Playbar refresh in 2018?

... I'm sure there are many non-tech people who can plug in an optical connection, but can't figure out which HDMI port on their TV is ARC enabled.Really?? :?

People can work out how to use smartphones, setting up the current PlayBar but cannot work out which HDMI port to use, not even by trial and error?

I am such a non-tech person and for me plugging in a optical connection is far harder as even when I am sure I have it the right way up I always worry about snapping the cable or connector.

... I'm sure there are many non-tech people who can plug in an optical connection, but can't figure out which HDMI port on their TV is ARC enabled.Really?? :?

People can work out how to use smartphones, setting up the current PlayBar but cannot work out which HDMI port to use, not even by trial and error?

I am such a non-tech person and for me plugging in a optical connection is far harder as even when I am sure I have it the right way up I always worry about snapping the cable or connector.

I would say that most people don't really know what ARC is, but from what I've seen it's usually clearly labeled. It should be easy enough to instruct a consumer how to set it up. However, I would bet there are still a lot of tvs out there without ARC, or an hdmi out, so perhaps the optical connection is the way to go. But honestly, I really don't know hdmi connections all that well, nor have I looked into the it's evolution all that much.

Indeed, I can think of many people in the presumed Sonos userbase, perhaps typified by "older folks" who just don't know how technology works, and wants it to "just plug in and work". Sonos (appropriately in my mind) tends to cater to this large group of people and I can imagine that they want to continue to do so. The larger the market is that they're tapping in to, the better for them. Remember, the only way that they make money is selling hardware. They make zero income on those of us who use their equipment once we've purchased our speakers.

You would think for a company that only makes money from hardware sales they would be bring out new revisions more often - like a new playbar every couple of years - I know I would upgrade and buy a new one each time, just like I do with my phone

I would suggest that the cost of development is rather large for something like that. I'm sure Sonos' sales department would love that, though.

It looks like Sonos is getting ready for an IPO, perhaps the extra cash will allow for extra research and development

They make zero income on those of us who use their equipment once we've purchased our speakers.

Really? You may want to have another look at that user policy.

HDMI = no brainer
Lossless Audio
HDMI CEC for better control.

where do I sign?

They make zero income on those of us who use their equipment once we've purchased our speakers.

Really? You may want to have another look at that user policy.

Do you mean this:

We respect privacy and your rights to control your personal data. Our principle guidelines are simple. We will be clear about the data we collect and why. Your data is sacredly protected by us. We do not and will not sell your data to third parties. [...]

That would make a lot of sense. I'm sure there are many non-tech people who can plug in an optical connection, but can't figure out which HDMI port on their TV is ARC enabled.

Usually it is clearly written on it, for example on Samsung TVs.