Apple Homepod Mini Has Secret Sensor
The HomePod mini, like other HomePod models, has a number of sensors built-in, such as the six-microphone array and the touch surface on the top of the device. These sensors allow the HomePod mini to respond to voice commands, control music playback and volume, and activate Siri.
A Bloomberg report said that sensors in the HomePod Mini smart speaker are 1.5mm by 1.5mm, located in the lower edges of the plastic, cloth-wrapped HomePod Mini casing, next to the power cord. The precise placement of the sensor was confirmed by iFixit, which suggests it is placed far away from Apples HomePod mini smart speakers internal components, to allow it to measure the outside temperature. The sensor is placed relatively far from the internal components of the HomePod Mini smart speaker, meaning that it is really meant to measure room temperature, not device electronics temperature.
Apples smart speaker has a hidden smart home sensor inside of its casing, although users have not been able to enjoy the benefits of this hidden component to date. Bloomberg reports that the HomePod mini from Apple also includes a sensor for temperature and humidity, which is not active at this time, but there are apparently internal discussions going on as to exactly what can be done with this kind of feature. According to Bloomberg, and supported by iFixit analyses, the HomePod mini includes a secret sensor designed to measure the current temperature and humidity in the room where the HomePod mini is located.
Apples smallest Smart Speaker, the HomePod mini, contains a hidden sensor that is capable of measuring temperature and humidity — potentially unlocking new and exciting features for the device down the road. Apple has decided to use the hidden passive sensor to detect room temperature and humidity, so that the earbuds could regulate various parts of your home depending on current environmental conditions, and also start certain tasks automatically, like turning the fans on or off, depending on temperature. Apple has been discussing using the sensor to determine the room temperature and humidity, internally, so that Internet-connected thermostats can adjust different parts of a house based on the current conditions, according to sources with knowledge of the situation.
According to Bloomberg, Apple has internally discussed having a smaller sensor relay temperature and humidity readings to Internet-connected thermostats, so adjustments could be made depending on the conditions at hand. The idle sensor could theoretically allow a speaker to guide the smart thermostats, to adjust each rooms temperature. According to Mark Gurman at Bloomberg, Apple has been mulling using the newly discovered component to feed temperature data into thermostats that support HomeKit.
Bloombergs Mark Gurman, a trusted source of Apple rumors and leaks, was first to report on the existence of this tiny, tiny chip, allegedly a temperature-and-humidity sensor made by Texas Instruments. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who has an excellent track record when it comes to leaks about Apple, noted the company has never revealed the sleeper sensor. The tiny sensor was discovered by iFixit during the teardown, and Bloomberg reports Apple has been making plans to use it going forward.
Bloomberg reporter Marc Gurman pointed out that the sleeper sensor is not there to help keep internals from heating up, since it is relatively far away from the speakers core internal components. While temperature sensors are commonly found on PCs, laptops, and other devices to help identify overheating, Bloombergs Mark Gurman noted the newly discovered component is located too far away from the speakers core components to serve this purpose.
| Apple HomePod Mini Secret Sensor | |
| Number | The HomePod mini, like other HomePod models, has a number of sensors built-in, such as the six-microphone array and the touch surface |
| Location | The Secret Sensors are located on the top of the device |
| Advantages | These sensors allow the HomePod mini to respond to voice commands Control music playback and volume and activate Siri |
The tiny sensor, which is buried next to the power cord on Apples slimmed-down smart speaker, has been formally identified as an HDC2010 digital humidity-and-temperature sensor, according to an analysis conducted by TechInsights (open in new tab). It is been identified by TechInsights, a company that analyzes electronics components from within, as HDC2010 Humidity and Temperature Digital Sensor – a fairly self-explanatory name. The secret sensor for the smart home has been identified as a 1.5mm by 1.5mm HDC2010 Humidity and Temperature Digital Sensor by Texas Instruments, and it is been reported that Apple has been discussing its use internally.
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Talks internally at Apple were allegedly about how this sensor might be used inside of HomeKit, the companys smart home ecosystem. The sensor inclusion, even at a state where sensors were not announced before, suggests long-term thinking from Apple, and the exciting possibilities of an Apple Smart Home in the future.
It is simply sitting there, silently, waiting for Apples Next Step Apples smart home strategy Apples smart home strategy (perhaps announced in an Apple event April 20, 2021, called Spring loaded). After the recent reports of Apples latest smart speaker having a sensor hidden within to measure temperature and humidity, it is only natural to wonder what it is for — and, even more important, why it is not activated. Temperature measurements from within the device can have multiple purposes, but digging deeper might reveal a little insight into what is coming in Apples newest smart speaker.
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Another major selling point of Apples features will be its HomeKit software system, which controls thermostats, lights, outlets, and other appliances around the house. From the sounds of things, however, Apple may be making the upcoming HomePods more integral, an integral part of the companys smart-home initiative, Apple HomeKit.
So far, Apple has offered HomePods and Apple TVs as just smart home hubs, with Siri controls over other devices, instead of making kits that are focused on smart homes themselves. Apple did not make any significant offerings in the smart home space until 2018, with the initial HomePod. Apple introduced the original HomePod back in 2017, and its nicely balanced, high-quality audio and decent-sized woofer delivered loud, room-filling music, all the while serving double duty as a smart speaker for Apples personal assistant, Siri.
While Apple uses features such as Ultra-Wideband to simplify the process of passing music from an iOS device to Apples HomePod mini, as well as more tightly integrated Apple Music, the speaker also has Thread radio to integrate it with smart home devices down the road. The discovery comes days after Apple announced Apples will be discontinuing Apples original HomePod, which, by definition, was larger — and louder — than the new mini version of the original HomePod. HomePod units can feed temperatures and humidity data from different rooms of a home to a thermostat, offering data some distance away from the thermostats primary location.
Does the HomePod mini have sensors?
It was claimed that Apple’s HomePod mini has underutilized humidity and temperature sensors, and you could program it to automate the blinds to close when the temperature reaches 80 degrees. These sensors are now features on the smaller smart speaker as well, thanks to a software upgrade by Apple. Sadly, the original HomePod does not come with these sensors.
How private is the HomePod mini?
The HomePod mini features end-to-end encryption to safeguard your personal data and was built with privacy in mind. Requests made using Siri are encrypted and unrelated to your Apple ID. Your personal information is not sold or shared by Apple with other parties, according to the company. To make sure that your information is adequately safeguarded, it is always advised to examine the privacy policies and settings of any device or service.
Does the HomePod mini have a thermometer?
The HomePod mini is not equipped with a thermometer. The HomePod small is a smart speaker designed to provide premium sound, fit into the Apple ecosystem, and operate with Siri to manage your smart home and do numerous activities. It lacks the ability to sense temperature.