Your feedback on the new Sonos App

Willyeckerslike…. Good News.  I went to the link that you posted and then did the following.

1. Updated my Sonos firmware
2. Updated the Sonos desktop controller on our iMac
3. Updated the Sonos mobile app (iOS)
4. Ran “Update Music Library” on the desktop controller
5. Ran “Reset the App” on the mobile app.

After that, I scrolled to Your Sources on the mobile app and, my music library that had been missing since May of 2024, was there and… it worked.

Thanks very much for that link, Will.  It took me a day or two to “go for it” but, for now, it was worth it. It’s my hope that it sticks and that Sonos won’t violate the “If it ain’t broken, don’t fix it” rule. 😊

Brad

Thats great to hear Brad 😊 

Thanks, Will.  I have another question for the general populous now.  Since updating my Sonos firmware, it has locked me out of my upstairs Office music library as I’m running an old Mac OS an older version of the S2 app.  (the firmware updated ALL of my speakers - including my old Play 1s that I only use in my Office) So, I trashed the S2 app in my Office and used a previous download to reinstall it.  But… even after choosing Reset the App, it goes back to the update screen and gives me the Install Update or Rest the App again.  If I choose install update, it will fail due to my old OS. Any suggestions?

Brad

What is the ‘old’ OS?

The firmware you updated also likely requires a minimum controller version, which is one reason I’d recommend downloading a new copy and installing it, I suspect your ‘saved’ install isn’t ‘new’ enough, hence the version mismatch between what the firmware on your speakers are running, and the version of the controller. 

It’s entirely possible, given this ‘older’ OS, that Sonos doesn’t support it. If so, I’d be tempted to try the new web version. 

Thanks, Bruce. I get it. I was able to retro-grade a while back but, after this firmware upgrade, the S2 app ain’t havin’ it. I’m stuck in the loop of Join Existing System only to be brought back out to the point depicted in the screen grab that I posted. And, as you mentioned, Sonos doesn’t support Mojave any longer.

Once my wife is done with using her new-ish iMac downstairs, I’m gonna shut it down and see if I can still play music up in my office which is basically a geriatric (in terms of hardware/software age) stand-alone area. I’ll try that using the newly updated Sonos mobile app.  If it doesn’t work, I’ll try other avenues. I’m happy that Sonos engineering finally got me back in touch with our downstairs setup. And, thank you for your input over the past year.  Brad

Just as a note, Sonos doesn’t care about other connected controllers. It only looks at the firmware on the speakers/devices, and the individual controller trying to connect to the system. It shouldn’t make any difference if your wife’s controller is connected or not. 
 

And you’re welcome. ;)

Good to know, Bruce. I may trying connecting via the Sonos Web app to see if it’s more desirable than it was months ago.  IMHO it wasn’t very functional but, not much was back then as it pertained to my particular situation and needs.  I appreciate you guys with next level savvy making yourselves available.

It seems strange to me that the fact that Sonos does not have an app for a certain OS anymore, would make a difference for the system finding the library that is on that system. Am I wrong in thinking the system only needs the right path to the Mac and not also a working controller on that Mac?

I tried updating the controller on my old iMac/OS but I think my days of riding the horse till it died has come. I can still access my music library on the old system without my wife’s new iMac - with all the updates - being on.  For lack of having a better understanding, the speakers have retained something in-network that retained said library.  That led me to re-read your notation that “… it only looks at the firmware on the speakers/devices, and the individual controller trying to connnect to the system.” In this case, I didn’t have the old controller to use so, I’m assuming that the iPhone app is now THE controller. Yes?

The one concern I had remaining was being able to Update the Music Library without my prehistoric desktop controller but, under Settings on the mobile app, I found Scan for New Content.

Thanks again, Bruce.

Yo, 106rallye… I asked a similar question just now of Airgetlam. Basically, after updating the firmware in my speakers yesterday, I lost the ability to use the Sonos desktop controller on my older iMac.  My immediate thought was that I’d lost access to that music altogether but, as of the recent updates, I regained my once lost music library (stored on an external USB drive connected to a new iMac) and now, my controller is my mobile app (iOS).  Where that information is stored, I don’t know but, I bet Airgetlam (Bruce) does.

Yes. Pretty much all data is stored on the application running on the speakers/devices themselves. The controller is merely a window through which you see what is there, there’s almost no information stored in the controller. 

You’re again most welcome. 

You’re a wealth of knowledge. I need to get more “Knowed Up.”

Heh, thanks, I think. A combination of curiosity, and a slight knowledge of how systems work. I’m not an expert in everything, by a long shot. There are a lot of users here on this forum that know a lot more than I. I’ve learned a lot just from reading their posts, but I haven’t processed everything.
 

Plus I’ve been using Sonos for well over a decade, although not from the very beginning. ;) They’re the best I’ve found so far, that meets my needs. 

I meant it. Compared to you, I’m a novice. I’ve owned my gear since 2014 but never really needed to sleuth anything (to this extent) since I’ve owned it. You’ve helped me understand how the system operates and what controls what yet, I’m sure that I’ll have more questions.  I’m hoping though that it’s all behind me now that I have my library back.

Unfortunately for me after nearly one year of using the old app my iPhone has upgraded to the new app😒

luckily for me I noticed before I opened it and have deleted it so my speakers are still on 16.1.1

i do have the older s2 on my iPad here’s hoping that doesn’t get forced updated

also I can still control my speakers volume and grouping from the sono+ widget app so that’s good 

I don’t use the Sonos app for anything so it’s good that I can still use the hardware 👍

I have been using a WiiM ultra for all my music needs plugged into my 5s works well but I am sad that even though auto updates are off and I never use update all the crap app still managed to install itself on my phone 

So… here’s an update on my newly discovered music library post-app/firmware updates:

While playing music, the songs will skip, stutter and sometimes stop completely.  There isn’t any other WiFi traffic in the house that would cause an interruption like this so, I’m assuming it’s due to the app needing more tweaking. Hopefully that’ll come soon. It seems like I’ve read things like this happening to others.

After making my weekend beer run, I have another update regarding my newly reacquired Sonos library.  Whereas the Sonos iPhone app experienced skipping, stuttering and unexpected stoppage of music, Sonophone (stable German mobile app) showed none of those hiccups. To make it fair, I played the same songs as before.

Yesterday, I also tried connecting to the Sonos Web App.  When you launch it, you’re prompted to sign into your account.  I did but… it would have nothing to do with me.  I’m not at all upset about that because, I’m not interested in it.

Now, I’m going back to the Sonos app and attempted to play the exact same song that burped previously. The observations are as follows:  No skipping, stuttering or stopping. The only thing this time around was that the screen showing my Zone listed the song/album as “Unknown.”

I suppose, at this point, I’m at an impasse. Have a good weekend Sonos seekers.

Brad

Have you recently tried the new app to see if it works instead of constantly pre-emptively assuming it’s going to ruin your system??

It’s all a bit rubbish still. Personally thinking of forking out for the Sonophone app. Certainly Sonos is getting a Zac out of me until they get their act together.

No as I would need to upgrade the firmware on the speakers and after 10 months of not using the Sonos app anymore I am happy using the WiiM app for music and the sono+ widget for grouping and volume 

also I have no intention of buying any Sonos gear anymore so I will replace it all eventually anyway 

thanks for replying though 😊

Silverthorn wrote:

Rhonny wrote:

skullc wrote:

Unfortunately for me after nearly one year of using the old app my iPhone has upgraded to the new app😒

 

Have you recently tried the new app to see if it works instead of constantly pre-emptively assuming it’s going to ruin your system??

It’s all a bit rubbish still. Personally thinking of forking out for the Sonophone app. Certainly Sonos is getting a Zac out of me until they get their act together.

 

 

 

 

The Sonophone app is solid and inexpensive. Think no longer. But it. Stefan is a good guy and deserves the $$.

Another Sonos iOS release a few days ago, and after almost a year some key missing functionality appears to have finally been restored -  whoohoo

So I can now edit and save the current queue to a Sonos playist.

Adding a new speaker to a playing group seems to be much faster (1 or 2 second delay before music starts compared to ~30 seconds)

Volume controls seem much more responsive.

So some (slow) positive progress, but still some outstanding items I’d like to see restored sooner rather than later (perhaps on the 1 year anniversary of the update?)

• Still cannot revert to playing the loaded queue after listening to the radio or TV

• Still cannot delete an alarm

• Still does not auto scroll to the currently playing track when viewing the queue

• Still no A-Z scrolling through search lists

I’m seeing some odd behaviours since the last update. I wasn’t aware of it, but presume it happened. 

I do see improvements in the volume control responsiveness as RavingDave stated … BUT

• Playing Spotify through Sonos: 
  • with playlists stopping randomly,
  • track playing screens not advancing. Stuck on say track 3 with track 4 playing.
• Mixcloud service through Sonos App: 
  • previously, selecting a Mixcloud show from the feed would play that show - not anymore. It selects the first show/track in the Sonos queue, but fails to play
  • Previously, shows playing could be skipped forwards and back to next or previous show IN THE FEED - not anymore.
  • Only way I can play a show is either by selecting Play Now or adding to the queue.  Next and previous controls only seem to work with the Sonos Queue. 

surely its possible to improve an app without breaking or changing previous functionality that worked. 

What was in a the past a slick and pleasant user experience, is now one filled with micro annoyances and frustrations on a regular basis. How difficult can it really be to develop an app to play music on your proprietary devices when you had one that ALREADY WORKED. 

Missing essential functionality for almost a year now - come one Sonos

• Still cannot revert to playing the loaded queue after listening to the radio or TV
• Still does not auto scroll to the currently playing track when viewing the queue
• Still no A-Z scrolling through search lists

I hope that I can explain this propertly. After the most recent updates, I actually got my Music Library to reappear on the Sonos mobile app (iOS).  But, I can’t update the desktop controller on my dedicated office system (just 2 Play 1s) due to an old operating system. Before, I was able to reinstall the old S2 but after the latest firmware upgrade, no longer.  That, I understand.

So what I’m experiencing now on the my office system is that I can play music using my iPhone app as the controller but, on the tab at the bottom of the screen, the song/artist is “Unknown.”  Apparently, in my case, it needs a functional desktop controller to be able to show this information.  ??

Also, the music will skip, stall and basically be unstable. It’s doing that as I write this. I have our downstairs computer on - which has an updated and fully functional S2 desktop controller - and I thought that would help relay the music/signal up to my office.  I don’t like to have that computer on when I’m up in my office as the Libraries are independent of one another, and don’t like to have it on just to play music upstairs. Does this make sense?

I’m still trying to find my way around this mobile app.  In my office, I preferred to uses the desktop controller.  Hmm.  Hopefully this will be fixed soon.
Brad