Apple HomePods can send notification when smoke detector goes off – Image and sound – News


Apple is releasing a sound recognition characteristic for its second-generation HomePod and the HomePod Mini on Tuesday. This enables the sensible audio system to acknowledge the sound of a smoke or carbon monoxide detector and ship a notification to customers when it goes off.

Apple introduced the characteristic in January when it launched its second-generation HomePod. Nevertheless, the tech large formally made the characteristic accessible on Tuesday, reported TechCrunch. This makes the characteristic accessible within the Dwelling app for customers with a HomePod Mini or second-generation HomePod. Customers should the brand new HomeKit structure from iOS 16.4 to make use of the characteristic.

When the characteristic is enabled, a notification is routinely despatched to an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch when a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide alarm goes off. That notification should then be seen on the lock display of an iPhone and within the Dwelling App, for instance. The characteristic works on the premise of sound and due to this fact doesn’t require a sensible smoke detector to ship the notification. The HomePods themselves can not acknowledge smoke or carbon monoxide.

If customers have a safety digicam linked to HomeKit, a video feed may also be displayed on the consumer’s gadget. Apple says the characteristic makes use of end-to-end encryption and the sound recognition is completed regionally on the speaker.

Amazon beforehand launched the same characteristic for its Echo audio system, within the type of Alexa Guard. This characteristic can, amongst different issues, acknowledge the sound of breaking glass, along with that of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Google Nest audio system also can take heed to such alarms, though customers should buy a Nest Conscious subscription to take action. writes The Verge.

The second-generation HomePod, which Apple launched in January. Supply: Apple