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Former Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt has been talking about buying TikTok since earlier this year. The long shot is getting shorter.

• Natural Language Search is now available in HomePods
• Enhanced Dialog is here for Apple TV and HomePods 2 only
• The software should install automatically

iPhones aren't the only Apple devices to get an important software update this week. Your HomePods just got a new feature that'll enable them to ignore and/or disappoint you in new and exciting ways.

There are two new features in the HomePods Software Version 18.2, which is available now for your HomePod, HomePod 2 and HomePod mini.

The first is exclusive to HomePod 2 and gives you the new Enhance Dialog feature, which does exactly what you'd expect from its name when you use your HomePods as Apple TV speakers. And the second is Siri integration with natural language search in Apple Music. And that's potentially much more fun.

What can you do with natural language search in Apple Music?

Natural language search is designed to make your music app more useful by responding to natural queries – so for example you might ask for "songs like Espresso", or "big hits from the 80s".

According to Apple, the feature enables you to use "any combination of categories like genre, mood, decade or activity". So you can ask for upbeat dance tracks, songs about cats, moany-faced emo for rotting in your bedroom, or anything else you fancy. We haven't tested that latter one so we can't confirm if it works.

It's a clever feature but, for me at least, it's a slightly annoying one, because Siri on my HomePods and HomePods mini is still really bad at paying attention and understanding what I'm saying: asking something simple like "play new music by X artist" often produces a sullen silence or music by a completely different artist.

I don't have a particularly strong accent and I'm not mumbling to Siri while using a power drill, vacuuming the living room and poking a baby in the ribs to make it cry, but I still often find myself repeating things increasingly loudly like Siri's an old-time grandmother with an ear trumpet. Hopefully your experiences with the new natural language search are more delightful.

The new software should install automatically, but if you've disabled auto-updates for whatever reason you can manually update individual HomePods and HomePods mini via the Home app on your iPhone, iPad or Mac.

You might also like

• See our HomePod 2 review
• Check out our HomePod mini review
• HomePod 2 vs HomePod mini: which is the better buy?

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• Many IT leaders have to just believe vendors on security claims, report claims
• However security remains a top priority for leaders
• Not being able to properly clean devices is leading to waste

New research from HP Wolf Security has revealed many IT decision makers (ITDMs) feel at the mercy of vendors, with 45% admitting they don’t have the means to validate firmware and hardware security claims, so must trust supplier’s claims without question.

The study looks into the attitudes of ITDMs in regards to firmware and hardware, and the implications for cybersecurity concerns. The research shows that platform security is increasingly concerning leaders, with 81% of ITDMs agreeing hardware security must be a priority going forward in order to protect devices from exploitation.

Over half of ITDMs (52%) say they rarely collaborate with security and IT professionals to verify the claims of suppliers, and 48% say their procurement teams are like ‘lambs to the slaughter’, as they must believe vendors' security claims.

An E-waste epidemic

Security was found to be a significant concern for all respondents, which is perhaps no surprise, since more businesses are being hit with security threats than ever, but data security worries are also spurring an ‘e-waste epidemic’, 60% of leaders admit.

Almost a third (68%) say they have a ‘significant number of devices’ which could be donated or repurposed if they could sanitize them, but 59% admit it is too hard to give devices a second life, as data security concerns prevent them from reuse, with many devices destroyed.

“IT teams are hoarding end-of-life devices because they lack the assurance that all sensitive company or personal data has been fully wiped - which in itself can pose data security risks and negatively impact ESG goals.” said Grant Hoffman, SVP Operations and Portfolio, HP Solutions.

“Finding a reputable IT asset disposition vendor that uses the latest industry-standard erasure or media-destruction processes and provides a data sanitization certificate so you can meet compliance requirements, is key.”

You might also like

• Take a look at our pick of the best antivirus software around
• The role of IT leaders in transforming the digital workplace
• Check out our choices for best malware removal software

The Lone Star State's capital is now a major tech hub, which means it can't do without solid internet options. Here are CNET's picks for the best internet for your home.

Creating smarter and better-looking documents on Google Docs is set to get a whole lot easier thanks to a host of new upgrades heading to the service.

The word processor tool has introduced new implementations with Google Gemini which look to make creating stand-out work simpler than ever.

But the Google Workspace tool has also revealed a collection of 40 new high-quality, visually modern designs in Google Docs, giving users a selection of new options to make your documents really shine.

Google Docs and Gemini

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

The introduction of Gemini's "help me create" tool follows similar launches in Gmail, and will give Google Docs users the opportunity to craft an entire document with a single prompt.

The tool will then pull the necessary information from a user's Google Drive files, creating, "a long-form document with cover images, in-line images, stylized text, tables, content from your Drive files, and more", the company said in a blog post announcing the news.

Users can click to create at the top of a new document, or go to File > New > Help me create, to start describing the document they want to create. You can also choose from a number of pre-set start prompts to make things quicker, with examples such as creating a meeting template for a daily catch-up, a checklist for planning an event, or a roadmap for a product launch.

"Help me create" in Google Docs is available for Google Workspace customers with Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, Education Premium, and Google One AI Premium add-ons, and only in English for the moment.

(Image credit: Google Workspace)

To make your documents look even better, Google Docs has also launched 40 new templates which include a number of useful new features to ensure your work stands out.

This includes document tabs to keep your documents organized, placeholder chips to make it easy for users and collaborators to add data, and building blocks, pre-set layouts and styles give your document a premium look and feel.

"Docs templates help users save time since they don’t have to build documents from scratch, create more uniform, high-quality, visually-appealing documents, and enable them to be more productive with the latest Docs features in their daily processes," the company noted in a blog post announcing the news.

The new templates are available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts.

You might also like

• You can't escape it now — Gemini is officially part of Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides
• Google Docs is giving you a smart way to get those massive work documents organized
• We've rounded up the best free office software around

Looking for high-speed internet in Bakersfield? These are the top options that'll take care of all your home internet needs.

The Great Lake State has several solar companies offering energy-efficient solutions for homes. Despite the lack of net metering, the residential clean energy credit makes switching to solar an eco-friendly and affordable choice.

In an address to the nation, President Yoon Suk Yeol claimed the opposition-controlled parliament has been destroying the country's liberal democratic order.

(Image credit: ANTHONY WALLACE)

Getting someone a gift for their home is always thoughtful, so why not give your loved ones the gift of smart technology? Here are our favorite smart home gifts recommended by CNET's experts.

There's no need to spend a lot to give a great gift. We've found the best gifts under $50 this year, from headphones and speakers to self-care items.

The Geminids are one of the best and most visible annual meteor showers, when at least 120 meteors can usually be seen per hour. But 2024 will be different, thanks to the year's final full moon.

(Image credit: Yasser al-Zayyat)

The clock is ticking on APYs up to 4.70%.

Building a solar power system is now more affordable and a smart investment for Nevada residents. Here’s how to leverage tax credits and power your home with solar.

If you're interested in trying spirulina, you should know the pros, cons and dosage information before consuming the algae.

There's still time to earn high interest rates on your savings to help you reach your financial goals.

Embodied says it will try to refund recent purchases of its Moxie robot but makes no promises.

A father wonders why his father-in-law keeps neglecting to mention his daughter in his annual newsletter to family. It includes updates on the other grandchildren. Why not her?