Sonos iOS update is shockingly bad - first impressions

They turned a simple easy to use UI into a more complicated mess. We switched to a whole house Sonos system because my wife could never come to grips with all of the remotes and inputs and zones of our previous A/V setup. What used to be accomplished with one or two taps now takes many more confusing steps. This is progress?

"It's new, you just need to get used to it." YEAH RIGHT! This update is horrible. How did it get the OK to be released? My Connect Amp keeps dropping off the Rooms Setting list. When it does appear after a power cycle, I can start playing music. But after a short while the Connect amp will drop off then Room Settings list and I lose control of it. The buttons do nothing on the Connect Amp at this time, no pause and no volume control. I have to power cycle it to get it to turn off. Can I roll back to the previous versions? Does Amazon run SONOS now?

I agree its terrible.. not intuitive and now all I get is “We’ve run into a problem. Try again.” when I try to browse my Apple Music Playlists. I thought Sonos was better than this 😠

I don't normally make comments anywhere on any forum, but I joined this one just to express my annoyance at the new version of this app. I work in IT, so I am used to change in software, but I have to agree with the criticisms here. It is a really, really poorly designed app. I have multiple rooms set up - 10 rooms/devices in fact. It is really confusing to group rooms together and select music for a specific room. There is nothing intuitive about it. Even after getting used to the new layout, it remains cumbersome and awkward. I find myself going back to the PC interface now, where I never bothered about that before. What have you guys done? I use the app everyday and you have made what was an easy interface into something I feel like i am wrestling with! Please fix this ASAP!

Sonos 8.0. Wow, I was beginning to think it was me. I know we are supposed to give app updates a chance to get used to but this is atrocious. I loved my favourites screen on the ipad but now you have to scroll down and then 'see all'. Frustrating to use and not intuitive.
Why can't we at least have a customisable option and have some control over this mess?
Come on Sonos, we don't deserve this and you can do better,

Simon

How could Sonos get it so wrong! Up until now I have found the apps so easy to use and very easy to change settings. Now I'm stumped - cannot get the right music to right room. Please can we have a remedial update!! Desktop programme doesn't seem as bad however so I'll have to use that until Sonos get the ios app sorted out. A Sonos fan for 4/5 years.

There is an old adage that if it ain't broke then don't fix it. Unfortunately I have noticed over the years Sonos pumping out updates for the sake of it. This one takes the cake and echo everyone's sentiments. The fundamental underlying product hasn't changed at all yet the Sonos marketeers are tying to have us believe that they are giving us an improved experience. Well they ain't.

Change back please Sonos.

If you want ideas for ways to improve your product don't look inhouse, just read these bloody forums!

Agreed. Truly terrible “upgrade”, with so much competition from the likes of Amazon and Google Home how have they managed to get it so wrong?! Completely unnecessary change.

Agree - what a crock of crap. The saying "if its not broke dont fix it" comes to mind. After this people will flock to Amazon Alexa for the simplicity ....with the new sonos one that could be why they've done it?

Words fail me on how much I *HATE* this latest update. I have 7 rooms. I used to be able to tap 'Rooms' and switch between them with one finger. If I do this now it does not change the room, but reverts to the wrong (original) room. Now I have to tap 'Rooms', add the room I want to listen to - ensuring that it *AND* the previous room are selected, then touch "Done". Then I have to click 'Rooms' again, de-select the previous room - leaving the new room selected, then click 'Done'.

THIS IS NOT AN IMPROVEMENT IN WORKFLOW. Is *anyone* listening at SONOS ? Was this ever tested ?

I used to recommend SONOS to all my friends wanting multi-room music. With the current state of the UI I can no longer in good conscience recommend this to anyone. My wife has simply stopped using SONOS, she just can't make the new app do what she wants.

If there was an easy way to select local content on Google Chromecast audio I'd be selling my SONOS on craigslist tomorrow.