently available as beta software for developers through Apple’s developer website. The official launch is scheduled for this fall.
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