The new Sonos Mobile App & Web App

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. 

 

 

 

I installed the new App on my iPhone an iPad and lost one of the most liked features: the Sleep Timer and the Alarms 😒.  Moreover, while listening to my music library’s playlists, the queues are empty or the app shows an error occurred. Frankly, I am very disappointed about SONOS quality control. Like many others on the forum I turned to SonoPad to get better control of my devices.

Nouvelle version du logiciel de contrôle V80.0 sur les iPhone ne fonctionne pas ! trop de bug: long, pas de suivi des morceaux, agis très lentement sur les actions de volume. 

It probably depends which country you’re in, how long you have owned the system and whether the now-missing features were present at time of purchase.

If you happen to be in the UK I suspect the Consumer Rights Act 2015 might be relevant. It provides some protections (separate from general store/manufacturer warranties) on product quality (including durability) and whether products are fit-for-purpose and as described. Depending on product it can apply for up to 6 years after purchase. However I have no expertise in this area or any prior experience making a claim via this route so I’m just thinking out loud really. Summary info here: https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/consumer-rights-act-aKJYx8n5KiSl.

If not in UK might be worth looking for similar consumer rights laws in your country.

In desperation I just tried the new web app. It's the same as the Android app, with the same deficient UI. This may explain why the Android app is so bad. Web apps can be as good as native apps, but often aren't, because it's too easy to create them (in my experience as a software engineer). Good software takes time to mature; however, your dedicated user base shouldn't be made to suffer while it does. Bring back the old app, turn the new one into a pre-beta preview release, do it now Sonos, and then you might not start haemorrhaging customers.

Will the Windows11 Desktop application be updated?

Yes, it is "only" an app, but what Sonos is doing is not courageous or ignorant, but highly damaging to their business:

Since the software is an existential part of the product, the manufacturer cannot simply reduce advertised functions that have been available for years under common law unilaterally and without reason. If the functions are not usable again after a deadline (here I see 21.05), all devices still under warranty should be able to be returned. Even with older devices, I see good opportunities here under European law.

Sonos has completely gambled away its reputation as a premium provider with this business conduct. With the best will in the world, you can't recommend such a dubious manufacturer to anyone.

The announced new products (headphones etc.) will also suffer from this disaster.

As far as i am aware,later in time, the Desktop app will be terminated as it is replaced by the web app. But someone correct me if i'm wrong.

I believe from what they have said you are correct. Also they say they are dropping SMBv1 in favour of 2 and 3. Most home routers only provide SMBv1 so that will mean a purchase of a NAS device and as of today Sonos version of SMBv2 will not index large libraries without crashing out with an error. I have been using SMBv1 with Sonos for close on 20years without being hacked by the Chinese as it is all sitting behind my router's firewall. That will just complete this car crash of an "update".

I have not invested in any more equipment recently (except a Roam for the garden) then last being two Gen 2 Play 5s so I have been able to revert to S1. What a breath of fresh air S1 is with it's uncluttered design and total reliability. I am happy to sacrifice the Roam integration (does not do S1) and will use it as a Bluetooth speaker now.

A Raspberry Pi would be a cheaper option than a fully fledged NAS device.