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Avid Contributor I
November 2, 2017

Feedback on current Phone App's User Interface

  • November 2, 2017
  • 13 replies
  • 696 views
I have been a Sonos user and installer for about 10 years now, and I just have to air this out once and for all --frankly, the user interface of the current phone app (both for android and iphone) is the most poorly designed version yet. I don't wish to offend anyone in Sonos, but I wish to report that all my clients have complained to me about it. It seems that it was created to make it as simple and plain as possible. Well it does, and it also looks very crude. I wish you guys could make a much better and sleek version of it because it doesn't complement the awesome system. Thanks.

P.S. You could start with changing the white background.
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13 replies

Lyricist I
January 28, 2018
Agree with many of the comments. As one who has worked in software development for the past 20+ years managing both development and UX teams, I know it's not an easy process to come up with an interface that feels intuitive to the user, so with that in mind, let me offer these comments on how Sonos' UX team could make an already great sounding and extremely useful product substantially better:
1. Consistency between the mobile and PC interfaces. I don't want to have to learn a different interface to change a room setting or music service just because I happen to be accessing the Sonos system from my MacBook Pro or my iPhone. I shouldn't have to search for where the "alarm" feature is on each platform or follow a completely different process to add a music service. And speaking of adding music services...
2. Could you please add a "delete music service" option? It's great to be able to be able to explore new music services or try out a free trial offer for 30 days, but after I decide that it's not for me and I don't want to continue that service there's no way to remove it from my menu of options. Which leads me to my biggest gripe...
3. Why can I not globally search for an artist across different music services on the PC interface like I can on the phone interface? Frequently, I'll find one service might have part of an artist's catalog but then another service will have different albums because the artist switched record labels over the course of their career. Being able to globally search multiple services on the mobile platform gives me access to everything. While conversely...
4. Why can't I switch to a "line-in" input for a room (when I want to listen to something that is only available on a CD and not on any streaming service) from my phone like I can on the PC interface?
5. Finally, I realize you are at the mercy of the lousy, error-filled metadata that is associated with many of the music streaming services, but could you please optimize your search algorithms or license a better one so when I search on a classical composer like, for example, Mozart, I don't have to try ten different variations to find the recording I'm looking for (e.g., Mozart, Wolfgang Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, W.A. Mozart, etc.).
Thanks!
Trending Lyricist I
January 28, 2018
As "just a user" with no software design experience. I find the latest revision of the iPhone so frustrating, I don't use it. I am in IT so a logical thinker by nature. I find nothing intuitive on this app. moving from room to room or changing from one source to another in the same room. Just a train wreck from my perspective.
Chris
Lead Maestro
January 28, 2018
I really like the newest version that came out last week.
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