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Playing music from iPhone library to Sonos

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47 replies

D
Apologies. My mistake!
S

Ok it’s obvious what happened…

Time Reverse!!! 
 

My landlord bought me a Sonos. Being a software engineer and then a vp of technology, I ended up in charge of a lot of software being delivered to a wide range of customers. When I got my Sonos, I was floored at the user experience. So easy and intuitive! I ended up buying another one and love them. 
 

then I lost my ability to stream from my iPhone. 
 

sonos sold out. Either they caved to pressure from redistribution charges or Apple is being a total greedy jerk. Sonos is a brand that, in my mind, is in the same level as Apple. That would have been a great partnership and would have instilled value in the Apple products I do have. And would make me thing more about the other Sonos products. My kids are getting iPads for Christmas, I would love to think about how my daughter can stream her swift in her bedroom. 
 

Apple lost a leader and it shows. 
 

 

controlav
Userlevel 7
Badge +23
Phones make terrible web servers, as their operating systems are not designed to be "always on" (else batteries would last no time at all).

To "play from this device" your phone needs to host a web server as a background task. Apple decided to not allow this, in order to keep their phones more useful for every other purpose.

In the past there were various hacks that apps used to keep running in the background, but over time those hacks worked less and less well. The "play from this device" feature is severely effected by this.

IMHO Sonos should just delete the feature. Events in the last year have shown that they are fearless these days in deleting features, so they should add this to the list (cr100, desktop app features, direct Sonosnet etc).
Author of the leading independent Sonos app for Windows, the only Sonos app for Xbox, and a Sonos app for iOS
C
Userlevel 2
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Any suggestions then on the easiest and cheapest way of playing the thousands of purchased songs stored on my iphone now they have finally removed the option from me this week of playing directly? I do own an old windows based computer but dont think the hard drives will be sufficient for all the music on my iphone and in any case what would be the best way to get the music from my phone to the computer and then access it vis sonos on my iphone?
I think someone mentioned a free google music account would work but not sure how to go about this either. I do have access to my amazon prime music acc still but only have a couple of bought albums in this so not sure if i can import my music into this.
Not used the actual itunes player or app account for years although i do download most of my music through itunes on the iphone.
I had been told i would need to buy a music server / nas /cloud account but all seems very expensive considering ive already spent thousands in the past on my sonos equipment.
Any help, advice or suggestions would be much appreciated as im stuck with a bluetooth speaker again for now.
C
Userlevel 2
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If I interpret what you’ve said correctly, you have your music as downloads only, and all stored on your phone? If so, a free Google Play Music account might be a solution for you without the need to buy another speaker.

But otherwise, Grouped speakers play the same music in sync to all speakers. The volume can be controlled as a group, but additionally you have independent control of each speaker - and can even mute one or more. That might be better to avoid accidentally increasing the group volume and waking your Sleeping Beauty.
Just attempted to get a free google music account and even though i have an account i can only subscribe to a single or family account that is free for 30 days then they start charging the card you have to subscribe with.Its so annoying to have purchased thousands of pounds worth of sonos equipment over the years and literally thousands and thousands of pounds worth of music and these global companies want you to pay a subscription to be able to use your own belongings. I could of just streamed for the same amount and saved thousands in song purchases had this been known at the outset. At least Dick Turpin worn a mask! I appreciate its not a fortune in the grand picture of it all but i refuse to be held to ransom so I will find an alternative hopefully with your help.
jgatie
They ask for a credit card, but they don't charge if you choose the free account after the trial period. Standard practice with all music services, unfortunately.
T
Userlevel 1

On the advice of my audio equipment vendor installer, I bought an AudioQuest Beetle Bluetooth device, plugged it into my Sonos amplifier and paired it with my iPhone. To play audio from my iPhone through Sonos, I select Line In on the Sonos interface. As long as the iPhone stays in range of the Beetle device, it works. Volume continues to be controlled through Sonos. 

N
Userlevel 7
Badge +18
I too am super angry with Sonos. I have connect 5?amps in my house. Worked fine for approximately 5 years then one day I simply can’t play my entire music library??? Fix this Sonos!! I am no longer a promoter of your product until u do.

Well, that sure told ’em! I’m sure they will fix it now.

If they don’t, it’ll be for the reasons already given by Sonos on numerous threads.
N
Hi, I have an old Sonos speaker and 4 Sonos controllers connected to in-wall speakers in several rooms: kitchen, dining room, living room and porch. None are Airplay enabled. I understand I can add a Airplay enabled Sonos device and group several speakers (and controllers?) so that I can play music using AirPlay.

Can you AirPlay enable a controller and if so, how?

Assuming you can group controllers to AirPlay enable all of them, can you adjust the volume of each speaker/controller separately in the group? This is important...for example, if my husband is asleep in the bedroom and I’m in the living room, I’d want to turn the volume all the way down in the bedroom via the app.

I’m just trying to figure out the best way to AirPlay enable my old Sonos system so that I don’t have a full rip and replace.
Stuart_W
Userlevel 7
Badge +22

On the advice of my audio equipment vendor installer, I bought an AudioQuest Beetle Bluetooth device, plugged it into my Sonos amplifier and paired it with my iPhone. To play audio from my iPhone through Sonos, I select Line In on the Sonos interface. As long as the iPhone stays in range of the Beetle device, it works. Volume continues to be controlled through Sonos. 

It’s hardly surprising they would suggest you spend at least £100 on hardware from their point of view. Though there are cheaper (free) solutions and others that even though they include buying hardware are far more versatile (eg a NAS). And those solutions don't force you to have the phone charged and in the vicinity of the new device.

Arc + Sub (Gen 1) + 2 x Play 1/ Stereo Play 3s/ Era 100 Stereo in Kitchen, One Stereo in Bedroom, SL One in Study, Play 1in Bathroom & Conservatory
controlav
Userlevel 7
Badge +23
@DennisC - Sonos speakers expect files to be supplied either by SMBv1 or a custom https server. Please explain to me how to (reliably) run a background process on iOS that that does this. And when you do, kindly share the method to Sonos as they cannot figure this out either (hence the deletion of the feature).
Author of the leading independent Sonos app for Windows, the only Sonos app for Xbox, and a Sonos app for iOS
D
The bottom line is, this is not rocket science. Sonos clearly has made a business decision here. We may never know the real reason. Apple constantly updates its code, much of it includes necessary security features. Vendors have to keep up if they want to keep their market share. Recall the huge Apple change from 32 bit to 64 bit and how many applications no longer worked because the vendors did not update their applications. This was a needed programming change and Apple was doing the right thing. In this case, instead of Sonos sending us warnings every week that the service was being discontinued, they should used that time to have either made the necessary changes or offered us an interim solution such as making the speakers utilize a Bluetooth connection and yes I know this would take away a few features like multiple rooms playing different music and multiple users adding to the cue, but I think most of us would have respected Sonos for at least keeping us in game with the setups we are used to while they worked it out.
melvimbe
I don't know that you can re-engineer a radio to work for bluetooth and wifi when it was designed for wifi only. Also not sure on the cost to test the feature as well FCC issues. It also wouldn't satisfy many of the people complaining about the lost feature since it would only provide 'streaming' to a single Sonos speaker, not to the whole Sonos system.

As far as the market share, it doesn't make sense to figure every iphone/ipad user would want Sonos to convert existing speakers to bluetooth or provide a bluetooth dongle. The majority of those Apple folks are not interested in Sonos at all. Those that are, and don't have a Sonos speaker yet, would simply get a speaker that is airplay 2 compatible. The size of the market for this is the people who own Sonos and are depending on playing audio from 'on this phone'. I'd actually say there are more more android users who would benefit from adding bluetooth than Apple, since Apple users already have the airplay option.
Danny
N
Userlevel 7
Badge +18
If I interpret what you’ve said correctly, you have your music as downloads only, and all stored on your phone? If so, a free Google Play Music account might be a solution for you without the need to buy another speaker.

But otherwise, Grouped speakers play the same music in sync to all speakers. The volume can be controlled as a group, but additionally you have independent control of each speaker - and can even mute one or more. That might be better to avoid accidentally increasing the group volume and waking your Sleeping Beauty.
controlav
Userlevel 7
Badge +23

IMHO Sonos should just delete the feature. Events in the last year have shown that they are fearless these days in deleting features, so they should add this to the list (cr100, desktop app features, direct Sonosnet etc).

Wow I totally called this a month ago, huh.
Author of the leading independent Sonos app for Windows, the only Sonos app for Xbox, and a Sonos app for iOS
jgatie
The bottom line is, this is not rocket science. Sonos clearly has made a business decision here. We may never know the real reason. Apple constantly updates its code, much of it includes necessary security features. Vendors have to keep up if they want to keep their market share. Recall the huge Apple change from 32 bit to 64 bit and how many applications no longer worked because the vendors did not update their applications. This was a needed programming change and Apple was doing the right thing. In this case, instead of Sonos sending us warnings every week that the service was being discontinued, they should used that time to have either made the necessary changes or offered us an interim solution such as making the speakers utilize a Bluetooth connection and yes I know this would take away a few features like multiple rooms playing different music and multiple users adding to the cue, but I think most of us would have respected Sonos for at least keeping us in game with the setups we are used to while they worked it out.


Could you explain how Sonos is going to make "the speakers utilize a Bluetooth connection" when the speakers are not equipped with Bluetooth?
Airgetlam
Seems like an odd thing to do, since you spent so much money on the Sonos, and there are so many other options available to play your music from your iOS device, ranging from free to a moderate expense.
Bruce
W

Then I'd recommend that you speak directly with Apple.

No one is terribly pleased by this. Certainly not us, the customers of Sonos, but while I'm sure it's high on Sonos' list of things to get fixed, they have to rely on Apple to revert the change that was made which affects the way that Sonos, and oddly pretty much only Sonos works.

Until Apple is willing to work with Sonos on a fix (which they may, or may not have an interest in doing, since Sonos competes directly with HomePods), it seemed appropriate to provide potential solutions so that you can continue your life in the meantime.

And if you own an AirPlay 2 Sonos receiving device, such as a Beam, Sonos One, or PLAY:5 gen 2, you can always AirPlay 2 your content to your Sonos system, using Apple's own music player, which (oddly) isn't affected by the change that Apple made.

Yes, you're right. It sucks. I don't know of a single person who likes the situation, including me. But it exists. We've just offered you potential alternatives until such time as Apple deigns to acknowledge the issue.

Yeah, as a long time Sonos customer leveraging the technology in multiple places at my inn, the investment is now defund for one of the main music sources. I agree with the other customer. You stop advertising as is and get your customers a fix. Migrating ALL music to another source if RIDICUL

S

Here’s a thought: since apparently a Raspberry Pi has enough horsepower to emulate Airplay and send music to the Sonos, cpuld someone possibly develop an Alexa skill to take the Bluetooth stream from my iPhone and stream it over WiFi to my Sonos speakers? 
 

Since Sonos and Amazon are a bit in bed anyway, I was hoping that Sonos could maybe get support from Amazon to develop that; most folks with this issue, like me, only occasionally stream music from their phone to their Sonos speakers, and since I already have an Echo and the Exho Dots are downright cheap nowadays, Most folks would a lot rather have that capability back without buying any new hardware, or at least without buying another Sonos speaker they don’t need or want. 
 

seems like a win/win to me; more sales of Echos, more capability for Sonos. 

C

I too am also struggling with not being able to play the music library downloaded on my iPhone.  I was told by customer service that they no longer support this; and that if I want to play my personal music, I have to look at uploading it to a music service that I don’t want to subscribe to.  Is this for real? If so, Sonos has just disabled a key feature.  My friends & I were royally pissed off & disappointed during our holiday get togethers to learn we can’t play our carefully curated (over many yrs) music library.  Is this for real???? 

jgatie

I too am also struggling with not being able to play the music library downloaded on my iPhone.  I was told by customer service that they no longer support this; and that if I want to play my personal music, I have to look at uploading it to a music service that I don’t want to subscribe to.  Is this for real? If so, Sonos has just disabled a key feature.  My friends & I were royally pissed off & disappointed during our holiday get togethers to learn we can’t play our carefully curated (over many yrs) music library.  Is this for real???? 

 

It is real, and it has been this way for 5 months.  How important could the feature be if you haven’t noticed it was gone for 5 months? 

C
Userlevel 2
Badge
thanks will give it a go. Do you know if google play ask again before the 30 day free trial is up or do i need to action something to stop them automatically taking the £9.99 per month?
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