Update on the Sonos App from Patrick Spence

What? You said “Sonos didn’t support mesh systems, but now maybe they do?” That was posed as a question. I answered the question. What was wrong with that? Jeez…

(I also edited my post earlier to say that others had also seen success.)

Has Sonos always supported mesh? Has that changed. Your use of a mesh system means Sonos supports mesh always has always will. Jeez……...

Sonosnet changes seems to be a benefit for Sonos not customers.

No, it’s an issue when you leave it on. If you turn off the wireless in your speakers that are plugged in, then that is how you tell Sonos not to use Sonosnet. Sonosnet uses STP to manage the internal network between nodes if it is the STP root bridge. However, these days Sonos is not alone in wanting to control that and some systems use a lower default root bridge value and takeover… Sky Q in the UK for example used to do this… 

Sonosnet requires one speaker or Boost/Bridge to be wired with the wireless also on to create/manage Sonosnet. 

This old requirement is dropped for WiFi only and the new Era/Move/Roam speakers don’t support Sonosnet either now, or come with a built in ethernet connector. 

Yes. It's the change in the new speakers driving the change. I don't see that as addressing general customer issues but a cost benefit analysis for Sonos.

I’m using Sonosnet, I think -- I can't verify  in the app anymore, and it seems “fast” enough to play my music, a mesh system isn't going to play my music “faster”.

I’m suspect if Sonosnet was viable via the dongles this wouldn't be a topic of conversation. Clue me up.

I love it that those of us who’ve been around a while remember all these hints & tips. I used to study my network matrix semi-regularly, but now that’s less useful with Era speakers.

I no longer use Sonosnet. My Boost is somewhere in my loft gathering dust. Might prove useful one day for an upgrade credit (in the past I used a Bridge to get a chunky discount off a Sub at Richer Sounds).

FWIW, on iOS the free version of Phonos Plus is a great way of seeing whether a speaker is using Wi-Fi or Sonosnet as it’s reported under ‘Wireless Mode’ in the detail for each speaker.

You're prediction is somewhat true, but only because people are frustrated with the continuing issues with an app that was touted as a great improvement for SONOS users, but had proven to be quite the opposite. 

We have all spent a great deal of money on our SONOS equipment, and until now, have been happy with our systems. The "bugs" that were "found" would have been discovered pre-release, if more rigorous testing had been performed.  Certainly, issues will always "slip through" when a large-scale app retooling is released; but the sheer magnitude of undetected issues with this release is beyond comprehension.  Volume controls that don't work, useful functions that vanished, status displays that indicates no music is playing while music is actually playing, displays that don't show the correct current music selection, setting controls that instantly revert back to previous settings for no apparent reason, and the list goes on and on. Then, to add insult to injury, we receive an apology weeks after the app is found to contain dozens of flaws, some of which rendered some systems virtually unusable?  

I, for one, have no intention of dumping SONOS; I've invested far too much money into SONOS to abandon it.. But I'm hard pressed to recommend it after this latest debacle.  

Have 5 Sonos products and invested a lot - now takes 30 seconds to change a song or adjust the volume with a 2 in 3 chance nothing will happen.  Loved Sonos - now a very unhappy customer. Please sort it out! 

I think my biggest “um what” reading the transcript is that they are pulling in a Board Member to help ensure software efforts are on the right track. With how software dependant the whole Sonos Platform is and has been across cloud, firmware & controller app, you would have hoped they already had staff at multiple levels with a good understanding of software life-cycles and the stages involved. They are way past being some small start-up figuring out what works best for them as they go along.

I also wonder how close to the technical side Nick has managed to stay. In general, I’ve found as the role titles and responsibilities get grander people end up drifting further away from the technical side, even if their passion and background was being deeply involved originally.

On the one hand it sounds like statements to please the board, ie these people you know with years of experience will come and help out, on the other, if they are given free reign to step in it might work out. I have no idea what the internals of Sonos look like, but in many ways it raises more questions than it answers for me.

Hopefully it will all work out, although which is the important holiday season from a US perspective being talked about? Thanksgiving?

A good take, @sigh. If I was on the senior leadership team responsible for digital development, I’d be mortified if the board had to bring in a board member to oversee the correct implementation of my work!!