Prominent Collaborator I

Feedback on Actual Usage of New Sonos App

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
May 7, 2024
93 replies
6430 views

Just installed the iPad version. Definitely do not like the app compared to the old one.

The new app feels way more busier, due to everything being thrown at you at once (which was their design intention). I’m not saying this approach can’t work though. I’m just saying that the way they designed it, it doesn’t feel right.

In terms of the look and feel, it feels less stylish to me and more cheap. Like it feels like I’m using the Amazon Alexa app (which I hate). The album covers are smaller and not as pronounced, compared to the previous apps recents area.

And the Now Playing screen on the iPad?! Like WTF? Why is there a gap around it showing the interface area behind it (ie Home area)? Why isn’t it full screen (and without rounded corners)? Makes zero design sense, as it’s super distracting, only adding to the busy feeling of the screen. Also see no option to make the app dark instead of light.

All said and done, this just makes me want to not use the app at all, unless there are substantial improvements made to it.

PS. I seem to be having occasional issues loading the app or returning to it, as everything in the app just pulses, as if it’s trying to reload the images / content.

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J

joepl

Lyricist II

I called SONOS today on the issues and the response was that they did not receive any complaint on the new app. WTF the internet is full of complaints. Under which stone do your helpdesk people live?

N

Nemo656

Lyricist III

You said "We have long received feedback on the “clunkiness” of the previous app" I'm calling BS. Every software development team says this when they screwed something up. The developers should be fired. The manager that approved this shit show should be fired. After the update the Sonos app thinks I have rewired my system. It thinks I now have SPDIF. I haven't touched any hardware since this system was installed 3 months ago. I have mobility issues and do not have the ability to change or even touch any of the wires or cables in the system. So now what? I've spent thousands of dollars on an unusable system. Please provide a link to the previous app so this can be rolled back. This is totally unacceptable!!!! If I have to have a technician come to my home (remember I have mobility issues) is Sonos going to pay for that? Because what you've done is destroy a perfectly working system with this absurd excuse of an update.

C

castalla

Local Superstar

Okay - I get the library listed and the tracks play BUT there's no artwork (full colour on the old S2😁).

In fact, the whole interface reminds me of the html webpages my undergraduates were producing 20 years ago as coursework 🙄

It's the courageous bee's knees - all 6 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝. - - - - - Make Sonos Great Again - - - - -

N

NollindAuthor

Prominent Collaborator I

And the Now Playing screen on the iPad?! Like WTF? Why is there a gap around it showing the interface area behind it (ie Home area)? Why isn’t it full screen (and without rounded corners)? Makes zero design sense, as it’s super distracting, only adding to the busy feeling of the screen. Also see no option to make the app dark instead of light.

All the above applies to the Android app, also. For comparison, here's the Wiim Now Playing screen (note the metadata also!)

Indeed. Cory indicated that the companies goal was to make the Sonos app “more in line with other music apps.”

Yet most other music apps (especially their iPad versions) have a look & feel, as well as functionality, seemingly vastly superior to the new Sonos app. Even the Amazon Music Unlimited app, which a lot of people dislike and feel it should be improved, seems like a dream to use now in comparison to the Sonos app. So it’s hilarious how something worse makes you rethink and appreciate what you thought was bad before.

I actually dumped the Amazon Music Unlimited app to use Spotify’s Spotify Connect (so as to avoid using the Sonos app, as noted above) but I just realized that I can also AlexaCast to my speakers using the Amazon Music Unlimited app and it functions somewhat basically like Spotify Connect. It doesn’t show the track metadata info this way but at least it sounds better quality than Spotify, so I can at least switch back to Amazon Music Unlimited for its sound quality (and I luckily got a 30% discount for three months in the process when resubscribing).

N

NollindAuthor

Prominent Collaborator I

Okay - I get the library listed and the tracks play BUT there's no artwork (full colour on the old S2😁).

In fact, the whole interface reminds me of the html webpages my undergraduates were producing 20 years ago as coursework 🙄

The thing I keep seeing people saying is that they can’t believe Sonos rushed out this new app, when it was obviously incomplete, but the sad thing is that is becoming the norm, more and more today, with a lot of companies. Their customer base are basically treated like beta and even alpha testers which is completely absurd. I’ve seen this with other company’s products, where they release a new version and 50% of the features will be cut. Yet the company will be raving about their newer features and won’t mention that they removed 50% of their older features. Like this just boggles my mind at their narrow-mindedness.

C

craigski

Local Superstar

Indeed. Cory indicated that the companies goal was to make the Sonos app “more in line with other music apps.”

When I installed the new App on my iPhone, my first thought is how similar this new Sonos App user interface is compared to Apple Music.

N

NollindAuthor

Prominent Collaborator I

Indeed. Cory indicated that the companies goal was to make the Sonos app “more in line with other music apps.”

When I installed the new App on my iPhone, my first thought is how similar this new Sonos App user interface is compared to Apple Music.

In what way? If its functionality and look & feel were like Apple Music, I’d be overjoyed, as I love the minimalistic nature of the Apple Music app, as well it’s Now Playing screen (which I think is the best of all music apps). To me, it’s nothing like it but note that I’m using the iPad version of the new Sonos app though.

PS. I do dislike the sidebar on the iPad version of Apple Music app though and prefer the bottoms tabs like the iPhone version has still.

C

craigski

Local Superstar

Indeed. Cory indicated that the companies goal was to make the Sonos app “more in line with other music apps.”

When I installed the new App on my iPhone, my first thought is how similar this new Sonos App user interface is compared to Apple Music.

In what way?

I’m using on iPhone (not iPad). The swipe up/down from the ‘playing’ section, scroll up/down and swipe left and right from the home screen to ‘select’ your music.

Also. similar to BBC Sounds, that I am also used to.

I previously preferred to use native Apps and AirPlay to old Sonos App, now the Sonos App feels more inline and intuitive with the Apps I am used to.

M

Martinaaaaaaaaaaaa

Contributor I

Where is the sleep timer?

It seems like many functions Har disappeared. Are they somewhere else?

It seems like the app now just looks "cool" and simple. Fine on a PowerPoint!

C

castalla

Local Superstar

It just struck me. All those Apple users stuck with the update have a simple solution - beg, steal or borrow/buy an Android phone, sideload the old S2 app. Job done.

It's the courageous bee's knees - all 6 🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝🐝. - - - - - Make Sonos Great Again - - - - -

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