[iOS] Implement Native HomePod Support

[robotoman22]

Details

Just this week at WWDC (June 22, 2020), Apple announced support for third party music services on the HomePod.  I'm requesting that Spotify implement native support for the HomePod such that one or even multiple HomePods will appear in the "Connect to a device" menu on any Apple device WITHOUT having to connect through Airplay.  This will also allow users to ask Siri to play songs from Spotify on their HomePod(s). 

Apple is opening up the HomePod, and I know there are many other HomePod users that would love to have native Spotify support on their speaker. 

Resources

• WWDC 2020 video and further resources about this topic: https://developer.apple.com/videos/play/wwdc2020/10061
• More details on this site: https://developer.apple.com/siri/
• Form to request music service integration from Apple: https://developer.apple.com/contact/request/sirikit-media-intent-for-homepod

Please upvote this idea to garner attention for it.  Thank you Spotify and the Spotify community.  Let's get this implemented so it's ready for general iOS 14 release this September!

[OutofSpc]

This integration has taken way too long so I’ve given up on Spotify actually doing anything useful. I’ve switched over to Apple Music and enjoy the much larger music library + HomePod support. 

[zoolevation]

If Spotify is so pro consumer as they say, why they ignore this feature? 

[tryingtothink]

Apparently, according to a Spotify spokesperson some time back, because we
haven't raised this on sites other than Spotify's ideas forum, Spotify
consider it is a feature not many people want. The original posts about
this are some way back but this is the essence.

[tryingtothink]

Very interesting and well spotted. I wonder if Apple will slip this into
the iOS of older phones that can't do iOS 17. I'll try as soon as I get a
chance. Thank you.

[pangmango]

From: https://newsroom.spotify.com/2023-09-18/dustee-jenkins-holding-apple-accountable-internet-economy-fa...

"We love making improvements and introducing new features to Spotify. But where Apple thinks our app doesn’t abide by their unilaterally imposed restrictions, they routinely reject our bug fixes and app enhancements that would improve user experience and the app’s functionality—leading fans to believe our app and tech abilities are subpar. Nothing could be further from the truth. And of course Apple never puts any obstacles in front of their own Apple Music app."

Homepod support? Airplay 2? The new functionality is accessible but you do not take the opportunity, Spotify.

[MoisesWillis]

With iOS 17, this is no longer needed anymore since major updates were done to AirPlay.

If you ask the HomePod “play music from Spotify,” it will relay the command to your nearby iPhone to start playing Spotify music and then automatically AirPlay that to the HomePod, so it plays over the HomePod speaker.

This feature is available automatically to any music apps that integrate Siri playback intent APIs on the iPhone, which Spotify does happen to support. The iPhone’s immense popularity means that many apps have invested in supporting the Siri media intent APIs, which now can automatically work with this new HomePod feature — at least in theory.

There’s a bit of set-up work the first time you ask to do this with an app. The HomePod will say something like “To use Spotify I’ll need to AirPlay from your iPhone” and then ask you to confirm the action on your personal device. A banner pops up on your phone’s Lock Screen that will prompt Face ID authentication when you tap it. That completes the process. From then on, the HomePod will automatically start the AirPlay session with no other user interaction required, as long as the iPhone is on the same home network at the time.

Let's just close this thread and "true" HomePod support (not relying on an iPhone) will never be added... very sad 😞 and verify disappointing Spotify team.

[Motormayhem]

So far trying to use the Siri to air play is pretty buggy. Seems to either start playing spotify on my phone and no audio comes out of the home pod until I disconnect and re-connect air play or it doesn’t actually launch spotify on my phone when it tries.

[Slim08]

Working well with YouTube Music. (Dropped Spotify ages ago so can’t test.)

[QueRoxa]

@MoisesWillis but it doesn't solve the problem because I can't set alarms on my homepod to use spotify as a music source so I cant use any of my spotify playlists to wake up to, if my phone is on one side of my kitchen and the wifi is poor AirPlay is awful.  It's a bandaid at most and we should absolutely not close this topic because it is absolutely still a feature many of us want, even if the iOS 17 changes are useful it still doesn't change the underlying issue that Spotify is dragging their heels on this in the most pathetic way possible.

[MoisesWillis]

@QueRoxa, you are spot on. It's beyond disappointing that we, as dedicated subscribers, have been utilizing Spotify's own feedback mechanism, yet after three years and an astounding 6,600 votes, we're met with nothing but silence on HomePod integration.

It's perplexing to see other platforms, such as Pandora, iHeartRadio, and Deezer (who even uses Deezer, I have never heard of it), successfully adopt native HomePod support without AirPlay, while Spotify, an industry giant, lag behind. Despite excelling in many areas, Spotify's apparent neglect of user feedback concerning Apple products/features is both disconcerting and, frankly, laughable.