HomePod

Apple has released a support document for the cleaning and care of the HomePod. Some customers have been complaining that the smart speaker is leaving a white ring on some wood surfaces, such as oiled or waxed countertops. Apple notes in its document that "it is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-damping silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces. Apple suggests "wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth" to remove any rings.

With the news that Apple acquired Shazam last year, HomePod owners are anticipating enhanced music capabilities in the near future. The song identification service continues to add features, such as offline mode for iOS users. In the meantime, Shazam can easily be used on the HomePod in conjunction with Siri, no iOS device required.

Update: Apple has removed AirPlay 2 from the third iOS 11.3 and tvOS betas suggesting it will not be released until iOS 12.0.

AirPlay 2 is Apple's move into multi-room technology and the first big update to AirPlay which was originally introduced in iOS 4. With AirPlay 2 you can send audio from your iOS device or Apple TV to other AirPlay connected devices like a HomePod. To stream audio to your HomePod your iOS device needs to be running iOS 11.3 or later and it must be connected to the same Wi-Fi network.