Skip to main content
dave77
Headliner I
Jan 29, 2020 1:04 PM UTC
Answered

Android 6.0 support

I’m sure a lot of us use old tablets to control Sonos, I use this Vizio tablet. After the recent update i’m getting a warning saying that my Android version, 6,  is not supported. There is no Android update available for this tablet.

The app still works, will it stop working completely in the future?
 

 

    This topic has been closed for further comments. You can use the search bar to find a similar topic, or create a new one by clicking Create Topic at the top of the page.
    Stanley_4
    Stanley_4Answer
    Grand Maestro
    Jan 29, 2020 8:17 PM UTC

    Probably at some point, likely not soon though. Sonos has limited ability to support hardware that is unsupported by the manufacturer.

    A cheap tablet or Amazon Fire will do the job or borrow a newer device if you need access to disables stuff.

    18 replies

    Stanley_4
    Stanley_4Answer
    Grand Maestro
    Jan 29, 2020 8:17 PM UTC

    Probably at some point, likely not soon though. Sonos has limited ability to support hardware that is unsupported by the manufacturer.

    A cheap tablet or Amazon Fire will do the job or borrow a newer device if you need access to disables stuff.

    Translate
    dave77
    dave77Author
    Headliner I
    Jan 30, 2020 9:17 AM UTC

    Thanks.We have newer phones, the tablets are just around the house for others to use.

    I don’t see why Sonos needs to drop support of Android versions, the controller software isn’t doing anything new.

    Translate
    Airgetlam
    Jan 30, 2020 6:51 PM UTC

    Because Google drops support for developers, and removes any documentation that a Sonos engineer might need to fix any bugs or security issues. 

    Translate
    Bruce
    Exterminating Angel
    Avid Contributor I
    Feb 1, 2020 6:08 PM UTC

    Because Google drops support for developers, and removes any documentation that a Sonos engineer might need to fix any bugs or security issues. 

    “Google .. removes any documentation” -- really? Would a software organisation (Sonos in this case) be dependent on Google to provide a continuity of documentation and really not “back up” in some way any documents pertinent to their development program?

    I for one would not just assume I can find just user manuals on-line all the time. If my work/job/company depended on Android version x which Google had dropped support for a few years ago, I would ensure my organisation had its own version of documentation.

    Translate
    Abuse of power comes as no surprise
    Airgetlam
    Feb 1, 2020 6:23 PM UTC

    I take it you’ve never had to support multiple versions of several OS types simultaneously. That’s fine, but maintains local copies of hundreds of thousands of web pages of support documentation can certainly be onerous, especially when multiplied across each OS version. It’s been a while, but I wonder if there’s a legal agreement that suggests you can’t store them locally, too. I honestly don’t remember, but I do know the programming teams I worked with would reference data for both Android and iOS on the respective websites, using a ‘licensed’ account to gain access.

    In the gaming industry in which I worked, we would do much the same thing, with both desktop OS and mobile OS. When the support stopped, we would need to stop supporting it as well. It wasn’t ever something we were excited to do. 

    Translate
    Bruce
    Chromatic Producer I
    Feb 2, 2020 2:31 AM UTC

    Same thing here.

    I have four of the Visio tablets. Perfect stations for Sonos.

    Wireless charging base, small but nice screen.

     

    Just another thing ive gotten with all the software updates!
    Lost PC Settings, Android connect to Sonos speaker Wifi, etc.

    Cant wait for the May features, lost!

    Its like they dont want me to buy any more Sonos products or something.

    Translate
    Playbar(2) Sub(1) Play:5(2) Play:3(6) Play:1(5) Connect:AMP(3) Sonos:AMP(5) Move(1)
    dave77
    dave77Author
    Headliner I
    Feb 5, 2020 3:00 PM UTC

    Because Google drops support for developers, and removes any documentation that a Sonos engineer might need to fix any bugs or security issues. 

    https://www.androidcentral.com/whatsapp-drops-support-millions-older-smartphones

    Surely if Facebook can support from Android 3+ Sonos can manage 6+.

    Translate
    controlav
    Lead Maestro
    Feb 5, 2020 3:49 PM UTC

    https://www.androidcentral.com/whatsapp-drops-support-millions-older-smartphones

    Surely if Facebook can support from Android 3+ Sonos can manage 6+.

    WhatsApp have tens of millions of users in 3rd world countries running ancient phones because those folks are too poor to get anything better. Very different demographic to Sonos customers.

    Translate
    Author of the leading independent Sonos apps for Android, MacOS, iOS, Windows and Xbox.
    dave77
    dave77Author
    Headliner I
    Feb 5, 2020 3:54 PM UTC

    https://www.androidcentral.com/whatsapp-drops-support-millions-older-smartphones

    Surely if Facebook can support from Android 3+ Sonos can manage 6+.

    WhatsApp have tens of millions of users in 3rd world countries running ancient phones because those folks are too poor to get anything better. Very different demographic to Sonos customers.


    Of course, I forgot, Sonos expects its customers to replace everything every 5 years :joy:

    Translate
    Stanley_4
    Grand Maestro
    Feb 5, 2020 7:44 PM UTC


    Of course, I forgot, Sonos expects its customers to replace everything every 5 years :joy:

     

    Is that the same Sonos that has kept my ZP-80s and Play 5 gen 1s working since 2006? And only now announced they will be no longer getting new features but will still be able to be used?

     

    Translate