Contributor I

Add Chromecast built-in Integration

Forum|Forum|4 years ago
December 26, 2021
96 replies
31066 views

I live in Italy and here Android users are much more that the Android users that are in the USA…

Personally all my family have an Android device, like Google Pixels, and all the house have integration with Google Assistant and Google Home. We are a Google Family.

We bought a Sonos Move for have a portable speaker with a gorgeous sound, and I can confirm that it have, but we hear the lack of the Google Chromecast built-in integration.

In fact the Chromecast built-in feature is a great opportunity for Sonos, we think, because in this way Sonos Speakers can appear in Media controls of Google Home and so can be controlled by all the people that live in the house. Also Chromecast built-in have plenty of integration with some services that made things really easy.

So, we decide that for now Sonos for us it can be only the Sonos Move or the Sonos Roam that have also the Bluetooth, because we need it for limiting the lack of the Chromecast built-in functionality. But we appreciate that in the future these awesome speakers, that are probably the best in their category, will have the Chromecast built-in feature, so we can buy product that also came without Bluetooth.

Best regards,

Giovanni Galboni

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106rallye

As a former owner of Logitech Squeezebox devices (a Duet and a Radio) I can state Sonos invented working multiroom audio.

melvimbe

Sonos is never going to support Chromecast, but here's another 500 words on why it should.

I never argued that Sonos should support Chromecast actually.

My first, and only, real point is why I very much doubt they ever intend to support Chromecast short of a buyout:

Well, and stating that Sonos was going to remove all aux inputs (they are not), forum users shouldn’t tell people what they should want (no one was), and Sonos staff shouldn’t acknowledge requested features. Those don’t count as ‘real points’?

Again, for those lost in the weeds, low budget Chromecast speakers severely undercut Sonos. This allows customers that would otherwise be willing to invest in Sonos to get the multi-room solution they want without paying for a premium product. This, once upon a time, was Sonos' bread and butter. Nowadays, these relatively affordable options are a direct threat.

I don’t think anyone’s really lost in weeds. It’s not a difficult concept.

This is why you see Sonos play nice with some ecosystems and not others. They are attempting to leverage their first-mover advantage to prevent other companies from flooding the market with low-cost multi-room solutions.

The market is already flooded with low cost multiroom options. There certainly is logic that Sonos would intentionally block integration with competitors, but stating that airplay is allowed because Apple doesn’t make cheap speakers...doesn’t seem like it tells the whole story. I mean, it’s not like Sonos isn’t competing with other premium speakers that are airplay compatible. Why not block those out too?

There is also the fact that Google did not want to allow Sonos to use GA in Sonos speakers. They agreed after a while, but still will not allow Sonos to have GA and any other voice assistant on the same speaker. It’s not like Google is all about integration with other companies.

I’m not saying your wrong, just that there is likely more to it than what we see on the surface. I really don’t well ever see the full story.

Sonos competes well in the hifi market. They simply can't compete with low-budget loss leaders.

Google went all in on these low-cost, multi-room speakers. Sonos doesn't like that.

Sonos has stated they don’t like that Big Tech companies sell their products at a lose, using revenue from other markets, creating an unfair advantage. They also don’t like companies stealing thier tech. I don’t think they mind companies selling cheaper speakers as long as it’s a fair market.

No Chromecast. Focused legal resources against Google. Competing voice AI and media ecosystem incoming.

I don’t think voice assistant and whatever they are doing with home theatre really has much to do with chromecast.

Cause and effect.

The response following yours is very fair. But if you want to use Google Home/Chromecast, for whatever reason, don't buy Sonos.

Google picked the fight when they launched their Nest speakers. Sonos doubled-down with their lawsuit.

That’s inaccurate. Amazon change the market when they came out with the echo lineup. Google simply followed suit. Sonos is suing Google because they stole their IP. It’s not really different than when they sued Denon or Blusound.

Until Google decides it will cost less long-term to own Sonos, this corporate squabble will continue.

Sonos has to agree to sell. Google can’t just decide they want Sonos and take it. Google will likely have to pay licensing fees, than Sonos will be able to get Amazon to settle out of court (my non-expert opinion). With, a lot of the IPs expiring in the next few years, Google (or anyone else) doesn’t really need to buy Sonos for the tech. They could make their own, or buy another audio company if they want name recognition. Really, if Sonos was going to be bought out, it would have happened years ago.

Danny

M

MgP2804

Contributor II

Let's just stop pretending like Bluetooth and Chromecast support is just around the corner…

Little Sonos Roam adds Bluetooth, isn´t it. Once you have one entry, you are in the Sonos environment. Move too.

ratty

Let's just stop pretending like Bluetooth and Chromecast support is just around the corner…

Little Sonos Roam adds Bluetooth, isn´t it. Once you have one entry, you are in the Sonos environment. Move too.

Indeed. It does seem that the poster is a little out of touch. Comments to the effect that Port (2019), Amp (2019) and Five (2020) are “older products” and that successors will not offer Aux/Line-In do rather strain credibility.

T

Tim23

Lyricist III

Let's just stop pretending like Bluetooth and Chromecast support is just around the corner…

Little Sonos Roam adds Bluetooth, isn´t it. Once you have one entry, you are in the Sonos environment. Move too.

Indeed. It does seem that the poster is a little out of touch. Comments to the effect that Port (2019), Amp (2019) and Five (2020) are “older products” and that successors will not offer Aux/Line-In do rather strain credibility.

I was clear aux inputs being available on only a subset of the line places clear limits on it's usability within other ecosystems. Again, workarounds and half measures.

Surely, you acknowledge there is no technical reason such inputs could not be included in a number of other products in the line if they were a priority?

It's a mute point, however, because dongles are increasingly unavailable for any ecosystem. Sonos is not unique in it's efforts to close off their product line (Chromecast audio discontinued for example).

As for Bluetooth, these are products designed for travel and outdoor use. It's a completely different product category. And not one that utilizes any sort of Bluetooth connectivity between speakers like many other ecosystems do, alongside both Airplay and Chromecast I might add.

But you guys know all this. And yet you all consistently go out of your way to obfuscate missing features and devalue the wants and needs of those that come to this forum to voice their opinions.

Ironically, in your desire to defend Sonos, these comments are likely costing them customers in the long-term.

It's all very sunk-cost, and I don't think it's a good look. But that's fine. We don't have to agree.

Personally, I always try to buy into the most open ecosystem. That used to be Sonos. I sincerely hope they regain that title in the future.

In the meantime, we're all customers; let's try not to give companies an excuse not to live up to their potential.

K

Kumar

I was clear aux inputs being available on only a subset of the line places clear limits on it's usability within other ecosystems.

Personally, I always try to buy into the most open ecosystem. That used to be Sonos. I sincerely hope they regain that title in the future.

I have plenty of Sonos line in jacks in my set up, but I still wish that my Play 1 units had them too; it would have moved a very good product to great category in my book. But it isn't enough these days to offer these - Echo Show devices no longer offer the necessary audio out jacks to allow them to play on Sonos kit. Google speakers have never offered them.

Why do you say that Sonos used to be the most open? It has always been a closed system except where line in jacks allowed wired analog signals to be used and nothing has changed in that respect.

melvimbe

Let's just stop pretending like Bluetooth and Chromecast support is just around the corner…

Little Sonos Roam adds Bluetooth, isn´t it. Once you have one entry, you are in the Sonos environment. Move too.

Indeed. It does seem that the poster is a little out of touch. Comments to the effect that Port (2019), Amp (2019) and Five (2020) are “older products” and that successors will not offer Aux/Line-In do rather strain credibility.

I was clear aux inputs being available on only a subset of the line places clear limits on it's usability within other ecosystems. Again, workarounds and half measures.

You stated “These are older products, however, and I think it's fair to say their successors will not have any such feature.”

People pointed out that you were incorrect and call out your credibility. And you respond by saying they limit the usability within other ecosystems? That does not restore your credibility.

Surely, you acknowledge there is no technical reason such inputs could not be included in a number of other products in the line if they were a priority?

I don’t think anyone claimed they were a priority, just that they exist and are not going away. But of course there is no technical reason why not every Sonos device doesn’t have an aux input.

It's a mute point, however, because dongles are increasingly unavailable for any ecosystem. Sonos is not unique in it's efforts to close off their product line (Chromecast audio discontinued for example).

As for Bluetooth, these are products designed for travel and outdoor use. It's a completely different product category. And not one that utilizes any sort of Bluetooth connectivity between speakers like many other ecosystems do, alongside both Airplay and Chromecast I might add.

“We shouldn't be telling people they can do all the same things without Chromecast, or Bluetooth, or WISA, or Audio Pro, or Q-Symphony, or any other protocol.”

But it’s ok to tell people what bluetooth should be used for? Yes, I am stretching this a bit, but the point is that asking people what features they are looking for and providing solutions for the feature within the existing boundaries of a system is not telling people what they should want.

But you guys know all this. And yet you all consistently go out of your way to obfuscate missing features and devalue the wants and needs of those that come to this forum to voice their opinions.

Ironically, in your desire to defend Sonos, these comments are likely costing them customers in the long-term.

How, does providing information they may not previously be aware of, turning away customers? Sure, some customers come in upset about a feature they want and leave still upset, but plenty are happy to have a better understanding of the system. I’ve never seen anyone come in content and leave upset because they were offered alternative solutions to the feature they wanted.

In the meantime, we're all customers; let's try not to give companies an excuse not to live up to their potential.

“I never argued that Sonos should support Chromecast actually. “

But now you are saying that Sonos should support Chromecast apparently. If that’s not what you’re saying, I have no idea what sort of potential you believe Sonos isn’t living up to.

Danny

J

John B

I would like to express my admiration for those with the patience and stamina to continue to debate with @Tim23 .