"Apple's Upcoming Update Brings Shared Music Control to HomePod and Apple TV, and Here's the Beta Guide"
Apple is set to revolutionize music sharing on the HomePod and Apple TV in its forthcoming update, as uncovered by MacRumors. This enhancement leverages the SharePlay feature, initially introduced with iOS 15 for FaceTime and later extended to iMessage in iOS 16.
SharePlay, known for synchronizing media consumption like movie watching, music listening, and Apple Fitness+ workouts across devices, is finally extending its capabilities to HomePod and Apple TV. This update allows friends and family to jointly control the music playing on these devices.
Presently, this feature is exclusive to the Apple Music app, though an Apple Music subscription isn't mandatory for participation. However, the primary user must grant permission for access. To enable SharePlay on the HomePod, the primary user needs to tap the SharePlay icon in the Music app, which displays a QR code. Other users can then scan this code with their smartphones to gain control over the music.
Similarly, for Apple TV, the primary user can generate a QR code that, once scanned by guests, permits them to manage the music being played.
The first beta of iOS 17.4 marks a significant update, not just for these features and new emojis, but also for its move to support third-party app stores in the EU. Moreover, the beta contains hints of yet-to-be-released devices, making it an unusually substantial update from Apple.