New Sonos app removes key features - beware!

Yes, this is what I feared, it seems the writing is on the wall.

However there is a workaround if you can run Plex media server on your network. See :

As a HEOS owner (via Marantz built-in), that platform has its own issues despite very real improvements to its interface and recent upgrade to Tidal allowing for hi-res streaming. Their integration with local libraries is quirky at best, plus they don’t support Qobuz.

However, unlike Sonos, their app is progressing forward, not regressing backward. Why, for the life of me, would Sonos separate access to a NAS library from music sources then compound the issue by removing the letters on the right side of the screen allowing me to click on a “U” for U2 is beyond me. I won’t get into the issue of not building my own queue, which I frequently do when listening to an original version and cover versions of a particular song.

With this update, Bluesound currently has the most user friendly and customizable app, due as much to their improvements as much as Sonos’ abdication of this as a goal. 

Yeah but that’s not the product I bought. 
 

I’m guessing none of this works when you lose internet but still have a local network. I suspect a whole lot of this new app is running data through Sonos servers, particularly things like search. 

I am doing fine with the new app.   I miss the Add to Queue and Sleep Timer features.  One plus is that it seems to be dealing better, though slowly, with 2000-3000 song playlists…   I should try the Web app.
 

I maintain playlists in Apple Music, and syncing from Apple Music to Sonos still works.   I could never load my playlists into Local Library.

Yes indeed, the backend seems to run on Sonos servers. For instance to link your local Sonos system to the local Plex media server accessing files on your local NAS, you need to allow access to Plex from a server in the USA. Talk about efficiency.

In any case I am not trying to justify Sonos bad decisions, I am just trying to find a way for my hardware not to end up useless.

It’s quite clear that this ambitious software update was a fail. In the speed, quality, feature trade off, for some reason they over indexed on speed. In my experience for both internal apps and importantly products for our customers, we say, we don’t go backwards. Feature or functionality are removed only after a thorough approval process and generally only with a documented work around. 

launching a product and specifically saying key missing features will be added in the future, is essentially releasing a beta products as a general release. This release would be a very decent beta for those users wanting to explore new functionality. As a user losing key functionalities some that are  core to my system and that I use every day is a disaster
 

I agree with all the issues posted here and I want to add that on Android, the new app removed the widget completely. Something that I used almost exclusively. This is definitely an MVP release that was rushed out to meet a deadline on someone’s performance sheet because it is not ready for public release at this time. Sonos should roll back, fix everything until it matches the functionality of the last version, then release it...even if it takes months.

Smart Home Sounds who are a big Sonos partner in the UK have just published some time frames on missing features.

Unfortunately as with most app launches nowadays, this isn't the finished article just yet. While the Sonos S2 App has launched with a solid foundation, some users might have noticed a few missing features including the ability to edit playlists and queues (frustrating we know). Here's some good news! We can confirm they are on their way and we've been able to compile a timeline for some of the crucial additions Sonos is expected to bring in the coming months:

Auto Trueplay / Quicktune Era (100 & Era 300) - Arriving in Late May

Snooze Alarms - Coming in June

Google Assistant Setup on Android - Coming in June

Sleep Timers - Coming in July

Find Missing Products Tool - Coming in July

Offline Devices - Coming in July

Queue & Playlist Editing - Coming in July

Source (scroll to the bottom) - The NEW Sonos App is Here: 5 Things You Need To Know! (smarthomesounds.co.uk)

I’ve written to Patrick, the CEO as well

The quality is simply not there, SONOs is too mature a company, to be releasing MVP upgrades, which regress the product and degrade the User Experience.

Experienced everything on this topic

Upon upgrading, all of my services have vanished - whilst attempting to re-add, the SONOS app simply times out.

Additionally, some very basic functions have vanished.

- The sleep timer function is gone.

- The alarm functions are gone.

Time is money. Do you have the time to spend, rebuilding a working system? I don’t.  

Additionally, I’m now going to be getting called by all of my relatives asking for support  - and from reviewing the forums, I will be powerless to help them.

I’d love to know why SONOS have decided that the sleep and alarm functions are superfluousness.

Why is it acceptable to release an ‘update’, that is a functional regression?

1. Can’t add a song to the queue.
2. It’s removed my Move Speaker and I can’t re-add it. I can’t even use it as a bluetooth speaker.
3. The Mac App no longer recognises my system.
4. Conclusion - completely unusable.
5. I’ve been fed up with connection issues for a long time and now using my JBL bluetooth speaker - completely reliable after 8 years.