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collinmurphy
Contributor I
October 28, 2015
Question

When is Echo Support coming?

  • October 28, 2015
  • 71 replies
  • 27665 views
Hi Guys,

Let me start off by saying I love you guys. I have a Playbar, Play 5, Play 3, Connect, and am looking to complete my Playbar setup with a couple of Play 1's and a Sub soon.

I also have an Amazon Echo and it is awesome. In fact, it's a bit too awesome and I find myself asking Alexa to play music just because if I want to hear a song, all I have to do is ask; I don't have to bust out my phone. The problem is the speakers on the Echo are mediocre at best. I would much prefer the sound to come out of my Sonos system. With the "internet of things" really starting to take off - integration is going to become more and more important.

Amazon Echo has sort of a plugins-type interface called skills. https://developer.amazon.com/public/solutions/alexa/alexa-skills-kit/getting-started-guide
It would be amazing if you guys could create an skill for Sonos. Something like "Alexa, tell Sonos to play *playlist*." or music by _____ or x from pandora.

I've done some searching and this comes up on this forum a lot. I think it's time you started listening to your community. With skills you no longer need much help from Amazon so its on you to keep your customers happy. Please do not start your own voice recognition or anything silly like that. Stick to what you're great at. Just use what is already available and on the markets and integrate with them.

Thanks
-Collin
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      71 replies

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      Chris
      Chris
      Lead Maestro
      March 10, 2016
      My most used Sonos units are my master bath, kitchen, and bar. The bar would be good to have echo because I currently have a Smartthings routine that turns on all bar lights and the arcade machine. I have an Echo command "turn on bar" or "turn off bar" that currently works but my Echo is a few rooms away so I have to walk in there to issue the command. So I may need to get a dot for that room as well (and hook to the connect:amp in the bar).

      Really the current Echo is the odd man out. I really need a bunch of dots for each Sonos unit and not the current Echo I have. Of course - a Sonos skill would mean don't need to hook the dots to a Sonos unit and can be much more flexible with playing to different rooms from a single echo. And I really don't like playing music via Alexa as very limited in what you can do and it goes over home wifi. So yes your desire for native skill to play Sonos (and thus all Sonos services) is the way to go.
      Respect the Queue (2)Move (3)Beam (1) Era100 (2)ARC (1)SonosOne (1)Playbar (4)Play5 (4)Play1 (3)Play3 (1)Port (2)Connect (1) Roam (2) Ace (1)Connect:Amp (4)Sonos Amp (1)Sub + (9) Echo + Smartthings; (2)Play)
        SeattleAndy
        Lyricist I
        March 13, 2016
        Looks like the Alexa bird is coming home to roost at Sonos...

        http://blog.sonos.com/news/industry-in-transition-invest-in-future
        http://www.geekwire.com/2016/sonos-caught-snoozing-speaker-firm-cuts-staff-amazons-echo-catches-fire/

        From the Sonos CEO blog post...

        We’re fans of what Amazon has done with Alexa and the Echo product line. Voice recognition isn’t new; today it’s nearly ubiquitous with Siri, OK Google, and Cortana. But the Echo found a sweet spot in the home and will impact how we navigate music, weather, and many, many other things as developers bring new ideas and more content to the Alexa platform.

        Alexa/Echo is the first product to really showcase the power of voice control in the home. Its popularity with consumers will accelerate innovation across the entire industry. What is novel today will become standard tomorrow. Here again, Sonos is taking the long view in how best to bring voice-enabled music experiences into the home. Voice is a big change for us, so we’ll invest what’s required to bring it to market in a wonderful way.
        Big George
        Lyricist I
        March 21, 2016
        There is always going to be conflict between manufacturers not wanting their device sales cannabalized by developing solutions supporting their competitors. This is classic conflict between companies and its customers. Customers want to grow the ecosystem and companies want to control it. Companies like Sonos could simply create open APIs for their devices and let the consumer grow the ecosystem by developing solutions and even selling them. This will be an ongoing problem for consumers until companies like Sonos, Amazon, and others let consumers drive how their products are used or realize that the more interconnected they make their products, the more of those products they will sell.
        jgatie
        jgatie
        March 21, 2016
        This will be an ongoing problem for consumers until companies like Sonos, Amazon, and others let consumers drive how their products are used or realize that the more interconnected they make their products, the more of those products they will sell.


        I'm not sure how this critique applies to Amazon. So far, the Echo/Alexa interface has been 100% open, and they are going out of their way to allow interconnection with their product, including allowing other companies to embed Alexa voice technology into their third party hardware instead of having to go through an Echo.

        https://developer.amazon.com/appsandservices/solutions/alexa/alexa-skills-kit

        http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=176060&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=2062557
        philippe44
        Avid Contributor I
        March 23, 2016
        There is always going to be conflict between manufacturers not wanting their device sales cannabalized by developing solutions supporting their competitors. This is classic conflict between companies and its customers. Customers want to grow the ecosystem and companies want to control it. Companies like Sonos could simply create open APIs for their devices and let the consumer grow the ecosystem by developing solutions and even selling them.
        True, but Sonos devices can be controlled by / streamed to using UPnP and it works really well
        kkampen
        Lyricist I
        April 1, 2016
        Looks to me like the Sonos CEO is saying they will do their own voice control that will go against Amazon Echo.

        That kinda sucks. I already have Siri, Echo, Google and now I will have to say Sonos...

        Would also be nice if the Playbar had a Line-in so I could just connect my Echo Dot :-(

        http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/10/11191978/sonos-Amazon-echo-alexa
        jgatie
        jgatie
        April 1, 2016
        Looks to me like the Sonos CEO is saying they will do their own voice control that will go against Amazon Echo.

        That kinda sucks. I already have Siri, Echo, Google and now I will have to say Sonos...

        Would also be nice if the Playbar had a Line-in so I could just connect my Echo Dot :-(

        http://www.theverge.com/2016/3/10/11191978/sonos-Amazon-echo-alexa

        Actually, he leaves it pretty vague, and from a financial standpoint it would be insane to do it from scratch. Also, perusal of the Sonos Help Wanted listings say differently. They are seeking hardware people with microphone array experience, but no listings for software people with voice recognition skills. My speculation is Sonos will be using Echo/Alexa tech, both embedded and via the Echo devices. No insider knowledge except working in IT.
        UP2MTNS
        Lyricist II
        April 8, 2016
        Echo Dot connected to Sonos 'Connect' and we're good right? this guy did it...seems like a no brainer? Now we just wait for Amazon to allow multiple Alexa's to connect as well (i.e. Tell my Alexa in the living room to 'play Beck' but then I can go into the kitchen and use that Alexa to control as well)

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icpFh5FCREU&nohtml5=False
          joestump
          Lyricist I
          April 9, 2016
          I've found at least one possible solution, but it's definitely not for the faint of heart. There's a GitHub repository that involves a NodeJS bridge:

          https://github.com/rgraciano/echo-sonos

          If none of what I just typed makes any sense, I wouldn't even try.

          The other option is currently only available to Amazon Prime members who also happen to own a Connect or Connect:AMP, which I happen to. I can't imagine why this won't work, but I'm going to try it once I order one. Amazon makes a miniature version of the Amazon Echo called the Amazon Dot:

          https://www.amazon.com/b/?node=14047587011

          Basically, it's an Echo minus speakers that you can plug into any sound system you feel like. So my working thesis is that Amazon Dot -> Sonos Connect (or Connect:AMP) -> Sonos will work just fine.

          As of this post, you can only buy Amazon Dots via a voice command to an Amazon Echo, and ONLY if you are an Amazon Prime member.
          Alan Thomas
          Lyricist III
          April 22, 2016
          This is such an awesome idea. Instead of Sonos trying to invent and implement their own voice control, just integrate with Echo. I don't have one right now, but if I could control my sonos system with an Echo / Alexa, I'd buy one right now. That would be so badass.

          SONOS...LET'S DO THIS!
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