HomePod mini

For the first time ever, Apple has included the HomePod in its long-running Apple Beta Software Program. This means that non-developers can try out the latest and greatest HomePod Software 16 on their devices. The original HomePod does not get to participate, however since HomePod Software 16 can only be installed on the HomePod mini. While Apple has not announced new features or the changes included in HomePod Software 16, it is likely the update brings Matter support to HomePod mini.

The latest Apple HomePod mini colors have arrived. First revealed at Apple's fall Unleashed event, Apple's smart speaker now goes beyond the standard space grey and white options. Three new colors are available this week at Apple retail stores and online: Blue, Orange, and Yellow. Of course, the classic space grey and white versions continue to be offered.

Hot on the heels of Apple's HomePod discontinuation comes a revelation about the HomePod mini. The $99 smart speaker has a secret sensor inside, which is currently deactivated. Apple's plans for the sensor are unclear, however the company could have plans to add more features to HomePod mini with a software update that would activate the internal sensor.

Whether you are troubleshooting a HomePod or preparing the smart speaker for trade-in or sale, a factory reset might be necessary. With no reset button or power switch, it's not clear how to get the HomePod and HomePod mini to start from scratch. The process to reset a HomePod differs slightly from restarting the HomePod, which preserves data and settings.

It may be a rare occurrence, but the HomePod and HomePod mini can freeze up and become unresponsive to any input. When this happens, there is no reset button to press or power switch to toggle. Luckily, there are ways to power cycle the HomePod without losing any settings or data in the process.