The new Sonos Mobile App & Web App

If you're not grown-up enough you will wait few weeks (or months) anyway. Because you don't have other choice... This is what is all about here. The released version of the app is not ready in any way for official release and all missing functionality was not mentioned at all. Second day after the release and SONOS officials still act like this mess was planned but not accidental. If this was planned then I don't see any point in defending it. If it was accidental then where is the “road map” of getting out of the mess. Restoring simple feature as sleep timer in July sounds ridiculous, Not mention the not working trueplay for some products, playing only one song from local storage when you press play and all other stuff reported already which obviously is covering the definition of “bug” rather than “new features to be added”.

And after all If all that push was is related with 7th of May Sonos Reports Second Quarter Fiscal 2024 Results then situation becomes self-explanatory and indefensible at the same time. 

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. 

 

 

 

Fix it!

Expecting a lot more from SONOS

I can not even program a playlist

Is there any way to selectively disable updates only for the Sonos app? 

i.e. allow all apps to auto-update except Sonos?

Unfortunately, not. At least not that I’m aware of.

I think when people comment on the design, they’re thinking purely about how things are presented.

The reality, though, is that the navigation paradigms set out in the new Sonos app are an absolute disaster. Here’s some of what I’ve noticed:

1. I tap on a source like Spotify, and it loads a sheet. However, there is now a back button outside of that sheet at the top left. That’s supposed to indicate that I’m in a stack, but I’m not; I’m at the root level of a sheet. When I tap the back button, it closes the sheet, but I can’t swipe back and instead have to swipe down. If I go down a level, I can now swipe back. The back arrow should be inside the sheet, not outside.

2. When you’re multiple levels down a stack and tap "Settings," you might think you can just tap that back button, right? Nope. You have to swipe down and start again. This could have been solved by just having the sheet take over the top bar and treating it like any other native app would.

3. Swiping down doesn’t work in many situations, e.g., context menus that slide up, which only pulls down the content in the menu. I have to reach up and slide down. Why didn’t they just use native context menus?

I could honestly keep going for ages. I can see what they were trying to achieve with the sheets, and I’m sure with a bit of care and attention, they can get there. However, what’s present at the moment feels like a mess of concepts that intentionally try to rethink what works on native apps rather than leaning into the platforms themselves.

Also everything just takes up far too much space to the detriment of the content itself.

I can’t understand two things about this fiasco.

The first is why Sonos needs to faff around with what is a glorified remote, and in so doing, break things  from how things were. What is the need for this waste and this is something I have not understood since 2018 when there already was a good remote via the app even then. Is this like getting bored with your car after some months of use and change just because you can? What a colossal first world problem and what a waste of resources in trying to solve it.

Second is why if they must do this, release it in this manner. Why not wait till it was ready in all respects except for some bugs? What is the existential crisis that can be the only reason for such a rush job? Why not release this in September, for instance?

Plus one severely disappointed by the new app. It’s not feature complete and should never have been released.

Also a bit of appreciation for @Jamie A who seems to be handling the mop and bucket on this one. Tough job.

Yes, on Android. At least on my device. On Play Store, search for Sonos, then select it, click on the 3-dots and disable auto update

@Kumar - I don’t have a massive beef with the UI redesign other than it seems to be simply for the sake of keeping the Sonos UI college placement kids busy.  It’s the fundamental features that have been removed that are inexcusable simply for the sake of rushing the development cycle to meet a self imposed deadline.