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Howard S
Enthusiast II
November 18, 2019
Question

10.5 has crippled my system

  • November 18, 2019
  • 14 replies
  • 707 views

On here partly to vent my frustration, but also to ask for advice. 
 

I’m running iOS 10.3.3 (the last Apple update available to my older generation iPad, which incidentally meets all of my needs), but after updating to Sonos 10.5 I couldn’t understand why certain controller options (e.g. Add a Service/Rescan local Music directory) were greyed out. 
 

Searching this site, I believe that Sonos have just disabled these functions for my operating system version. 
 

Why was this important change not communicated? e.g. an email/ in the release notes (it just says performance improvements/bug fixes), or a pop-up?  If I’d known, I could have decided not to update rather they have my system crippled. 
 

I’ve been trying to work out how to add Apple Music, to which I’ve just subscribed. I have a Windows 10 PC, so downloaded the Windows controller. Yes, I could select add a service, but the system said ‘sorry Apple Music can only be added on iOS or Android devices’. (Drat!). 
 

Ok - so my neighbour has an iOS phone and was happy to let me download the Sonos controller and log in. But no, the Apple Music authentication screen comes up and says ‘Sorry you are not an Apple Music subscriber’. I can only think that it must be using my neighbours Apple ID (carried through from his phone login) rather than my Id that I entered into the Sonos Controller. Naturally, my neighbour and I are unwilling for me to log into his phone with my Apple ID for security reasons (e.g. it will start downloading my personal info to his phone, or mess up his own settings). 

So am I basically stuck unless I buy more kit that I don’t (until now) really need?   Or is there some thing that I’m missing?

I can understand Sonos wanting to reduce their development and testing effort by switching off functionality on older OS, but the way that this has been done, seemingly unannounced, seems rather poor.  What makes it the more annoying is the knowledge that 10.5 is more than likely capable of running the disabled functionality, it’s just been ‘switched off’ by Sonos.

And why is the Controller, on a bang-up-to-date operating system like Windows 10, also not fully functional?  It would at least have given me a backup option for irregular maintenance tasks. 

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    14 replies

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    Howard SAuthor
    Enthusiast II
    November 20, 2019

    Thanks controlav.  I can understand Sonos wanting to disable adding Services under older operating systems, especially where they need to interface with another app on the device for authentication,  as with Apple Music, as it would incur additional testing and costs for them. As you say, complicated and expensive. However, disabling re-scanning a music library seems strange if it is indeed trivial. 

    What with this and the poor Alarms screen redesign, I’ve learned my lesson NEVER to update unless the new release contains something that I actually need, and certainly not to trust the App Store or in-app release notes.  I suppose that I'm showing my age in that I'm used to audio kit continuing to work as intended until it breaks.  This feels akin to buying an audio amp and the manufacturer visiting your house in the dead of night and removing some of the buttons.

     

      controlav
      controlav
      Lead Maestro
      November 21, 2019

      I didn’t realize they had removed library-rescan: it is literally a single API call, its about the simplest thing you can do with their LAN API. I guess they threw the baby out with the bathwater when they deleted that chunk of UX.

      Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
      Howard SAuthor
      Enthusiast II
      November 21, 2019

      Yes, in addition to not being able to access my new Apple Music subscription, all Music Library and Music Index functions have been disabled.  So I can't even play any new music that I purchase and store locally. I have a Sonos speaker which has become detached from the system. I don't think that I can even add that back. My current system is basically frozen in time. I'm currently exploring options as I do like the Sonos system, and have recommended it to others, despite feeling let down by all this. 

      controlav
      controlav
      Lead Maestro
      November 22, 2019

      SonoPad/SonoPhone will let you re-scan your music, but can’t help with adding devices or services.

      Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
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