Contributor I

Answered

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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dNexusb

Lyricist II

I get that Sonos has made some research and made a statement about this stuff...

But "Your only solution is to switch mobile devices, or seek out an alternative product if and when one decides to support a UWP app"?

How is saying to the company making my products "I would like to have you make this thing, so I can enjoy your product more" not an option?

How are Sonos going to change there mind if we (who WOULD like a windows interface with touch) do not tell them about our wants for the products?

Fyi.: I do have both windows and android devices for my Sonos system. All I (and others) are saying are that the windows (and OSX for that mater) player are in need of a upgrade.

jgatie

That's the point: Sonos is not going to change their mind. Unless there is something about the market which has changed (which there isn't), why would they change their decision based on a couple postings by Windows fans? Can't you see that the time for that has far past? Do you not think they have already figured in the backlash? Sonos knew it was going to lose customers over this, if they were willing to suffer lost sales, how much sway is going to come from the very few who cling onto Sonos hoping they change their mind? It is at this point a useless endeavor, truly shouting into the wind.

B

Boterbloem

Lyricist II

Indeed voice control is a nice feature for controlling Sonos in the future. As dNexusb and Chris mentioned voice control will be great in the USA but outside the States it still needs lots of improvement. Also I'm still wondering how voice control will work when you play your music fairly loud or when you play an audiobook. You could even record an audio file with voice commands to control your home automation. But this is all off-topic.

Indeed I would also like to have a Windows 10 UWP controller from Sonos. Which is, due to the direction Sonos has chosen for its product development, not to be expected in the nearby future. However to overcome this there are some third-party controllers that will work nicely with your Sonos system like Phonos, FTScontroller and the one that I use currently on both my Surface Pro 3 and Lumia950, Zonos. Zonos supports Cortana for those who want voice control. All three apps can be found in the Windows Store. If it would be necessary to add a Sonos-device I can still use the existing desktop controller. So in my opinion the fact that Sonos is not making a windows 10 uwp is annoying but nothing more than that. That said there are other reasons that refrain me from investing in new, more Sonos equipment but those are offtopic.

M

MarantzJaap

Lyricist I

I control my Sonos System with:
The original Sonos controller, witch loses functionality with every opdate;
FTS controller on Windows 10 Mobile, witch does some functions. Not supported by Sonos;
8" Windows 10 tablet. My fingers are sometimes too big to press the right buttons on de desktop version;
22" Windows 10 desktop PC. I don't always sit at my desk.

So I would welcome the universal app.

E

ewand

Lyricist II

the fact that Sonos is not making a windows 10 uwp is annoying but nothing more than that. That said there are other reasons that refrain me from investing in new, more Sonos equipment but those are offtopic.

Agree - it feels a bit second hand having to use 3rd party tools to control the system, good though Zonos & Phonos are. Using the Windows desktop controller on a touch-screen device like a Surface is really clunky and as someone else pointed out, it's next to impossible on a small tablet. But then reality bites - Windows share of the 8" tablet market might be ~15% so Sonos may well be right in prioritizing other developments. But then, if they could do a single app that would meet the needs of the minority of Windows Phone users, the millions of Xbox One users and the many millions of Windows 10 users, wouldn't that be desirable? Surely controlling the end-end user experience is where Apple showed the way, and yet by having 3rd party controllers be the only option, Sonos is giving away the last mile to Windows users.

C

ClausLarsen

Lyricist I

Try this one
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/store/p/phonos-universal-preview/9nblggh4ns0x?ocid=badge

R

Reflodark

Lyricist I

I just registered, just to participatie in the poll. Now i don' t have Sonos! But i will fil my entire house and replace all equipment i now have with Sonos, as soon as they release decent Windows10 apps. In my house we all have Windows 10 phones, and als we have Windows10 surface pro tablets. All pc's run Windows10 as Well, and a few have Touchscreens. And Yes also the Xbox one and 360's but i agree with those commenting that those are not Nice controllers.

Please Sonos take a wise decission and start Development one! It's not just the Windows Phone users you please, but also the Windows10 pc users and the 'really fantastic' Surface tablet users!

jgatie

I just registered, just to participatie in the poll. Now i don' t have Sonos! But i will fil my entire house and replace all equipment i now have with Sonos, as soon as they release decent Windows10 apps. In my house we all have Windows 10 phones, and als we have Windows10 surface pro tablets. All pc's run Windows10 as Well, and a few have Touchscreens. And Yes also the Xbox one and 360's but i agree with those commenting that those are not Nice controllers.

Please Sonos take a wise decission and start Development one! It's not just the Windows Phone users you please, but also the Windows10 pc users and the 'really fantastic' Surface tablet users!

Sonos has stated that they are not going to develop a UWP app. They have decided to concentrate on voice control, which relegates controller apps to a secondary and/or tertiary role. The Windows UWP market is just not big enough for Sonos to dedicate development resources towards a secondary or tertiary app.

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Reflodark

Lyricist I

@jgatie that was something i read indeed, so Thanks for pointing this out. But we neeed to keep asking Sonos to reconsider.
As i typ this, Windows 10 is running on more than 350 million devices in 192 countries around the world. So i don't know what you call ' the Windows UWP market is not big enough' hence all the other Nice devices as the millions of Surface tablets and ofcourse the phones there is a huge market to gain! I don't know why you begrudge the huge Windows community a Nice Sonos app? It's not just for the phone! And because of the universall app for Windows, developping an App will work on all devices running it. Making an real Sonos app for universal Windows will not be that expensive. Let's say it will cost them 50.000 US dollars. if like 1000 people buy Sonos because they are app-supported, they are making extra profits. It's win-win.

jgatie

I'm quite sure Sonos has extensive research, based on better numbers, on the possible ROI of creating a UWP app, and they have rejected the project based on that research. Doesn't make them right or wrong, only time will do that, but for sure their decision was made in good faith based on numbers neither you nor I have access to. Also, because of their extensive use of these numbers, I highly doubt posting simplistic ROI scenarios is going to change their mind.

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Would you use a Windows 10 Sonos controller app?

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