The second-generation Apple HomePod, which was surprisingly presented on Wednesday, also comes with an integrated sensor for the indoor climate for the first time, in addition to other improvements. This can measure both the temperature and the humidity and make it usable for Apple’s HomeKit smart home system, for example for automation. The HomePod 2’s predecessor, the HomePod mini, also includes the feature. This has been known for a long time; however, the feature has been completely inaccessible to users since 2021. That should change very soon, as reported by beta testers of iOS 16.3. The new version will be released next week.
Optimize climate and temperature
In the preliminary version, the sensor can be used already use: It appears in the Home app summary bar at the top of the Home screen, as well as in the HomePod mini detail view and settings. You can see the values mentioned: the temperature in Celsius or Fahrenheit, and the humidity in percent. However, the first time it is activated, it may take some time for the room climate sensor to calibrate. After that, the values are updated regularly.
This is extremely useful for automation. For example, you can specify that HomeKit-enabled blinds are lowered if a room gets too warm. If the humidity rises, you could have a dehumidifier start automatically at a desired value – and stop again when it has done its job. Alternatively, you could use the temperature value to control a HomeKit heating valve. Here HomePod 2 and HomePod mini have the advantage that you can place them in the middle of the room, while the temperature sensor of the heating valve sits directly next to the heating and therefore too high values delivers.
Apple has left itself for a long time
Only Apple knows why it took so long to activate the sensor in the HomePod mini. The group first addressed the feature when introducing the HomePod 2 on Wednesday. Users had then hoped that the room climate sensor would also be activated for the old devices, which beta testers were then able to confirm with the latest version of iOS 16.3.
In the spring of 2021, the financial news agency Bloomberg had researched that an HDC2010 from Texas Instruments was in the HomePod mini. The component is installed relatively far away from the main components on the lower edge of the spherical speaker and is therefore designed to capture the environment – and not just the internal heat development of the Siri speaker. Apple is considering using it to implement thermostat control, for example. That is now finally possible.
(bsc)