Over the past week, the Homepod has been the centre of many discussions. From Apple’s new tutorial video to complaints of white marks left on furniture, we’ve got the lowdown on the latest HomePod news.

New tutorial video

On Friday, Apple shared a new tutorial video on their Apple Support YouTube channel. This video is designed to help new users get the most out of their new speaker come personal assistant. Be warned, the “Hey, Siri” commands in this video will wake up your own device!

The new video talks users through everything from how to play music based on genre or mood, how to listen to podcasts and get news updates, and how to find out the weather. However, it also talks users through some more advanced tools such as how to send a text, set reminders, add to your grocery list, and how to control your smart home accessories. One of the most exciting features it demonstrates is dimming the lights using voice commands.

This is the fourth tutorial Apple has released for the HomePod, although this is the longest and most detailed so far. They have all been uploaded to Apple’s YouTube support channel, which was only introduced back in November.

Getting more than you bargained for

This week, Apple has been receiving complaints that HomePods are leaving white rings on wood finished furniture. At present, it is unclear how widespread the issue is and exactly how Apple plans to resolve the issue. They did acknowledge in their support document that it is not uncommon for “vibration dampening silicone” to leave marks.

The tech giant has commented that the marks will go away after several days. If they don’t, they suggest wiping the surface:

“The marks can be caused by oils diffusing between the silicone base and the table surface, and will often go away after several days when the speaker is removed from the wooden surface. If not, wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth may remove the marks.

If marks persist, clean the surface with the furniture manufacturer’s recommended cleaning process. If you’re concerned about this, we recommend placing your HomePod on a different surface.”

Apple does not have the only home device facing this problem, as owners of the new Sonos One have reported similar issues.

Have you noticed any white rings on your furniture?

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