Retired Sonos Staff

News

The new Sonos Mobile App & Web App

Related content:Software

Forum|Forum|2 years ago
April 23, 2024
1674 replies
97104 views

Today we are introducing the most extensive app redesign ever, creating an unprecedented streaming experience that allows listeners to organize their favorite playlists, stations, albums and more from over 100 services on one customizable Home screen.

The new Home screen provides faster access to Sonos system controls with one easy swipe up, making tab to tab jumping a thing of the past. As a leader in sound experience that’s focused on creating a better way to listen, Sonos intentionally redesigned the app on a modern software platform for an easier, faster and better experience that can support more rapid innovation.

The reimagined app supports all existing S2 products and will be available globally through a software update for the S2 mobile app.

100+ streaming services, one Home screen

The redesigned Sonos app prioritizes a listening experience that’s human - allowing you to bring your true favorites front and center and giving you more control to make your streaming experience your own.

Get into your music (and off the app) faster: No need to tap between tabs — the new Home screen serves up all your favorite content and controls, all in one place. Quickly jump back into your recently played, browse libraries and recommendations from your preferred services, and fill your home with music and all the sounds you love.
Customize and curate: Enjoy unparalleled curation by designing your Home screen to reflect how you listen. Pin rows of your favorite content and services; then move, edit, or rearrange them to your liking.
Search every streaming library: Look for an artist, song, podcast, or audiobook across all your preferred streaming apps at once via an easy-to-use search bar that’s always available right on your Home screen.
Elevated system control: Swipe up from the bottom of your Home screen to seamlessly control your entire system and access a visual overview of what’s playing on each of your products, quickly group speakers, and dial in on the perfect volume from anywhere in the app.

Accessible from any modern web browser, a brand new web app allows listeners the same seamless system control as the mobile app.

The Web App will be available alongside the redesigned mobile app on May 7, 2024.

Want to find out more about the new Sonos App? Have a look at the Info Hub section of the community for a complete rundown of the new user interface.

Here you can find the full press release.

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dave77

Headliner I

99% of the music I listen to is stored on my NAS.

For the life of me, I cannot understand why you would release apps that have inferior functionality than the previous version?

From you listening to locally stored music files SONOS cannot benefit even theoretically. But from you pushed to listen music from streaming platforms through SONOS app and gear most probably they can make a profit.

But I really wonder what they will benefit from scratching the sleep timer and alarms. And what means “these feature will be back via updates in July”...Which July, 2024 or some other July. Many things appear to be very very wrong here.

@Me40 Just as Sonos don’t make money from me listening to my local music, they don’t make any money from me listening to Spotify or Apple music or any other service that I’m aware of (except their own).

They make money from me wanting to listen to music (or TV etc) in another room and buying (or upgrading) another speaker - the same as if I wanted to listen through a service. I don’t get your point. I get the point that users listening to local files are much less than ‘streamers’ - but don’t see where the profit you referred to comes from.

I meant that they don't care if you and me have local storage of music file (as we do). But making listening of local files harder and harder makes me think that they push toward listening streaming platforms on our Sonos products and I won't be surprised if they have some agreements or at least intentions for monetarizing it.

Sonos have said previously on numerous occasions they have no commercial/financial partnership with the streaming platforms.

I agree. As mentioned earlier they also said (Patrick Spence, CEO of Sonos):

"After thorough development and testing, we are confident this redesigned app is easier, faster and better. It once again raises the bar for the home music listening experience, and sets up our ability to expand into new categories and experiences.”

I doubt the CEO will have even seen the new App, he’s probably got a Homepod

J

jaylaw64

Contributor I

Your new controller App is the single worst app update I've ever seen. You have hyped it for weeks as a revolutionary redesign. The community has been waiting for it, and it is an unmitigated disaster.

To remove major pieces of functionality in an "upgrade" release is ridiculous.

Was any beta testing with actual users done? They would have told you that you can't remove functionality, especially if you are going to remove the old version from distribution so folks can't even download.

Expecting customers to go to a Window or Mac machine to do basic functions is ridiculous. The move to mobile for all-things-web happened over 10 years ago. Were you not watching?

I've owned Sonos equipment for 15+ years and I now have 6 devices in my apartment that are my only speakers because I love the sound quality, ability to move between different rooms, playing different music in different rooms, ... all the reasons why Sonos is my choice and I frequently recommend them. I'm also a software engineer with 40+ years of experience delivering products to customers. If I was responsible for such a disasterous release, I would expect to get fired.

W

wayneo123

Collaborator II

Sonos - it’s pretty clear that the consensus of the ENTIRE INTERNET is that you screwed the pooch on this one, rendering your own products virtually useless. How do we get our money back, now that you’ve destroyed the user interface that was a primary selling point of your product line and a main feature of your (imo) false advertising????

People just need to be a little more honest with themselves and use less outrageous language.

Just above this post there were more measured comments from Ken, and I agree with his sentiments. The user interface isn’t destroyed — I rather like it better than the previous one. There are missing elements that should have been there from day one but it has mentioned over and over and over to the point of tedium that these will be coming in updates over the next few weeks. That isn’t ideal and I’m sure the intent was they would have been there from yesterday. Did they mess up — sure. But no one has died and if my alarms are missing I can always use my phone to wake me. Along with the missing pieces bugs will be fixed. Really people — I can’t believe I’m beginning to sound like Jgatie but your howls of doom and despair are now starting to feel a little bit overblown. It’s a few weeks — not ideal but you are all adults, and I’m sure you probably have more important things going on in your lives to deal with in the meantime.

People just need to be a little more honest and stop trying to defend the indefensible and sounding like a sonos fanboy.
Most of the comments aren’t related to the UX (as this is down to personal preference, you will get some like it and others not). However what has happened here, is that key functionality has been removed and for users with large libraries it runs like a dog and constantly spits out “Something went wrong” messages.
There is an easy fix for this, which is to have the original app available to download while the new one is fixed. The streamers and the sonos fanboys can then use the new one whilst those with local libraries can use the old version.
This will then bring an end to the comments.

All Sonos products replaced due to appalling app and sheer arrogance of CEO.

R

rrrnyc

Trending Lyricist I

Today we are introducing the most extensive app redesign ever, creating an unprecedented streaming experience that allows listeners to organize their favorite playlists, stations, albums and more from over 100 services on one customizable Home screen.

The new Home screen provides faster access to Sonos system controls with one easy swipe up, making tab to tab jumping a thing of the past. As a leader in sound experience that’s focused on creating a better way to listen, Sonos intentionally redesigned the app on a modern software platform for an easier, faster and better experience that can support more rapid innovation.

The reimagined app supports all existing S2 products and will be available globally through a software update for the S2 mobile app.

100+ streaming services, one Home screen

The redesigned Sonos app prioritizes a listening experience that’s human - allowing you to bring your true favorites front and center and giving you more control to make your streaming experience your own.

Get into your music (and off the app) faster: No need to tap between tabs — the new Home screen serves up all your favorite content and controls, all in one place. Quickly jump back into your recently played, browse libraries and recommendations from your preferred services, and fill your home with music and all the sounds you love.
Customize and curate: Enjoy unparalleled curation by designing your Home screen to reflect how you listen. Pin rows of your favorite content and services; then move, edit, or rearrange them to your liking.
Search every streaming library: Look for an artist, song, podcast, or audiobook across all your preferred streaming apps at once via an easy-to-use search bar that’s always available right on your Home screen.
Elevated system control: Swipe up from the bottom of your Home screen to seamlessly control your entire system and access a visual overview of what’s playing on each of your products, quickly group speakers, and dial in on the perfect volume from anywhere in the app.

Accessible from any modern web browser, a brand new web app allows listeners the same seamless system control as the mobile app.

The Web App will be available alongside the redesigned mobile app on May 7, 2024.

Want to find out more about the new Sonos App? Have a look at the Info Hub section of the community for a complete rundown of the new user interface.

Here you can find the full press release.

Please read the feedback from your users to the app update on multiple websites/Play Store/App Store. The update is a complete disaster and many basic features are gone. Which makes using an expensive music system unusable. You have a huge issue on your hands.

A

Anonymous

I've owned Sonos equipment for 15+ years and I now have 6 devices in my apartment that are my only speakers because I love the sound quality, ability to move between different rooms, playing different music in different rooms, ... all the reasons why Sonos is my choice and I frequently recommend them. I'm also a software engineer with 40+ years of experience delivering products to customers. If I was responsible for such a disasterous release, I would expect to get fired.

I’ve owned Sonos kit also for 15years. I had 4 devices in my last house and I have 10 devices in my current house.

I am not a software engineer, but I am able to wait the few weeks until the next update to reinstate the at least some of the missing elements and fix at least some of the bugs.

A

Anonymous

Sonos - it’s pretty clear that the consensus of the ENTIRE INTERNET is that you screwed the pooch on this one, rendering your own products virtually useless. How do we get our money back, now that you’ve destroyed the user interface that was a primary selling point of your product line and a main feature of your (imo) false advertising????

People just need to be a little more honest with themselves and use less outrageous language.

Just above this post there were more measured comments from Ken, and I agree with his sentiments. The user interface isn’t destroyed — I rather like it better than the previous one. There are missing elements that should have been there from day one but it has mentioned over and over and over to the point of tedium that these will be coming in updates over the next few weeks. That isn’t ideal and I’m sure the intent was they would have been there from yesterday. Did they mess up — sure. But no one has died and if my alarms are missing I can always use my phone to wake me. Along with the missing pieces bugs will be fixed. Really people — I can’t believe I’m beginning to sound like Jgatie but your howls of doom and despair are now starting to feel a little bit overblown. It’s a few weeks — not ideal but you are all adults, and I’m sure you probably have more important things going on in your lives to deal with in the meantime.

People just need to be a little more honest and stop trying to defend the indefensible and sounding like a sonos fanboy.
Most of the comments aren’t related to the UX (as this is down to personal preference, you will get some like it and others not). However what has happened here, is that key functionality has been removed and for users with large libraries it runs like a dog and constantly spits out “Something went wrong” messages.
There is an easy fix for this, which is to have the original app available to download while the new one is fixed. The streamers and the sonos fanboys can then use the new one whilst those with local libraries can use the old version.
This will then bring an end to the comments.

I have a local library and I am experiencing issues as well. I also know that fixes are in the pipeline.

However I take back my comment that all here are adults. Once you start bandying about insults (‘fanboy’? — childish, but also incorrect) you’ve already lost the argument. I won’t engage in any further discourse with you.

R

ravens

Lyricist II

I am a software engineer and no company I've ever worked for has treated customers so badly. You're right that the first version is usually best avoided but that's very difficult here. Most people have probably got automatic updates turned on so their system gets hosed before they have a chance to stop it. If this were a uni project it'd struggle to get more than a 2.2 because the fundamentals have been forgotten. If it turned out on examination that trashing existing customer functionality was deliberate then that would be a fail.

Bumper

I've owned Sonos equipment for 15+ years and I now have 6 devices in my apartment that are my only speakers because I love the sound quality, ability to move between different rooms, playing different music in different rooms, ... all the reasons why Sonos is my choice and I frequently recommend them. I'm also a software engineer with 40+ years of experience delivering products to customers. If I was responsible for such a disasterous release, I would expect to get fired.

I’ve owned Sonos kit also for 15years. I had 4 devices in my last house and I have 10 devices in my current house.

I am not a software engineer, but I am able to wait the few weeks until the next update to reinstate the at least some of the missing elements and fix at least some of the bugs.

It’s only going to be a few weeks until they fix this? source?

C

castalla

Local Superstar

I am a software engineer and no company I've ever worked for has treated customers so badly. You're right that the first version is usually best avoided but that's very difficult here. Most people have probably got automatic updates turned on so their system gets hosed before they have a chance to stop it. If this were a uni project it'd struggle to get more than a 2.2 because the fundamentals have been forgotten. If it turned out on examination that trashing existing customer functionality was deliberate then that would be a fail.

It would be Fail in any decent university.

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

R

rrrnyc

Trending Lyricist I

For everyone looking for a way to go back to the previous version. I am sharing below the steps from a fellow forum user. They worked for me. This is for Android users. First remember to uninstall the existing Sonos app from your phone.

“Went to apkmirror.com on my phone browser, and downloaded Sonos 16.1 (arm64 v8a). Then opened the download folder and ran the install. (You may have to select the permissions on your phone to allow you to do that). Following install I turned off wi-fi and mobile data, then went to play store and selected do not automatically update apps. Then turned wi-fi and mobile data back on, then ran the app and signed in.”

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