Last month, a proven leaker revealed that Apple has tested the ability to connect four HomePods to an Apple TV 4K for surround sound, with the HomePods intended to be arranged in front-left, front-right, rear-left, and rear-right positions. Now further evidence of this functionality has surfaced ahead of an announcement from Apple.


First, the same leaker known as "pdfu" has uncovered additional code related to a four-HomePod surround sound system in the latest beta of audioOS, which is Apple's internal name for the HomePod's operating system. For example, on the third audioOS 27.2 beta, he said that "Siri can match a speaker to its surround system."

Second, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris discovered that the third beta of macOS 27.2 contains two new SF Symbols depicting a group of four speakers in a room. While the HomePod is not mentioned in the names of the symbols, one of them appears to show a basic top-down view of HomePods, and the other mentions that the four speakers are part of a home theater setup. The timing of these symbols being added by Apple suggests they could be related to the rumored four-HomePod surround sound functionality.


Apple plans to unveil new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K models on Tuesday, October 13, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, while he said that the full-sized HomePod will be updated "eventually." However, it is unclear if this surround-sound functionality will require new HomePods. The leaker "pdfu" previously said that Apple tested two different setups, including four second-generation HomePods, and two second-generation HomePods in front positions paired with two unreleased speakers in rear positions.

It is also unclear if any existing Apple TV 4K models will support four HomePods, or if the functionality will be limited to the upcoming model.

Currently, you can set two HomePod or HomePod mini speakers as the default audio output on all Apple TV 4K models for stereo sound.

With new HomePod and Apple TV models on the horizon, and all of the mounting evidence across Apple's software code and symbols, it seems likely that Apple will unveil this new functionality fairly soon, barring any last-minute issues.
This article, "Apple TV 4K Rumored to Support Four HomePods for Surround Sound" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Yesterday we reported that Apple tripled the number of iCloud Mail aliases users can create, from three to nine. But it turns out that's not the only email-related limit Apple has raised. The company has also bumped the number of iCloud Custom Domains users can set up with iCloud+, from three to 10.

If you subscribe to iCloud+, you can use a domain name you already own for your iCloud Mail address. So instead of name@icloud.com, your address can be anything@yourdomain.com. You can also buy a new domain when setting up the feature. The increased number of custom domains allowed was spotted in Apple's support documentation by X account pdfu.
This article, "Apple Quietly Boosts Email Feature for iCloud+ Subscribers" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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iOS 27.2 is coming soon with several new features for iPhone users, including Suggested Actions in Messages, a feature that lets the Messages app offer actions based on the context of conversations.


If someone asks for a photo, Messages might suggest inserting it with a tap. If someone invites you to an event, Messages can suggest adding it to the Calendar app.

Suggested Actions in Messages originally appeared in the iOS 27 beta but was pulled in the final release. It's now back in the iOS 27.2 beta, and there's evidence that Apple is also adding finer manual controls over the one-tap action buttons so that users can turn them on and off individually.

Code explorer pdfu found the new controls in iOS 27.2 beta 3. A new settings screen provides separate toggles for Suggested Actions including Add to Calendar, Add to Reminders, Add to Notes, Show in Maps, and Flights and Packages.

There's also a switch to "Hide Unused Suggestions." When enabled, suggestions that aren't used will stop being shown in Messages after 30 days. Hidden suggestions can also be re-activated by toggling their individual switches off and back on again, according to the screenshot shared by pdfu.


Apart from Suggested Actions in Messages, iOS 27.2 includes Apple's redesigned Health app with new Insight and Longevity tabs. It also brings Siri AI in new languages. There are several other new features, with details available in our features guide.

It was a surprise when Apple released an iOS 27.2 beta ahead of an iOS 27.1 beta, but it's because the company plans to ship the iPhone Duo with iOS 27.1, and it likely wants to keep some of the iPhone Duo features hidden for longer.

The ‌iPhone Duo‌ will launch on October 23. Apple previously said the new ‌Siri‌ AI languages in iOS 27.2 would be available in October, so it's likely iOS 27.2 will come shortly after the ‌iPhone Duo‌'s release date.
This article, "iOS 27.2 May Let You Hide Specific Suggested Actions in Messages" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple reportedly plans to unveil its long-rumored smart home hub on Tuesday, October 13, and a proven leaker known as "pdfu" has revealed that the device may be available in up to four finishes: Silver, Space Gray, Starlight, and Rose Pink.


MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris uncovered the same four colors within the code for the macOS 26.7 Release Candidate back in August.

On the home hub, users will be able to create a Photo Face, and the leaker said Apple's preview art for this will correspond with the color of the device.


Earlier this week, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the home hub will come in "Apple's standard gray aluminum finish." He did not mention any other color options for the device, so we shall see if the other three colors materialize.

According to Gurman, the home hub will have a roughly 6-inch square display and will be available in tabletop and wall-mounted versions. He said the tabletop model's screen has a polished metal arm that connects to a metal, round base with perforated speaker holes, similar to the iMac G4 that Apple released back in 2002.
This article, "Apple's All-New Home Hub Rumored to Launch in These Four Colors" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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