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Removal of lock screen and volume control iOS 2023

S

How does Sonos plan to solve the issue of accessing lock screen controls and device hardware button on iOS? Removing that functionality with release 15.6 on July 25, 2023 is a significant impact on the user experience. Our phones are the primary way we control the product so is there a solution other than having to unlock the phone every time we want to control the volume, change a track or turn the system off? Please clarify your plans or provide alternate solutions. Note: I do not use voice controls with my products, so that is not an alternative. Thanks. 

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Best answer by melvimbe 27 July 2023, 16:16

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41 replies

Airgetlam

It should be working for applications that stream via AirPlay 2 or Bluetooth , but not for the Sonos application, which isn’t a media player, but a remote control to a media player that exists on an outside device. 

Bruce
C

My iPhone volume control buttons work on Lock Screen now. Did Sonos change this recently?

buzz

I had to recycle a perfectly functional cellphone because the cell towers stopped supporting it.

106rallye
Userlevel 7
Badge +17

Sell your phone too. You’re punishing Sonos for something caused by Apple.

S

Just the latest company to decide to change their support after selling a bunch expensive tech to consumers.  Only way to deal with this and put pressure on a company is for everyone to vote with their money and make Sonos feel it where it hurts… Sell it all second hand to people that still want Sonos gear (presumably android owners for now) so the company doesn’t make that money on sales of new equipment, then upgrade everything to the latest and greatest option that is still interested in offering decent ongoing support - until they in turn inevitably begin to prioritize profits over product support and customer experience.

ratty

So the native apps have figured out how to make the functionality work - where Sonos got rid of it. 

As has been pointed out countless times, this is comparing apples with oranges.

The native apps are local media players.

The Sonos app is a remote control for the speakers, and never touches the actual audio stream. 

R
Userlevel 2
Badge

So I tried craigski’s solution of using the native app — and used AirPlay to stream the music from an iPhone to my Sonos devices. Works just like a champ and the native app is better for navigating the music source and has the Lock Screen controls that work just fine. So the native apps have figured out how to make the functionality work - where Sonos got rid of it. 

buzz

A solution existed decades ago for old world corporate phone systems. A user would wear an ultrasonic beacon and there were sensors in the rooms. As the beacon moved through the building a call to the user’s extension would ring on the nearby phone.

But they would still have to physically walk back to the volume knob on the PA/Tanoy system in a different room to adjust volume when answering the call 😀

Back then, sure. Today, a SONOS speaker could be aware of the beacon and know exactly which room to mute. Passive speakers would be more of an issue, but a simple accessory could detect the beacon. It would even be possible to have the mute follow the beacon from room to room during a call.

ratty

I’m just saying that the ideal solution here is that audio automatically pauses or mutes when you receive or pick up a phone call.

  1. Phone (or FaceTime) rings
  2. “Hey Sonos, stop!”
  3. Answer call

Simple.

 

OP said voice control wasn’t an option.  

Oh yes. Can’t think why. Sonos Voice Control is entirely local, so no privacy risk.

 

OP said only 1 of 8 speakers has SVC.

Right. I should have RTFT. 

BTW the IKEA remotes do control the group volume. 

melvimbe

I’m just saying that the ideal solution here is that audio automatically pauses or mutes when you receive or pick up a phone call.

  1. Phone (or FaceTime) rings
  2. “Hey Sonos, stop!”
  3. Answer call

Simple.

 

OP said voice control wasn’t an option.  

Oh yes. Can’t think why. Sonos Voice Control is entirely local, so no privacy risk.

 

OP said only 1 of 8 speakers has SVC.

Danny
Ken_Griffiths

Also, thanks @Ken_Griffiths for the thought on the widget.  I’ve since learned there is no widget, but found multiple threads asking for it with someone named Corry P. from Sonos saying he would register the feature request and then cheerfully closing the thread.

Just to add that an iOS ‘widget’ does exist to control Sonos from the Home Screen (which is available from the Lock Screen by sliding left to right) - it’s a 3rd party iOS widget, as mentioned in my post. In fact it is shown in a screenshot attached to my earlier post, but just to add I’m not affiliated to the ‘widget’ and I’ve chosen not to name it, as it didn’t seem right to promote it here in the Sonos community… a search of the iOS App Store should lead you to it.

Sonos have not mentioned any plans to make their own widget, as far as I’m aware, but I sometimes find it a quick way to control playing speakers/groups without having to unlock the mobile device. That said, I personally mostly use voice assistants, or the speaker hardware buttons, to adjust volume/play/pause etc. anyway, rather than reaching for a mobile or tablet.

Airgetlam

Muscle memory is my guess. Just not accustomed to it. 

Bruce
ratty

I’m just saying that the ideal solution here is that audio automatically pauses or mutes when you receive or pick up a phone call.

  1. Phone (or FaceTime) rings
  2. “Hey Sonos, stop!”
  3. Answer call

Simple.

 

OP said voice control wasn’t an option.  

Oh yes. Can’t think why. Sonos Voice Control is entirely local, so no privacy risk.

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +11

A solution existed decades ago for old world corporate phone systems. A user would wear an ultrasonic beacon and there were sensors in the rooms. As the beacon moved through the building a call to the user’s extension would ring on the nearby phone.

But they would still have to physically walk back to the volume knob on the PA/Tanoy system in a different room to adjust volume when answering the call 😀

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +11

Or if using a native App (Apple Music, Spotfiy, BBC Sounds etc) without using voice (OP doesn’t use voice):

  1. Phone rings
  2. Swipe Up, press pause or adjust volume with hard buttons or soft slider
  3. Press phone icon top left and answer call

 

buzz

A solution existed decades ago for old world corporate phone systems. A user would wear an ultrasonic beacon and there were sensors in the rooms. As the beacon moved through the building a call to the user’s extension would ring on the nearby phone.

melvimbe

I’m just saying that the ideal solution here is that audio automatically pauses or mutes when you receive or pick up a phone call.

  1. Phone (or FaceTime) rings
  2. “Hey Sonos, stop!”
  3. Answer call

Simple.

 

OP said voice control wasn’t an option.  And yes, the automation answer has it flaws too, since it does not know which specific Sonos room needs to be paused or if you opted to just step outside to take the call in this instance.

Danny
ratty

I’m just saying that the ideal solution here is that audio automatically pauses or mutes when you receive or pick up a phone call.

  1. Phone (or FaceTime) rings
  2. “Hey Sonos, stop!”
  3. Answer call

Simple.

 

melvimbe

Maybe there is an opportunity for Sonos to design a handheld controller with no lock screen, automatically turns on when you pick it up, maybe it could have tactile hard buttons for volume and music selection, possibly an old school scroll wheel (like the original iPod) to scroll through music? Just a thought. 😀

 

I don’t know that it would really help that much in this case, since the problem is adjusting the volume when a phone call comes in.  Unless you have the phone and the separate handhold controller right at hand, you are having to walk over to a different device before answer your phone.  It’s really not any better than the ikea/lutron remote options or the hard buttons on the speakers themselves.

And yes, I know there was jest here, I’m just saying that the ideal solution here is that audio automatically pauses or mutes when you receive or pick up a phone call.

 

But...I do think there is room for a handheld device that isn’t a phone/tablet for controlling smarthome.  Not dedicated to Sonos, but for lights, and other things as well.   Just don’t think we are at the point where such a solution can be practical and affordable just yet.

Danny
C
Userlevel 6
Badge +11

Our phones are the primary way we control the product so is there a solution other than having to unlock the phone every time we want to control the volume, change a track or turn the system off? 

 

Perhaps the preferred method of Sonos control is to use the native App for the music source? If you use say Apple Music, Spotify, etc,  you get a widget on lock screen and hard volume buttons will control volume of the streaming music, ie the features that are missing in the Sonos App.

Is using the native Apps a better solution? Especially if you have guests who want to play music, using the native Apps that they are familiar with, and you don’t want to give them access to your phone to control volume etc?

The phone can still be the primary way you control the music.

jgatie

By no means does the last post in a thread automatically mean that poster was the one to close the thread.  Matter of fact, I almost guarantee if you hover over the time of the post and the time of the lock, a few months will have gone by from one to the other.  Simple fact; threads are automatically locked if they are inactive for a while, and this has no bearing on whether Sonos is currently taking action on the request. 

Airgetlam

How are you able to discern @Corry P ’s demeanor, especially as threads are automatically closed by the forum software for non-activity after a certain amount of time? Is there a possibility he was merely the last respondent, but didn’t close the thread(s) himself?

Bruce
S

Update from Sonos - I had a nice chat with Ariel S, a customer service manager with Sonos today.  He’s been with Sonos for 5 years and was very courteous.  He confirmed several points regarding the removal of the controller from the lock screen. 

1. This is not a security issue nor was it initiated by Apple.  He said it has been unreliable and they do not want to invest further engineering or customer support time on it.  Simple profit/loss decision by Sonos. 

2. This is an Apple issue only - Android users continue to enjoy lock screen controls (as evidenced by edited instructions on Sonos site that no longer include iOS: https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/control-sonos-from-the-android-lock-screen).

3. They have no current plans to add a widget for Apple users.

He also said if we as a community wanted to at least make Sonos aware of the frustration, we could either call the support number (800-680-2345 for US calls) or email ceo@sonos.com.  Obviously it doesn’t go to the CEO, but he said it would provide some tracking on the complaint.  

Also, thanks @Ken_Griffiths for the thought on the widget.  I’ve since learned there is no widget, but found multiple threads asking for it with someone named Corry P. from Sonos saying he would register the feature request and then cheerfully closing the thread.

 

Moderator edit: If we were to close a thread before all activity had stopped for 3 months (which is when they will automatically close), we would announce the fact on the thread before taking any action. It would usually be preceded by a request for people to get back on-topic, or to stop arguing.

C
Userlevel 6
Badge +11

In case of any confusion, I was just jesting with some dry British humour, especially for those that remember the good old days. 😀

Stanley_4
Userlevel 7
Badge +22

If Sonos would release a CR-100 version 2 the spouse might finally get off my back over hers going away. She might also start using Sonos again and not be so negative about me buying more.

I know, it isn’t going to happen. :-(

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