Contributor I

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Windows 10 Controller

Forum|Forum|11 years ago
August 16, 2015
368 replies
109984 views

Do you have plans to ship a Windows 10 Store app which can be used from multiple Windows devices (PC, Phone, Xbox) to control the Sonos experience?

We are a Windows household and the desktop controller that exists for PC today is heavy and not very touch friendly. The third party Windows Phone app, Phonos, is fills a void, but not nearly as feature rich as the Android or iOS app. This has been requested for several years (https://en.community.sonos.com/controllers-software-228995/support-windows-8-rt-for-surface-tablet-and-windows-phone-8-for-mobile-devices-4593709) and the product management team does not address this gap beyond a blanket we have no news statement. I understand that choices have to be made. If you do not plan to address this in the net 12 months then can you at least make your API public with your apps being first and best examples of how to use that API so others can fill the gap for you?

Instead of a lot of "+1" and "me too" threads please show your support by voting on the poll below so we can get a count of the number of people who are interested in a Windows 10 app.

Would you use a Windows 10 Sonos controller app?

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Best answer by Kenneth R

Some of you have been asking about a native Windows Phone controller app for Sonos, and we’ve been slow to provide a clear answer. We’re sorry about that. The truth of the matter is that up until now we’ve been unclear internally on this very question. In fact, it’s been the source of many passionate debates because we recognize that some Sonos owners are also Windows Phone users.

In the end, however, we’ve made a decision that Sonos is not going to build a Windows Phone 8 app nor are we planning to build a Windows 10 “universal” app. We’ll of course continue to support the Windows desktop controller. We’re big fans of the work Microsoft is doing across many areas, including mobile, voice control, AI, VR and of course the Groove music service, available on Sonos.

We know this is super frustrating for Windows Phone owners anxious for more native apps on the platform, but like other companies we've had to place our bets. Our focus right now is on Voice and Paid Streaming Services, and we’re exploring quite a few innovative ways to experience and control your music – on your device and off.

We’ll be sure to keep this group informed of our progress.

Thanks,
Kenneth

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jgatie

This forum is about Sonos, and this thread about the controllers, with many people wanting a change. As started, I re-registered to lend my support to those asking for it. I've presented facts, figures and opinions. How's about we focus on those instead of taking the discussion down a personal route eh?

Sonos has clearly, consisely, and without any waffling stated there will be no development of a UWP app. Period. So this thread is more about you beating a deceased horse into shoe leather than it is about anything else. Go enjoy your Denon! Life is too short.

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el_fal

Lyricist III

So what is the point of having a customer feedback portal and community if not to question those decisions or request features?

Are we to sit around congratulating ourselves on our purchases and praise Sonos without question?

I mentioned my other purchases to show it is affecting peoples decisions. I wish i hadn't, as it seems some people don't read deeper than that now.

Interestingly the longer you keep responding with sarcastic comments because someone has a different opinion to you, the longer thread continues to stay at the top of the community boards. Maybe even swaying people who are researching their first wireless hi-fi systems too?

ratty

Aside from cosmetics, I'm also curious what a 'modern' reworking of the Win32 Controller would yield for desktop users, who presumably continue to use Win32 applications for other purposes. Touch support perhaps.

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el_fal

Lyricist III

Yes. For me there are 4 key areas;

- ui refresh; to match look and feel of other apps and the website.
- universal search; I shouldn't have to explain my music services to my guests, not they are looking for a song in "albums"
- touch support; scroll the lists/libraries. Drag a song to it's position in the queue
- auto/background updates; it feels everytime I boot it up recently there's another Apple update (which I don't even use)

I'd like to throw my surface to a guest without the type cover and let them select their songs.

Suppose the device was this; https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00YCX7SGU/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1469381313&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65

The current desktop app just cannot hack it.

ratty

Universal search could be useful, I'll grant you.

'Apple update'? I don't follow. If you mean 'Sonos update' don't forget that most of the time the firmware also has to update in step. It's bad enough when prompted updates aren't sufficiently scrutinised by the user before clicking 'OK'. The idea of the whole process being entirely automatic would only increase the support calls...

Sonos must have assessed the market trajectories for Win10 mobile and tablet, and decided they would decline into insignificance. The former certainly appears to be living up to expectations.

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el_fal

Lyricist III

Yes, I was referring to the Sonos update of the controller. Where a kindle/ipad app updates as they are pushed out, the desktop app checks for updates when launched. Precisely the moment you want to you it!

With regards to trajectories, all market trackers this year point to quite the opposite. In fact, the 2 in 1 devices are the only growing market segment. I have 3 on the house (one is work)

One such example article here: http://www.techradar.com/news/mobile-computing/tablets/gloomy-outlook-for-tablets-but-windows-2-in-1-devices-will-make-it-big-1316537

jgatie

So what is the point of having a customer feedback portal and community if not to question those decisions or request features?

The time for customer feedback was before the decision. It's your decision now to keep what you have, or move on. You have repeatedly told this forum that you have moved on, so why would you waste the energy here if you are so satisfied with your Denon? You can't see the basic logic in that question? Quite frankly, since you keep posting here, any normal person would assume the praise you have for Denon is all BS, and you would switch back to Sonos in a heartbeat if you could. If that is what you mean by helping people with their purchasing decisions, then have at it. It will only convince people to buy Sonos, and I'm sure Sonos has no fear of you chasing away the Windows Phone users (all 3 of them).

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el_fal

Lyricist III

Hi jgatie, I'll refer you back to my post #282 which I believe covers that off.

Happy to debate the finer points of windows phone/mobile market share with you in private if you wish.

I'll repeat, however, my posts have been about the desktop app. You keep dragging it onto mobile, so I'm going to assume now you're either not reading posts, not understanding, or trolling.

In the meantime, thanks for the bump!

jgatie

Windows Phone, Windows Desktop, who cares? They aren't making one! But wow, that Denon must be just terrible to have you back here pining for Sonos to make you a Windows app. It's kind of embarrassing.

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el_fal

Lyricist III

Geez man let it go. I've explained I've still got both sets of kit at the minute. I imagine you think it's in a box on my front porch with a sign saying "free to good home" the way you're going on.

And yes, a you ask so nicely, I don't want to walk away after 4 years. I did have plans to expand my home cinema, and don't want to abandon them either.

But, I'm at a cross roads where the way I enjoy this product seems to be getting left behind and I don't see anything wrong with letting them know I think they've made the wrong decision.

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Would you use a Windows 10 Sonos controller app?

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