Windows 10 Controller

I stopped buying Sonos products about 1.5 years ago because of their lack of Windows support. I even wrote the company a letter stating my reasons, foolishly thinking it would somehow matter. It's very disappointing watching a company ignore users like me. My wife and I are somewhat platform agnostic. We have kindles, android phones and devices, iPhones, etc., and while we can use our surfaces to access Sonos through the desktop app, touch would be much better, I was hoping that windows 10 would finally usher in an touch friendly app. Ultimately, I voted with my wallet 1.5 years ago. I still have my Sonos devices and do enjoy them. But I have not purchased any more. There have been at least three times where I have chosen not to give a play3 or a play1 as presents to family.

I can't help but see Sonos' decision as some bias against MS products. They appear eager to service Apple products and I wasn't too surprised to see them eagerly work with the apple watch, despite whatever reason may be plausible for facilitating that. As others have said, there have been hundreds of posts over many years by windows users expressing a desire for a windows touch based app. Yet, Sonos just gives what in my opinion is some BS answer about not commenting on products in development. It's clear that many users want it. It's also (becoming) clear that Sonos isn't serious about meeting this desire. So, for now, I continue voting against Sonos by not buying any more of their products.

You're are not alone.....

I'd prefer a windows 10 app. The existing app performs well in almost all circumstances unless you're trying to use a touch screen in which case it's pretty terrible.

I'd really love to see something come of GeertvanHorrik's suggestion, opening up the platform so that developers like me can build some alternatives would be great. I'd love to build a minimal controller for my daughter that I could set to her speaker only and restrict to specific play lists.

I'm really surprised that the Sonos development team, have not considered a web-based interface, to work across all platforms, via the various web browsers that are installed on almost every PC/Mac/Mobile devices these days.

I assume there are some technical reasons why that cannot be done, because it does seem the obvious way forward. Most things sit server-side in today's development environment, with very little sat on the client-side.

It is a pity too, as the support dwindles for the CR100 and CR200 hardware controller that people will have to choose from a narrow list of either an Android or iOS device to conveniently manage their multi-room multi-speaker audio system. Having a Sonos controller on a PC or MAC is fine, but is not as convenient as a mobile device for everyday 'room to room' use.

I personally would have scrapped the PC/Mac development and expanded the mobile platform... Browser based if possible, to better future-proof the road ahead.

Sadly I'm not the one making the decisions.

Even though I am an iOS user myself, I do understand the disappointment that many people here feel, by Kenneth R's recent announcement.

Ken Griffiths

Well said Leo. It can be difficult to move this conversation beyond that maddeningly misleading 2-3% figure. The shear volume of low-end Androids distorts all the figures in the smartphone space. Some of the Android phones I've seen sent to clueless relatives and friends could barely be considered "smart" at all and that's in the UK. I dread to think of what's being pushed on people in their hundreds of millions in the developing world. The truth is that probably 90% of the Android market does not, and for the conceivable future will not, overlap Sonos' market. Fair enough WP is still small but many of it's strongest markets are well developed rich ones much as Sonos' are so the risk/reward in developing a WP app is a far more nuanced question than worldwide market share stats.

that's a shame. I was looking forward to filling my house that I've just moved into. I was so confident that you'd make a UWP that I almost splurged 600 on 4 play 1's. seems like I've dodged a bullet. thanks for letting us know.

Hi,

Really disappointing to hear Sonos is not going to release a Windows universal app.
I'm a Windows developer myself and Microsoft has released tools to convert ios apps to Wiindows without starting from scratch. Advising users to use a third party app is simply unacceptable and just ignoring user requests.

There is also a topic about problems with the Groove music service which I also use. Songs are skipped in the middle of the song. This problem is still not solved after 3 months ???

Maybe Sonos can just let us know they won't support Windows at all.

I was planning to add Play 1 speakers to my setup but after reading such news this isn't going to happen for sure.

I re-registered today to lend my support for this plea for a sensible outcome here.

I own a Play:3 and :1, and am looking for another Play:1, Sub and Bar for my home cinema setup current in planning. However, I have been holding out for a refresh of the controller before diving in and I personally cannot invest at present.

As an aside, my household has 3 windows phones (me, my partner, my work phone), 2 Win 10 machines, 1 Win 10 Laptop, 1 win 8.1 laptop (work), a Surface Pro, a ASUS Win 10 touch screen netbook and Kindle Fire (I won't go into gaming machine). You can see we are invested in Microsoft then and it's easier to sell the Sonos kit than start buying iPads etc.

By far, the modern UI and universal search features on the Android/Kindle version are superior to the desktop app which is clunky and aged and does baffle guests. It isn't touch friendly for the touch screen machines.

Now, I do my research, I know the Bose wireless speaker solutions don't have UWP apps either, so I am stalled. I won't invest any more until I have something that works for me. Given this announcement, I feel Bose may get there first however.

Even if the desktop app got a UI overhaul, introduced touch friendly controls and universal searching, it would go some way to supporting this decision (until at least resource is freed up for Sonos to correctly address it). Unfortunately that won't get rid of the need to update the blasted think every couple of days when you update the Apple music integrations AGAIN. Yet another slap in the face thanks!

Now, it's been mentioned here a few times. If you are focused on iOS development, go for it. Project Islandwood (https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/bridges/ios) should allow any developer worth their salt to convert it fairly easily. I'm sure there are plenty of contractors out in California that can help you out say twice a year for say $20,000? That must be a fraction of the research budget no?

Indeed voice control is a nice feature for controlling Sonos in the future. As dNexusb and Chris mentioned voice control will be great in the USA but outside the States it still needs lots of improvement. Also I'm still wondering how voice control will work when you play your music fairly loud or when you play an audiobook. You could even record an audio file with voice commands to control your home automation. But this is all off-topic.

Indeed I would also like to have a Windows 10 UWP controller from Sonos. Which is, due to the direction Sonos has chosen for its product development, not to be expected in the nearby future. However to overcome this there are some third-party controllers that will work nicely with your Sonos system like Phonos, FTScontroller and the one that I use currently on both my Surface Pro 3 and Lumia950, Zonos. Zonos supports Cortana for those who want voice control. All three apps can be found in the Windows Store. If it would be necessary to add a Sonos-device I can still use the existing desktop controller. So in my opinion the fact that Sonos is not making a windows 10 uwp is annoying but nothing more than that. That said there are other reasons that refrain me from investing in new, more Sonos equipment but those are offtopic.

Surface tablets are growing at double digit rates. All this talk about Windows not having a large enough base (particularly in the touch screen tablet/phone market) is just short-sighted. I want to hang out on my couch with my Surface Tablet and use a touch Sonos App. When is that going to be available????

This is getting absolutely ridiculous, Sonos customer support is abysmal, they are treating us Windows users with contempt by not supporting a request to have a modern, functional app for Windows 10. I'm trying to add content to my playlists from my Groove service and getting an error "Unable to Browse Music", I'm seriously frustrated.

Sonos, engage your custmers, your lack of response to requests is ignorant and demeaning !

Seem Sonos can't take a little criticism so here are the edited highlights.

You know I think I could actually have written this drivel. It is the same response that Sonos have peddled for 10% of my life so far. That is over three years of what we shall charitably call non-commitment. In that time you have shamelessly redesigned this website to bury the old thread to avoid the inconvenience of it being your top request, as well as removing the metric which let the world now that is was your top request. You've poured time, resources and money into untested, and unsuccessful ventures such as Tidal and gimmicks like Trueplay all while neglecting the WP user base.

This refusal to commit is frankly disgusting, it is tantamount to lying to your customers in order to keep their sales. It has turned me off massively to the point where I haven't got rid of my components (gone to far for that having 2 Play 5s, 2 Play 3s, 4 Play1s, Playbar & Sub) but I will never recommend your equipment to my friends, family or customers again.

I hope this meets with the censor's approval, if not please let me know which parts are offensive and I will edit them...

The lack of a Windows 10 UWP is very disappointing to me. I honestly believe that Sonos needs to consider sunsetting the current Windows application and transition to a Windows 10 UWP. That's the direction the OS is going.

Given that I run Windows on all of my devices, the lack of a Windows 10 UWP shows a lack of commitment to Windows user by Sonos and that keeps me from expanding my use of Sonos products beyond what I already have. The current Windows app feels like it was built in the early 2000's. I don't have a lot of confidence that Sonos will keep supporting the OS.

The other side of this is that it ignores what I call the Netflix/Dominos trend. Netflix and Domino's tend to release an app for every single platform out there. Why? Because they want to be where every potential customer is at and want to make sure that no one feels like a second class citizen. Take the user with a Surface device. They have to use the clunky Windows app that's not very good with touch. They might have an iPhone or Android device, but if the Surface is what they have in hand, that's what they want to use. So they either have to go get their phone (or charge it if that's an issue at the moment) or use an app that's not very good with touch.

I would encourage Sonos to take a similar approach to Netflix and Domino's. Put an app on everything. Let people adjust the volume using their Apple Watch or Fitbit. Put out a modern app on Windows 10. Integrate with Alexa, Siri, and Cortana. Be everywhere.

We live in a world where people work across multiple devices. I feel that this decision ignores that truth.

Hi Tom, I thank you for your candor.

Personally I've only had Sonos since September. Give me three years and I'll probably be at your level of ire!

To Sonos: Don't miss out on this oportunity to be in the world of big data and connected things. From IFTTT to Hue Lights, embrace Siri, Cortana and Ok Google. These are things that show off your product. These are the things that make people say - I've got to have that! Being an ex Apple emplyee I know more than most that it starts with the interface. Don't let some shoddy 3rd party app like Phonos represent you.

Sonos don't end up like Bose on their Island of splended isolation! You have the speakers - they are great. Don't let other companies out intergrate you with inferiour products.