As with the Amazon Echo, Apple's HomePod can also recognize the voice of different users. An important feature with which the user experience that they are going to have with it is improved, because in this way the music recommendations and even the access to personal data are those of this in question. The problem is when it doesn't happen like this, but there is an easy solution.
Assigning a main profile to HomePod
When using any type of smart speaker, there is an option that we have already talked about for proposals like Amazon's and that is very interesting. We refer to the voice profiles. Thanks to them it is possible for these devices to know at all times who is speaking to them and that improves the user experience.
Because, in the event that there are several people at home who use it, if they ask for a music recommendation or access to the calendar, for example, the data it will provide will be theirs and not that of another suitable person. Without also forgetting what it can mean in terms of the security of voice purchases.
Well, if Alexa and Google Assistant have this ability to identify and create profiles for each user, Siri does too, although it doesn't always work accurately. But don't worry, because with the version of iOS 14.3 HomePod operating system now allows you to set a default main profile.
What is a main profile used for on HomePods? Well, so that, regardless of the account that configured the speaker or not, in the event that it does not detect which user is speaking to it, it uses the selected profile for everything related to the reproduction and recommendation of music and podcasts.
Thus, for example, if at home you have several HomePods distributed in different rooms and some of them are used mainly by another family member, then what appears in recommendations, etc., is to your liking. Which would also prevent your recommendations from being affected over time.
To achieve set a profile as primary on HomePod The first thing is to have it updated to version 14.3 of iOS. Once this is done, you just have to follow the following steps:
- Launch the Home app on the iPhone or iPad. You can also use the Mac app
- Select the HomePod to which you want to assign a main profile
- Once done, on the next screen you will see that a gear icon appears in the lower right corner that gives access to the configuration options
- Go to Music and Podcasts
- On the next screen you will see that there is an option that indicates Main user, select it
- Now all that remains is for you to choose which will be the main user profile to be used in that HomePod and that's it, you'll have it
An upgrade for homes with multiple HomePods
This detail, which has not been given much importance, not even in Apple's own update notes, is an improvement that users with several HomePods at home and that are used by different users will appreciate.
However, despite how the use of Siri is improving in the two models of smart speakers that Apple has, the truth is that compared to Alexa it is still behind. But if you bet on them, it is logical to think that you do it for that sound quality and, above all, for the value that having all the products of the same brand brings to the ecosystem.