Apple's CarPlay video feature only works on cars with screens of at least 1,920 x 1,080 pixels, HEVC codec support and 4GB of memory, meaning many older dashboards can't run it. AirPlay streaming to CarPlay requires iOS 26.4 or later, while native video apps need iOS 27, which is available on iPhone 11 and newer. For incompatible cars, third-party Android-based dashboard boxes from Carlinkit and Ottocast can add video apps like Netflix and YouTube without jailbreaking.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-07
A project called Sprout is developing a replacement logic board for select older iPods, including 1st and 2nd-gen iPod minis and 3rd and 4th-gen iPods, adding USB-C charging and, in one version, Wi-Fi support for streaming apps and AirPlay. The feature set is still under development, and the Crowd Supply campaign has not launched, with no pricing or release date confirmed yet.
engadget.com
· 2026-11-01
Apple's $149 HomePod Mini 2, reviewed hands-on, uses a faster S10 chip and Wi-Fi 6E support that let Siri respond to commands in under three seconds, a major improvement over the original's delays. The new Siri AI features Apple promised are not yet available and will arrive in a later software update, while the speaker's sound system remains unchanged from 2020's original.
theverge.com
· 2026-11-01
The Bose New Lifestyle Ultra Speaker is currently selling for $279 on Amazon, a $70 cut from its $349 list price and the lowest price it has reached since launch. The compact wireless speaker supports AirPlay, Google Cast, Spotify Connect, and Bluetooth 5.3, and can be controlled via the Bose app.
androidauthority.com
· 2026-10-30
A software update to iPadOS 27 has broken the ability to run other apps in the background while AirPlaying a presentation or handout to an external display. Users report that tapping any app other than the one being presented now causes the external screen to mirror the entire iPad, exposing private notes or poll results and disrupting apps like GoodNotes, Keynote, and PowerPoint in different ways.
teddysvoronos.com
· 2026-10-20
Apple's new HomeView smart home hub, powered by an A18 chip, does not natively support several of Apple's own apps including Apple TV, Apple Books audiobooks, Apple Music Classical, and Apple News Plus. Instead, those services require AirPlay streaming from a nearby paired iPhone, a limitation Apple discloses only in small print on its announcement page.
theverge.com
· 2026-10-14
Apple unveiled the HomePod mini 2, which keeps the original's design but adds three new fabric colors (blue, green, pink) alongside white and Midnight. New features include Sound Glow lighting that mirrors album art or soundscapes, persistent AirPlay pairing with any Mac, and support for up to four HomePod mini 2 or second-gen HomePod units as surround sound with the Apple TV 4K. The new Siri AI capability is planned for the device but will not be available at launch, with no timeframe given.
engadget.com
· 2026-10-13
Apple is reportedly unveiling a new smart home device called 'HomePad' at a 'Welcome home' event next Tuesday. Rumored features include a Photos app face that cycles through Apple Photos images like a digital picture frame, on-screen lyrics during Apple Music playback, and an upgraded Siri AI capable of showing visual responses on its display.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-10-09
During Amazon Prime Day, select soundbars including the Sonos Beam (Gen 2) are available at discounts approaching 40 percent, accessible with a Prime membership. The Sonos Beam Ultra has recently launched, making the older model a popular deal for enhancing TV audio with versatile connectivity options.
wired.com
· 2026-10-06
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces the revamped Siri AI experience to CarPlay, giving drivers a ChatGPT-like conversational assistant that remembers context and syncs chat history with the iPhone's Siri app. The update also lets developers build dedicated video-browsing apps for CarPlay screens, though only in cars whose automakers opt into the feature, alongside minor interface tweaks like a new MiniPlayer for media apps.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-21
Smart TVs still rely on remote controls, and many now support using a smartphone as a substitute via built-in IR blasters or app-based connectivity. Certain Android phones have infrared hardware and pre-installed universal remote apps that let users pair with their TV brand and control power, volume, and navigation. Devices from Apple, Samsung, and Google lack this IR hardware, but alternative software-based remote options exist for those users.
engadget.com
· 2026-09-20
Apple has released HomePod 27 alongside iOS 27, bringing two main upgrades: AutoMix for Apple Music, which blends songs together with beatmatching and time-stretching similar to a live DJ set, and improved AirPlay performance for quicker, more reliable connections between HomePod and other Apple devices. The update also includes general bug fixes and security patches, and is installed through the Home app's Software Update section.
9to5mac.com
· 2026-09-14
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