Source: Stephen Warwick / iMore
What you need to know
- HomePod mini has a temperature and humidity sensor.
- The sensor isn't active for users right now.
- Could become active with a software update.
When it comes to the best smart speakers Apple's HomePod mini has lagged behind Amazon's Echo and Google's Nest in terms of smart features; however, this could all change with a software update.
According to Bloomberg, iFixit did a teardown of a HomePod mini and found a temperature and humidity sensor inside. The sensor could be used to communicate data with smart thermostats around your house, which would greatly bolster the smart-capabilities of the HomePod mini.
"The hardware could also let the HomePod mini automatically trigger other actions, say turning a fan on or off, depending on the temperature."
As of right now, HomePod mini owners can adjust thermostats through Siri if they happen to have a HomeKit compatible thermostat connected to their Home app. This sensor could make it possible to adjust the climate in your home based on the temperature and humidity in the room where your HomePod mini resides. This means, if you had multiple HomePod minis in various rooms, you could control the climate based on each room.
The sensor could be enabled via a software update, but as of yet, we haven't seen any evidence that this is a feature Apple will roll out soon. No features that use the newly-found sensor in the HomePod mini are in any of the developer's or public betas of any of Apple's software. Still, it only takes one update and that could all change, so it's certainly something we intend to keep an eye on.

Rumor: Apple TV app coming to Sky Q in the UK
A new rumor on Reddit claims the Apple TV app may be coming to Sky Q in the UK.

Apple's App Store 'breaking at the seams', says former marketing director
Apple's former Sr. Director of Worldwide Product Marketing, Michael Gartenberg, says he hopes Apple "gets its act together soon" in the face of growing reports regarding scam apps on its App Store, which he says appears to be "breaking at the seams".

Review: Charge faster with OtterBox's 30W Fast Charge Wall Charging Kit
With 30 watts of power, this charging kit will charge your iPad Pro and other devices faster than ever. It automatically adjusts the charging speed for your particular device.

These HomeKit cameras work with iOS14's Face Recognition and Activity Zones
iOS 14 brings some powerful new capabilities to HomeKit Secure Video-enabled cameras like Face Recognition and Activity Zones. Here's all of the cameras and doorbells that support the latest and greatest HomeKit features.