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pops44
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March 12, 2016
Question

Yesterdays (March 11th, 2016) Sonos Anouncment

  • March 12, 2016
  • 112 replies
  • 4912 views
Not as much talk about yesterdays sonos anouncment as I would have expected from such a passionate community. So what are people thinking?

Obviously Amazon Echo has impacted SONOS but how do you go from hiring new people and planning a retail store to cutting staff?

What's next ? Should we be concered about making more current investments in sonos hardware (I really want to buy a sub)?

People have been posting for months about voice support and for years about DTS.

The standard response is sonos doesn't comment on future enhancements or new products.

We know what we have today and there pretty darn good products but we all want to be excited and look forward to what's coming next.
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      chicks
      chicks
      January 15, 2019
      My speculation:

      Sonos will use an existing voice enablement service; it would take years to develop their own. Likely Houndify, which is as capable as Alexa.
      https://www.houndify.com/

      They will sell a standalone microphone array device, small and possibly portable, so it could also be used for room tuning. Later, they will integrate microphone array into new/refreshed speaker line.

      They will begin to work with one of the home automation providers, probably one that already integrates with the voice service they choose.

      Interesting. So you think Sonos is going whole hog in taking on Amazon instead of utilizing the Echo/Alexa interface. Ambitious take. I can see it happening, but will/can they be that bold? One thing I do agree, they are going to use/aquire outside tech. There's no way they can start from scratch. Which may be why they are cleaning up, it could be opening up space (financial and work space) for new talent. It may be that the base tech is pretty set, and new blood is needed.

      Well, I was WAY wrong on this speculation two years ago. @jgatie was correct, they went with Alexa, not Houndify. I did get the part about the new speaker(s) with integrated mics correct, though! ;)

      What I MEANT to say back then was that PANDORA was going to integrate Houndify. :D

      https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/01/15/pandora-app-gets-voice-controls-powered-by-soundhound/
        melvimbe
        melvimbe
        January 15, 2019


        Well, I was WAY wrong on this speculation two years ago. @jgatie was correct, they went with Alexa, not Houndify. I did get the part about the new speaker(s) with integrated mics correct, though! ;)

        What I MEANT to say back then was that PANDORA was going to integrate Houndify. :D

        https://www.androidpolice.com/2019/01/15/pandora-app-gets-voice-controls-powered-by-soundhound/

        I honestly don't care to have a nother voice control thing on my phone. Alexa, Google, and Bixby is more than enough. I rarely use the Pandora app directly, but when I do, i can't imagine I'll be using voice control.

        As for Sonos going with Houndify, I wouldn't be too surprise they eventually adopt some sort of 3rd party voice assistant at somepoint in the future. Amazon and Google don't/can't give Sonos all the music related features that they would want, and also tend to push Sonos in directions they don't want to go. A 3rd party option could be very useful if gives Sonos the flexiblity to get voice control features that fit their system better.
        Danny
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