14 DAY TRIAL // It appears that Apple is working on extending the capabilities of its recently launched HomePod smart speaker to allow users to add entries to their calendars via the Siri Personal Requests feature.
According to 9to5mac, Apple works on adding iOS Calendar app integration to its HomePod smart speaker with the upcoming iOS 11.4 software update that's currently in development. With Calendar support, it is believed that HomePod users will be able to ask the Siri voice assistant about what's in their calendar or add new entries.
Apparently, the Calendar integration will be implemented via the Siri Personal Requests feature, which currently supports only the Messages, Reminders, and Notes apps, allowing HomePod users to send and read messages, add reminders, create notes through an iPhone connected to the same Wi-Fi network with the HomePod.
Available for testing now in the latest iOS 11.4 beta
The Calendar integration feature has been spotted by 9to5mac in the latest iOS 11.4 beta software update, which Apple seeded to registered developers and public beta testers alike last week. Therefore, you too can try it out if you have a HomePod and you're willing to run beta software on your iPhone device.
The Siri Personal Requests feature can be enabled during the first time setup process of a new HomePod, but it should also pop-up the next time you update to iOS 11.4. You can see a screenshot attached below, courtesy of 9to5mac, to see how Siri Personal Requests looks in iOS 11.3 and how it will look in iOS 11.4.
Users can choose to enable or disable the Siri Personal Request feature during the first-time setup process. If you want to try it out right now, you'll have to install the iOS 11.4 beta 3 or public beta 3 release. Apple is expected to launch the final iOS 11.4 software update sometime at the end of the month or in early June, right before WWDC 2018.
