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App v80 (new black icon) is USELESS on iPhone.

  • 13 May 2024
  • 7 replies
  • 314 views

I cannot understand why Sonos have issued this ‘update’ which is clearly untested. Why remove so many features that worked fine on the S2 version, and then say ‘missing features will (may) be added in the future'? Such an arrogant disregard for their customers. 

 

I have managed to get the crappy new app working on my iPad (current iOS) and wanted to Trueplay a pair of One SLs so opened the new app on the iPhone. Surprised to see it already there - I do not have auto updates selected either in the App store or Sonos app, so Sonos must have forced this through from their end, giving customers no choice. 

 

It couldn't find my system (it had been connected to the system for years on previous versions of the apps) so had to give it access to local network - it had this with the S2 app so why not keep that access after the ‘update’?

 

Very sluggish and buggy in operation. Tried to Trueplay the speakers. Got to the ‘You will hear tones’ page  Pressed ‘Go’ (or proceed or whatever). NOTHING HAPPENED. 

 

Had to force the app to close. Opened it and it was still stuck on the tones start page. Forced it to close and waited a couple of minutes. Opened it again and tried to select the pair but it kept defaulting to another pair on the system. After forcing it to close again I eventually managed to get it to show the required pair on the screen.  Tried to Trueplay them again. 

 

This time the tones came on and I started to move around the room. The clock progressed but then the phone auto-turned off. WTF? You haven't thought to override the phone's auto shutoff? You managed that in all previous versions of Trueplay. 

 

Turned phone round to do Face ID and the app now says 'An error occurred'. Tried to run it again and didn't get to produce the tones (like the first time I tried). 

 

I have been with Sonos from the start, I have 15 Sonos units and have recommended Sonos to many. Not any more. You messed up the Era 100 speakers with the clicking (much reduced after endless firmware updates but I still hear faint clicks so I don't tend to listen to them now) and now this slap in the face for loyal users. 

 

SONOS, THIS NEW APP IS AN UNMITIGATED DISASTER. 

 

Please make the S2 app available on the app store until you can employ some programmers who understand the concept of customer experience. 

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7 replies

J
Userlevel 3
Badge +1

The app is an absolute essential to Sonos or what’s the point! It really is unbelievable!! 

A

I agree, this new app is not user friendly at all. Had so much trouble with it we have started playing CD’s again . I hope they allow us to use the old app again until they fix this mess 

C
Userlevel 4
Badge

Well here's my response from the 'CEO’ (posted on other threads but added here in case you don't see it elsewhere).

I ended the email (which simply asked him to admit they’d got it wrong and give us back v16 until this was ready) with my full name, but in the reply I’m just ‘C’.

Although I’d like to think it is written by a human, it has more than a whiff of being AI-generated.

It has the usual ‘We are right and know what is best for you’ paragraphs - such arrogance - and at the end I am told to ‘Have a bit more patience.’ 🤯🤯🤯

Sonos have drunk their own Kool-Aid. 

-------------------------------------------------------------

Hello C,

Thank you for reaching out to Sonos.

My name is ****., and I'm an Escalation Specialist on the Customer Experience team here at Sonos.
Our CEO, Patrick Spence, brought your feedback to my attention, and I wanted to see if there's anything I can do to help address this.

I am truly sorry to hear about the frustration you are experiencing with the new app update. Your feedback is important to us, and I want to thank you for bringing it to our attention. Therefore, I will take this case into my own hands and help you further. As a valued long-term customer, your satisfaction is our top priority. 

To begin with, the streaming industry is undergoing a rapid change. As a leader in sound experience with an open platform offering unparalleled choice, Sonos is focused on creating a better way to listen. We’ve redesigned the Sonos app to bring all your content across your services into one customizable home screen for a more personal listening experience, built on an agile software platform for a smoother, faster streaming experience that can – and will – support more innovation over time.

Furthermore, the redesigned Sonos app is a completely renovated, future-built app experience that brings all your favorite content across 100+ streaming services in one easy-to-use home screen. With a customizable layout and more accessible, intuitive controls for grouping and more, the redesigned Sonos app gets you to the music you love even faster for effortless out-loud listening.

Moreover, the revitalization of the Sonos app is our most ambitious software update yet and aims to address what our customers have been asking us for. It’s a huge undertaking, and we are taking the time and effort to ensure all features work seamlessly and meet both our standards and the standards of our listeners. With this commitment in mind, features such as playlist creation and queue editing within the Sonos app, sleep timers, and local library support will not be available at launch, but will be added to the app on a rolling basis over the coming months.

I understand how these missing features can impact your experience with our products. However, I would kindly ask you to have a bit more patience and make sure the app is up to date. This way, the features that are missing and planned to return will return.

Please keep in mind that your feedback is invaluable to us as we strive to improve our products and services. 

Thank you for your patience and understanding  

*Moderator Note: Modified in accordance with the Community Code of Conduct.*

N

That email you posted is 100% a copy and paste waste of space from Sonos.

v80 has now automatically (Grrrr) upgraded across all my iDevices and rendered all the expensive Sonos hardware into bricks.

I survived for several days by not upgrading my other iPad/iPh when the new app was launched, but this morning… Sonos has bricked the whole lot.

When I first spoke to a Sonos rep. about it when v80 was first rolled out, he agreed that it was a bug. They *knew* and yet they have still pushed this rubbish. Are there alternative controllers for these speakers? It’s pointless trying to flog the hardware because the app is so bad, nobody will buy them.

Patrick Spence needs sacking.

C
Userlevel 4
Badge

That email you posted is 100% a copy and paste waste of space from Sonos.

v80 has now automatically (Grrrr) upgraded across all my iDevices and rendered all the expensive Sonos hardware into bricks.

I survived for several days by not upgrading my other iPad/iPh when the new app was launched, but this morning… Sonos has bricked the whole lot.

When I first spoke to a Sonos rep. about it when v80 was first rolled out, he agreed that it was a bug. They *knew* and yet they have still pushed this rubbish. Are there alternative controllers for these speakers? It’s pointless trying to flog the hardware because the app is so bad, nobody will buy them.

Patrick Spence needs sacking.

If you have a working system (prior to v80) then Sonopad or SonoPhone will show you your local library, control your music and combine your zones if you choose. When I bought Sonopad it was such a relief to see my playlists, all my local NAS music and all my speakers. You can edit playlists, play next etc and see all of your library with A-Z scrolling. The radio part of it is very quick too.

However it can't set up your music source, do Trueplay, tone controls, pair speakers etc so we’ll still need the crappy app for those admin tasks when they eventually deem to fix it. 

D
Userlevel 1

I’d understand a bit more if the loss of features came with improved reliability, but the reliability of the app is the worst it has been for 5+ years. It is shocking, and has obviously gone through absolutely no user acceptance testing.

The reliability is so poor, most of the time I try to workaround by using the physical controls or end up not even bothering and playing music off of my iPhone. Shocking.

H

This ^^^

 

As a PRO AV Integrator, I’m DONE with Sonos! I cannot take anymore customers calling me thinking that I did something wrong on their system. In the early days before SONOS data mining, all things just worked. Now I’m moving to the WiiM Audio Platform as their products are freaking great! and are full High Res Audio.  Wait till you try the WiiM multiband EQ! It simply rocks! I’ve been installing and maintaining SONOS products for years, and years, and have sold and installed more than I can count! NO MORE!

 

The TWO app system is an absolute nightmare! Especially this new V80.

It’s WiiM or Amazon Echo form here on out! Why? Because as Pro all I want is for Mom to be able to play a stinking song! She doesn’t care about what new features you might have! She doesn’t care about what bit rate the stream is at! She doesn't care about any software look! All we need is a stable streaming audio system, that we do not have to fight. 

 

So now with my WiiM system tied to whole home audio, all Mom has to do is say “ Computer, Play Audio on Main Floor Music” BAM! Done!! You need ONE App to rule every device in your ecosystem. No S1 or S2 nonsense. Old vs. New, constant upselling for gear! Forcing endless Updates or you might break something if you don’t do updates, or have it turned OFF!

 

I will not recommend SONOS ever again. The ship has sailed, just like dedicated backend systems like “Savant, or Control4. Their dead! they just don’t know it yet! 

 

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