Oliver Haslam·

Apple HomePod Supported Audio Sources Confirmed [List]

Apple has just updated the HomePod’s webpage with a new technical specification, which lists all the audio sources that the Siri-powered speaker supports, of course, that is once it arrives in about nine days from now.

Apple’s HomePod goes on sale at the end of this week and since the device went up for pre-order last week, there has been plenty of discussion around exactly what the smart speaker can use as a source of music.

We had started to hear dribs and drabs of information as some select people started to receive early review units, but now Apple has confirmed everything we needed to know via the HomePod’s technical specifications. According to Apple’s HomePod specs, the following sources of music can be used when powering a brand new HomePod, in its current software state:

  • Apple Music
  • iTunes Music Purchases
  • iCloud Music Library with an Apple Music or iTunes Match subscription
  • Beats 1 Live Radio
  • Podcasts
  • AirPlay other content to HomePod from iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV, and Mac

One issue that many have pointed out about the HomePod is the lack of any kind of physical input for audio, such as the tried and tested line-in that most devices of this ilk have. That obviously is not going to change in this version of the HomePod, with Apple apparently instead choosing to force customers to use AirPlay, AirPlay 2, and even though the speaker has built-in Bluetooth 5.0, Apple doesn’t list it as supported source for audio playback. It will likely be used for pairing only, and for communicating to HomeKit devices as HomePod can act as a HomeKit just like an Apple TV.

When it comes to audio formats, Apple has also confirmed support for HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Apple Lossless, AIFF, WAV, and FLAC.

The HomePod goes on sale on February 9th in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia, with other countries set to receive it in due course.

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