Software:audioOS

From HandWiki
Short description: Apple operating system

audioOS
DeveloperApple Inc.
Written inC, C++, Swift, Objective-C, assembly language
OS family
Working stateCurrent
Source modelClosed, with open-source components
General
availability
February 9, 2018; 6 years ago (2018-02-09)
Update methodFirmware-over-the-air
Platforms
  • ARMv8-A
Kernel typeHybrid (XNU)
LicenseCommercial proprietary software
Support status
Supported

audioOS (publicly called HomePod Software[1]) is an operating system developed by Apple Inc. for its smart speakers, the HomePod and HomePod Mini. It was launched alongside the release of the original HomePod, released on February 9, 2018.

History

After the release of the HomePod's first update, iOS 11.3, users complained online that the update had worsened their HomePod's bass and decreased its loudness, which was not alluded to in Apple's official release notes.[2] Dwight Silverman of the Houston Chronicle agreed with these observations, though Apple denied that the update contained any updates to the HomePod's equalization settings.[3]

The iOS 13.2 update had a bug which would brick HomePods if a system reset was attempted; Apple withdrew the update.[4]

audioOS 14.1 added the Intercom feature.[5]

In 2021, an Apple job listing referenced a non-existent "homeOS" operating system, echoing previous Bloomberg leaks about possible future Apple products for the living room that would merge the Apple TV and HomePod.[6][7][8]

Features

audioOS's main user-facing features are AirPlay 2 and Siri.

Development

Though it was initially a fork of iOS,[1] since version 13.4, it is a fork of tvOS.[9] Software updates are installed automatically over-the-air, but can also be installed manually through the Home app.[10]

While Apple publicly calls this OS "HomePod Software", the build manifest in .ipsw update files for the HomePod shows its name as "audioOS".[11][12]

Version history

Name Most recent version Release date
iOS 11 11.4.1 July 9, 2018
iOS 12 12.4 July 17, 2019
iOS 13 13.4.6 June 1, 2020
audioOS 14 14.7 July 19, 2021
audioOS 15 15.6 July 20, 2022
audioOS 16 16.5 May 18, 2023
audioOS 17 17.2 September 18, 2023
Legend:   Obsolete   Current   Beta

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "About Software Updates for HomePod" (in en). https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208714. 
  2. "Disgruntled HomePod owners say firmware update alters sound quality" (in en). March 30, 2018. https://appleinsider.com/articles/18/03/30/disgruntled-homepod-owners-say-firmware-update-alters-sound-quality. 
  3. Silverman, Dwight (2018-03-30). "Did the HomePod's software update tone down its bass? [Updated"] (in en-US). https://www.houstonchronicle.com/techburger/article/Did-the-HomePod-s-software-update-tone-down-its-12793478.php. 
  4. "Apple withdraws HomePod update after units are bricked" (in en). https://www.macworld.com/article/673105/homepod-software-how-to-update-and-get-new-features.html. 
  5. Cross, Jason (October 20, 2020). "Apple releases HomePod software update 14.1 with Intercom and other enhancements" (in en). https://www.macworld.com/article/234715/apple-releases-homepod-software-update-141-with-intercom-and-other-enhancements.html. 
  6. "Apple Once Again Refers to Unreleased 'homeOS' in Job Listing [Removed"] (in en). November 3, 2021. https://www.macrumors.com/2021/11/03/apple-refers-to-homeos-job-listings/. 
  7. Axon, Samuel (2021-06-02). "Apple's "homeOS" slip fits with prior rumors about new smart home products" (in en-us). https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2021/06/apple-job-listing-mentions-homeos-days-before-wwdc-keynote/. 
  8. "Apple to Expand Smart-Home Lineup, Taking On Amazon and Google" (in en). Bloomberg.com. 2023-01-18. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-18/apple-to-expand-smart-home-lineup-taking-on-amazon-and-google. 
  9. Espósito, Filipe (13 April 2020). "HomePod now runs on tvOS, here's what that could mean". https://9to5mac.com/2020/04/13/homepod-now-runs-on-tvos-heres-what-that-could-mean/. 
  10. Keller, Joseph (14 March 2022). "How to install software updates for your HomePod or HomePod mini" (in en). https://www.imore.com/how-install-software-updates-your-homepod. 
  11. Rambo, Guilherme (2018-03-29). "Apple releasing first HomePod software update alongside iOS 11.3 today (U: Now available)" (in en-US). https://9to5mac.com/2018/03/29/homepod-audioos-11-3/. 
  12. "OTA for the HomePod". https://ipsw.me/otas/AudioAccessory1,1. 

External links