14 DAY TRIAL // Apple has confirmed that the iOS 11.4 software update for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices will arrive today with a bunch of long-anticipated features that the company promised to customers for months.
The Cupertino, California based company has confirmed that it will release the iOS 11.4 software update to supported iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch devices today, bringing various performance improvements and new features that Apple showcased since last year's reveal of the iOS 11 mobile operating system.
Among these new features that Apple will implement in the iOS 11.4 release, we can mention Messages in iCloud to let users save their iMessage conversations to their iCloud accounts for easy sync across multiple devices, as well as AirPlay 2, a functionality that enables multi-room audio and stereo pairing with the HomePod.
"HomePod, the breakthrough wireless speaker from Apple, now delivers an even more immersive listening experience throughout the home with support for HomePod stereo pairs and a new multi-room audio system in iOS 11.4. This free software update introduces the most advanced, easy to use, wireless multi-room audio system using AirPlay 2 to play music in any room from any room," said Apple.
With multi-room support, a feature that Apple showcased last year when it unveiled the HomePod, customers will finally be able to simultaneously play music in multiple rooms, in stereo. Also, it's possible to synch your HomePod with an Apple TV, as well as third-party smart speakers that support AirPlay 2.
Among these, we can mention speakers from Beats, Bluesound, Bose, Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Libratone, Marshall, Marantz, Naim, Pioneer, and Sonos. On the other hand, the stereo pairing support brought by iOS 11.4 will allow HomePod users to join two speakers together as a group. Apple's special algorithms enable balanced, stereo audio separation that fills the room.
HomePod will also support calendar queries via Siri
Apple's iOS 11.4 software update will also add support for calendar queries via Siri to the HomePod, allowing users to ask Siri when they have scheduled events, as well as to add new events to their iOS calendar. The HomePod will have direct access to the Calendar app on their iPhone devices, and uses the already implemented Personal Requests system.
Apple also confirmed today that it would launch the HomePod in Canada, France, and Germany on June 18, 2018. In addition to iOS 11.4, Apple is expected to launch the macOS High Sierra 10.13.5, tvOS 11.4, and watchOS 4.3.1 software updates today with various improvements that will be detailed at the moment of the release in about two hours from the moment of writing.
