When Apple introduced the brand new 2nd-generation HomePod in January, it additionally introduced a cool new function referred to as Sound Recognition. All HomePod fashions (1st-gen, 2nd-gen, and mini) can pay attention for a smoke alarm and ship a notification to your iPhone and Apple Watch when it goes off. Although the function was introduced months in the past, it has solely simply change into out there–if you happen to’ve upgraded the Residence app with the new Residence structure below iOS 16.4, it is best to see the choice with no different software program replace mandatory.
Right here’s the way it works. When enabled, the HomePod will constantly pay attention for “sure sounds” and use on-device intelligence to inform you when an alarm sounds. It should ship the notification to your iPhone, which may then be used to verify in and hearken to the alarm your self, and name emergency providers if mandatory. If in case you have a safety digital camera in the identical room with HomeKit assist, it should even ship a video feed of it.
All audio evaluation is carried out on-device, and if you verify in to pay attention the audio connection is end-to-end encrypted. It’s a superb security function, and rather a lot cheaper than changing all of the smoke detectors in your house with new sensible internet-enabled smoke detectors that may notify you after they’re sounding. Right here’s methods to set it up.
- Time to finish: 2 minutes
- Instruments required: none
- Supplies required: HomePod and iPhone, iPad, or Mac
- Value: 0
Open the Residence app and choose your HomePod
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Open the Residence app
Discover your HomePod and faucet to open it on it.
Open your HomePod settings and choose Sound Recognition
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From the HomePod now enjoying display, faucet the gear icon within the lower-right nook to entry its settings.
Scroll down and choose Sound Recognition.
Allow Smoke & CO Alarm
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Allow the Smoke & CO Alarm possibility. This can acknowledge smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and ship notifications to your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch.
In an effort to see the notifications as they arrive, be sure that your machine doesn’t have notifications disabled for the Residence app.