Siri News Is a New Way to Get Your Daily Information Fix in iOS 11.2.5

While the iOS 11.2.5 update mostly focuses on getting iOS devices ready for the Feb. 9 release of the Apple HomePod, it also contains a new feature for news hounds. With Siri News, the Apple voice assistant provides you with news updates from the iOS Podcast app.

You initiate the process using the “Hey Siri” command or another hands-free method such as CarPlay or your headphones. When you ask Siri for the latest news of the day, it will provide you with a generic news update from sources like NPR, Fox News, CNN, or The Washington Post.

Looking for something more specific?

You can ask for more news from topics like business, music, and sports. At launch, Siri News uses Bloomberg or CNBC for business news, Apple Music Beats 1 content for music, and ESPN or NBC for sports.

To get started, initiate commands such as:

• “Hey Siri, read news from Fox News.”
• “Hey Siri, what’s sports news.”
• “Hey Siri, play music news.”
• “Hey Siri, tell me the business news.”

In the U.S., the default news providers are as follows:

• General—NPR, can switch to The Washington, Fox News or CNN content
• Business—CNBC, or Bloomberg content
• Music—Apple Music Beats 1 Radio or Zane Lowe content
• Sports—ESPN, or NBC content

For now, Siri News is only available in the three countries where the Apple HomePod is initially set to launch, the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom.

Siri News is a nice new feature ideally suited for use with the Apple HomePod, although it’s also worth taking for a spin in the car or when on the go. You can download the iOS 11.2.5 update on your iOS device by going into the Settings app and selecting General > Software Update.

Pre-orders begin for the Apple HomePod this Friday, Jan. 26 beginning at 12:01 a.m. PDT.