I know there are a few threads on this, but being a software developer myself, I wanted to provide a somewhat more tempered response, and some additional technical aspects I've noticed, in an effort to be more helpful to the app developers.
Note: I'm using the Android tablet app (on older ASUS tablet) and Android phone app (Samsung). (The desktop app is still blue/black, and no layout change - Excellent!)
1) The new bright/white mode is blindingly white. Yes, I know I can adjust my screen brightness (which still doesn't help that much), but I don't have to do this for any other app, much less one that I often use in dimmer environments. IMO, I think the white background looks unfinished and like something is missing/broken. That's just my personal preference though (along with seemingly everyone else on these boards). If you want to keep the bright/white mode for whatever developer or higher-up wanted it, then that's fine - just add an option for a dark mode for the rest of the world as well.
2) As a developer, I've always frowned upon brand new design layouts for the sake of "something fresh", and suggest developers make slow, gradual changes to avoid the inevitable "it looks different - so now it's horrible and doesn't work!!!" response (even if you haven't changed any actual functional logic except for the layout). Given my understanding on that... I've been trying to adapt to the new layout and give it a chance... but it's just not as user-friendly or intuitive as before. It's hard to pin-point, but here are some suggestions...
2a) The new "easy access" bar contains only 1 icon that I actually use on a frequent basis - "browse". I avoid "favorites" because of the issues with my huge and multiple playlists eating up space in the favorites. I rarely use "search" or "rooms". In a music app, I want simple/easy things: to be able to select my music from my library or music services, adjust the volume, fast-forward, and switch music from room to room (or all at once). I'd imagine that's what 90% of the users want as well. Only 1 of those features is on the new easy access bar, and the play/pause/volume bar is above it and not always visible.
2b) The "easy access" bar at the bottom disappears when I go to my playlist. What's the point in that? If you want it to be there and contain all the "important/frequent" items for access at any time, why would you make it disappear when you're on the screen that everyone spends the majority of their time (playlist/volume/etc.)?
2c) I used to be able to switch a playlist from one room to another, and then start a new playlist in the existing room, so as to not lose the song location in the previous playlist, but that doesn't seem possible anymore with the new layout and specific "room" button. (I know this one might not make sense without going into detail, but I'm probably already over eye-quota here, so leaving it as is.)
I love my Sonos system, and the app used to be so user-friendly and intuitive, but this one seems to have gotten away from everyone. I'd say it was feature-creeped, but I don't see any actual new features - just re-arranging what was already there and working, and slapping a plain white background on it to really guarantee user backlash.
Hopefully someone takes the time to read my mini-novella (apologies for that) and bring at least a few of the ideas to your developer & analyst meetings. I know you guys will come up with some solutions/compromises to the majority of problems users have voiced.
From one developer to another, I wish you the best of luck. 🙂
P.S. If you'd like any more technical details or steps in reproducing my issues, please let me know. Thanks!
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Thanks for the feedback and such a detailed write up. The team is collecting and working with everything right now so they can make improvements on the next version of the app. I'll make sure to pass it on to them for you.
Thanks for taking the time to read through my lengthy post, and for responding quickly and professionally. I think it speaks well about the Community that Sonos has put together. I know this update is catching some heat, but it's obvious your team is listening and putting together some solutions. It's much appreciated by your Sonos fans.
1. I just updated to Sonos Controller version 8 - and what a mess.
2. I cannot access my Spotify playlists through Sonos which is all I really want to do.
3. None of the useful buttons at the bottom of the screen are any use to me and I agree the big white screen is awful unless you need a torch.
4. I can at least play my playlists (which have taken hours to put together) from within Spotify through the Sonos speakers but then you cannot control the speakers individually etc.
5. I can only imagine that Sonos (hardware) have had a big high level bust up with Spotify (software), and as IBM and Microsoft are testimony the software will always win out.
6. Please, Sonos, can you get your act together and sort out the mess. I shall not be recommending Sonos to anyone as long as this state of affairs continues. Hopefully someone will want to buy my recently acquired pair of Play 5's so I can get some other speakers to play my Spotify stuff through.
2. I cannot access my Spotify playlists through Sonos which is all I really want to do.
3. None of the useful buttons at the bottom of the screen are any use to me and I agree the big white screen is awful unless you need a torch.
4. I can at least play my playlists (which have taken hours to put together) from within Spotify through the Sonos speakers but then you cannot control the speakers individually etc.
5. I can only imagine that Sonos (hardware) have had a big high level bust up with Spotify (software), and as IBM and Microsoft are testimony the software will always win out.
6. Please, Sonos, can you get your act together and sort out the mess. I shall not be recommending Sonos to anyone as long as this state of affairs continues. Hopefully someone will want to buy my recently acquired pair of Play 5's so I can get some other speakers to play my Spotify stuff through.
Hi, All -
I agree with all the points in the original post of this thread, and many of the other points being made about version 8.0. I'd like to add a few points, based on my use the iOS implementation of the version 8 app over the last week:
- "Rooms" Tab — In my opinion this tab is now harder to use for a few reasons. First, the room names are in the lower-left of each panel, and displayed in the same font, size, and style as the current track / audio name. I think this makes the user work to scan and read the panels to see what is what — when it should be a quick, easy, and almost unthinking process to immediately understand which room is which. I can't revert to the old app to compare, but this feels like a big step backward. I would suggest the room name at the top of each panel, and some way to make the room and track names visibly different. And on the iPad version, the room panels could be much more efficient in their use of space.
- "Browse" Tab — In my opinion it would be much better to include favorites and playlists in this view (bring them back from the new My Sonos tab). Or at least make their inclusion in the "Browse" tab a user pref. Then one could just swipe up and down for everything, rather than having to toggle to the "My Sonos" view to get at favorites and playlists, etc. Too much navigating, and nowhere near enough elegance in the new UI / UX and overall feel, in my opinion.
- "My Sonos" Tab — Lose it altogether, and fold it into "Browse" (as noted above).
- Room Selection & Grouping — This key capability seems unintuitive now, especially when one tries adding and deleting rooms from groups, selecting a room and then noticing that the room itself can be deleted, observing the odd behavior that results, and more. The old top-of-screen pop-up seemed to work more easily, and without anomalies.
I guess my main point is that we only really need two tabs / modes for most plug-and-chug use:
1. Browse — with all device, library, playlist, radio, and favorites categories available as before, and
2. Rooms — with a more space-efficient, visually ergonomic layout.
And of course we need super-intuitive, versatile, and consistent room selection — a cornerstone of the Sonos concept, in my opinion. Very important to get room navigation, selection, grouping, and un-grouping behavior "right."
We absolutely LOVE our Sonos system (15 players, BOOST, CONNECT), but we're quite disappointed by what seems like a series of odd and counter-productive UI / UX decisions.
Thanx for reading.
-Pawlie.
I agree with all the points in the original post of this thread, and many of the other points being made about version 8.0. I'd like to add a few points, based on my use the iOS implementation of the version 8 app over the last week:
- "Rooms" Tab — In my opinion this tab is now harder to use for a few reasons. First, the room names are in the lower-left of each panel, and displayed in the same font, size, and style as the current track / audio name. I think this makes the user work to scan and read the panels to see what is what — when it should be a quick, easy, and almost unthinking process to immediately understand which room is which. I can't revert to the old app to compare, but this feels like a big step backward. I would suggest the room name at the top of each panel, and some way to make the room and track names visibly different. And on the iPad version, the room panels could be much more efficient in their use of space.
- "Browse" Tab — In my opinion it would be much better to include favorites and playlists in this view (bring them back from the new My Sonos tab). Or at least make their inclusion in the "Browse" tab a user pref. Then one could just swipe up and down for everything, rather than having to toggle to the "My Sonos" view to get at favorites and playlists, etc. Too much navigating, and nowhere near enough elegance in the new UI / UX and overall feel, in my opinion.
- "My Sonos" Tab — Lose it altogether, and fold it into "Browse" (as noted above).
- Room Selection & Grouping — This key capability seems unintuitive now, especially when one tries adding and deleting rooms from groups, selecting a room and then noticing that the room itself can be deleted, observing the odd behavior that results, and more. The old top-of-screen pop-up seemed to work more easily, and without anomalies.
I guess my main point is that we only really need two tabs / modes for most plug-and-chug use:
1. Browse — with all device, library, playlist, radio, and favorites categories available as before, and
2. Rooms — with a more space-efficient, visually ergonomic layout.
And of course we need super-intuitive, versatile, and consistent room selection — a cornerstone of the Sonos concept, in my opinion. Very important to get room navigation, selection, grouping, and un-grouping behavior "right."
We absolutely LOVE our Sonos system (15 players, BOOST, CONNECT), but we're quite disappointed by what seems like a series of odd and counter-productive UI / UX decisions.
Thanx for reading.
-Pawlie.
Thanks for sharing, Pawlie and "Ex-sonos"... I'll pass your thoughts along.
@Ex-sonos, there hasn't been a change in the Spotify integration from 7.4 to 8.0 as far as I know. Are you looking for a specific feature that was present or hoping to see something new added in? There's a lot of work being done with Spotify right now as we get ready to add them to our Alexa voice integration. I don't know if that includes any playlist or Sonos app revamping, but I'm happy to pass on any requests to the team if there's something specific you'd like to request they add.
@Ex-sonos, there hasn't been a change in the Spotify integration from 7.4 to 8.0 as far as I know. Are you looking for a specific feature that was present or hoping to see something new added in? There's a lot of work being done with Spotify right now as we get ready to add them to our Alexa voice integration. I don't know if that includes any playlist or Sonos app revamping, but I'm happy to pass on any requests to the team if there's something specific you'd like to request they add.
Note: I'm using the Android tablet app (on older ASUS tablet) and Android phone app (Samsung). (The desktop app is still blue/black, and no layout change - Excellent!)
1) The new bright/white mode is blindingly white. Yes, I know I can adjust my screen brightness (which still doesn't help that much), but I don't have to do this for any other app, much less one that I often use in dimmer environments. IMO, I think the white background looks unfinished and like something is missing/broken. That's just my personal preference though (along with seemingly everyone else on these boards). If you want to keep the bright/white mode for whatever developer or higher-up wanted it, then that's fine - just add an option for a dark mode for the rest of the world as well.
2) As a developer, I've always frowned upon brand new design layouts for the sake of "something fresh", and suggest developers make slow, gradual changes to avoid the inevitable "it looks different - so now it's horrible and doesn't work!!!" response (even if you haven't changed any actual functional logic except for the layout). Given my understanding on that... I've been trying to adapt to the new layout and give it a chance... but it's just not as user-friendly or intuitive as before. It's hard to pin-point, but here are some suggestions...
2a) The new "easy access" bar contains only 1 icon that I actually use on a frequent basis - "browse". I avoid "favorites" because of the issues with my huge and multiple playlists eating up space in the favorites. I rarely use "search" or "rooms". In a music app, I want simple/easy things: to be able to select my music from my library or music services, adjust the volume, fast-forward, and switch music from room to room (or all at once). I'd imagine that's what 90% of the users want as well. Only 1 of those features is on the new easy access bar, and the play/pause/volume bar is above it and not always visible.
2b) The "easy access" bar at the bottom disappears when I go to my playlist. What's the point in that? If you want it to be there and contain all the "important/frequent" items for access at any time, why would you make it disappear when you're on the screen that everyone spends the majority of their time (playlist/volume/etc.)?
2c) I used to be able to switch a playlist from one room to another, and then start a new playlist in the existing room, so as to not lose the song location in the previous playlist, but that doesn't seem possible anymore with the new layout and specific "room" button. (I know this one might not make sense without going into detail, but I'm probably already over eye-quota here, so leaving it as is.)
I love my Sonos system, and the app used to be so user-friendly and intuitive, but this one seems to have gotten away from everyone. I'd say it was feature-creeped, but I don't see any actual new features - just re-arranging what was already there and working, and slapping a plain white background on it to really guarantee user backlash.
Hopefully someone takes the time to read my mini-novella (apologies for that) and bring at least a few of the ideas to your developer & analyst meetings. I know you guys will come up with some solutions/compromises to the majority of problems users have voiced.
From one developer to another, I wish you the best of luck. 🙂
P.S. If you'd like any more technical details or steps in reproducing my issues, please let me know. Thanks!
Thanks for writing this. It's a great developer's take on what I can diplomatically say is a UI/UX nightmare. I'm seeing a lot of agreement on this around the other threads, and in the 100% negative reviews in the Google Play Store since the update. The blinding white interface looks clinical, like I'm starting into a 10.5-inch screen of a hospital hallway. Not one thing has been improved--just changed for the sake of change. But I'll stop complaining if we get a dark mode.
As I've continued to use the new 8.0 app, I've unfortunately noticed a few more issues that I'm hoping you can pass along:
3) I've had trouble trying to get the (Android) app to play different music types in different rooms. I can group rooms together without problem, but... if I try to click on a new (Room 2) that isn't actively playing anything, but was, say - previously playing media from my library - there's no way to "switch/activate" the search button for Room 2 and play something from the internet (Ex. TuneIn). The search button only seems to affect the originally active Room 1. Instead, I have to A) group Room 2 to Room 1, then 😎 switch over to Room 2 using the room button, then C) disconnect Room 1, and D) now I can finally get the search feature to activate with Room 2, while still leaving the original music playing in Room 1. I might be doing something wrong or misunderstanding how a feature works, but if it's that tricky to figure out, then I'd suggest re-thinking the layout.
4) When troubleshooting the above scenario, I somehow disconnected one of my speakers from my Sonos network. No worries - it's pretty easy to re-connect the speaker to the Sonos mesh network, right? Well, that menu option is no longer there in the new (Android) app. (At least I couldn't find it, and the Sonos help in the app points me to a non-existent menu.) Luckily, the Desktop app hasn't been affected much by 8.0, so I was able to go in and re-add my speaker to it. I wanted to mention though, because I'd think a lot of new customers are trying to add speakers and really scratching their heads. Not a good way to start what used to be a pretty simple setup.
Lastly, I'd like to thank Pawlie above for bringing in some additional explanation on a few other things I was noticing, but couldn't put a finger on in my initial post. His points regarding Rooms and Browse are spot on.
Once again, thanks for the receptive feedback. Good luck.
3) I've had trouble trying to get the (Android) app to play different music types in different rooms. I can group rooms together without problem, but... if I try to click on a new (Room 2) that isn't actively playing anything, but was, say - previously playing media from my library - there's no way to "switch/activate" the search button for Room 2 and play something from the internet (Ex. TuneIn). The search button only seems to affect the originally active Room 1. Instead, I have to A) group Room 2 to Room 1, then 😎 switch over to Room 2 using the room button, then C) disconnect Room 1, and D) now I can finally get the search feature to activate with Room 2, while still leaving the original music playing in Room 1. I might be doing something wrong or misunderstanding how a feature works, but if it's that tricky to figure out, then I'd suggest re-thinking the layout.
4) When troubleshooting the above scenario, I somehow disconnected one of my speakers from my Sonos network. No worries - it's pretty easy to re-connect the speaker to the Sonos mesh network, right? Well, that menu option is no longer there in the new (Android) app. (At least I couldn't find it, and the Sonos help in the app points me to a non-existent menu.) Luckily, the Desktop app hasn't been affected much by 8.0, so I was able to go in and re-add my speaker to it. I wanted to mention though, because I'd think a lot of new customers are trying to add speakers and really scratching their heads. Not a good way to start what used to be a pretty simple setup.
Lastly, I'd like to thank Pawlie above for bringing in some additional explanation on a few other things I was noticing, but couldn't put a finger on in my initial post. His points regarding Rooms and Browse are spot on.
Once again, thanks for the receptive feedback. Good luck.
Agree with all above and would like to add another observation.... When starting to play music using the new Alexa integration, Notification is not passed on to connected Android devices. Even after you load the full app on Andoid, make adjustments the Notification of the system being active and playing music is non-existent. It's as if the system is not playing anything? Whereas if you start playing music from the app, all notifications are normal.
I will be another to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Sonos system. Have purchased so many for my homes and recommended to others who have followed suit. I see this whole update situation as an opportunity for Sonos to show it loyal Customer base how important their input is. Make this right Sonos developers!
I will be another to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Sonos system. Have purchased so many for my homes and recommended to others who have followed suit. I see this whole update situation as an opportunity for Sonos to show it loyal Customer base how important their input is. Make this right Sonos developers!
I've been using Sonos for years. I have 6 Sonos rooms in my house. I use my any music sources. I have been a beta tester for many releases. I must say that the navigation introduced in this last release is awful. I have tried to like it but it is just not intuitive. This is actually the first time I have not liked a release. I hope you guys can make the navigation intuitive again.
Thanks for listening
Thanks for listening
So Ryan S, what is Sonos doing about the numerous complaints on the recent changes. I too have worked as a software developer and the UI is atrocious!
It is not easy to navigate the mobile device app, and the look is horrible, sterile and bland. Instead of moving forward, Sonos is moving backwards in ease of use and functionality. There was supposed to be the Beta Tester program to which I used to be part of and provided feedback many times, but that has since stopped and I no longer get notifications for testing updates. If I did and was provided with a beta test of this latest release, I would have ripped it to shreds in a full on review. I own more than $4k in Sonos products and have since 2014. I expect better out of this company, nothing less.
It is not easy to navigate the mobile device app, and the look is horrible, sterile and bland. Instead of moving forward, Sonos is moving backwards in ease of use and functionality. There was supposed to be the Beta Tester program to which I used to be part of and provided feedback many times, but that has since stopped and I no longer get notifications for testing updates. If I did and was provided with a beta test of this latest release, I would have ripped it to shreds in a full on review. I own more than $4k in Sonos products and have since 2014. I expect better out of this company, nothing less.
This is my first post - never had a need to chime in about a product (Sonos:5 x 3) that had worked flawlessly for me for several years.
I'd like to note 2 additional issues that some may not have noticed with the 8.2.1 software update:
Pandora users can no longer put a song to sleep (option removed) its either thumbs up or down only - please reinstate this option
also...
Pandora station names can no longer be edited (renamed) - please reinstate this option
I really hope the Sonos developers are able to resolve the noted issues with the 8.2.1 update - so that owners of Sonus products can get back to their music (uninterrupted)
I'd like to note 2 additional issues that some may not have noticed with the 8.2.1 software update:
Pandora users can no longer put a song to sleep (option removed) its either thumbs up or down only - please reinstate this option
also...
Pandora station names can no longer be edited (renamed) - please reinstate this option
I really hope the Sonos developers are able to resolve the noted issues with the 8.2.1 update - so that owners of Sonus products can get back to their music (uninterrupted)
Yet another update a few days ago, but Sonos engineers still haven't found how to offer an option to set a less agressive display than the mandatory 100% white background on phone app.
However it looks like they would know how to handle black background color, as startup splash screen has a full black background, the app icon has a black background... and the alarms and settings menus has a dark theme as well (but are the only menus to be black-ish, all the other ones being white -- what a consistency in the UI design!).
It looks like sometimes features that would appear pretty obvious and simple are actually quite difficult to develop -- unless this is just that developers and/or product managers are just deaf/blind to customers requests and complaints.
By the way, this website design is also quite eye-trearing -- at least there is some consistency, here --
Has this full-black-on-full-white colour scheme been chosen to comply with accessibility mandates for visually impaired people?
However it looks like they would know how to handle black background color, as startup splash screen has a full black background, the app icon has a black background... and the alarms and settings menus has a dark theme as well (but are the only menus to be black-ish, all the other ones being white -- what a consistency in the UI design!).
It looks like sometimes features that would appear pretty obvious and simple are actually quite difficult to develop -- unless this is just that developers and/or product managers are just deaf/blind to customers requests and complaints.
By the way, this website design is also quite eye-trearing -- at least there is some consistency, here --
Has this full-black-on-full-white colour scheme been chosen to comply with accessibility mandates for visually impaired people?
I purposely created an account in order to voice my opinion that the new interface on 8.2.1 is a huge step backwards.
Please fix latest update. No alphabetized listing of my Pandora stations. This herring is clunky and has greatly diminished the formally wonderful user experience. My Sonos has dropped from 5 stars to one. Sad.
I hate the new android app. I had to download the PDF manual just to figure out how to get to existing favorites list. Now favorites scroll left to right??? why ???? New layout does not fit well on my Samsung S4 mini. I like it because it fits in my shirt pocket and I don't live on my freaking phone. Not going to buy a big honking phone just for you.
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