Speaker groups now possible in Google after patent lawsuit. When will Sonos match features?

It is not the same feature at all.  You can already have a Sonos speaker in multiple groups, just configure the group in settings.  I can switch from Bedroom/Bathroom, to Bathroom/Kitchen, to Kitchen/Den at the push of a button.  This has nothing to do with switching a room from an Arc/Sub/Ones surrounds to a Ones stereo pair and a Sub.  

I’m sorry, did I miss Sonos being purchased by Google?

The reason Google rolled out this feature so quickly is so that it will make Sonos look bad for the appeal of this decision, forcing Google to roll it back out (rather than rewritting the feature)...again.  They want this to appear as if Sonos is taking features away from Google customers, rather than Google stealing code from Sonos.

Can you please walk me through this step-by-step? I don’t see any option in the settings on my iPhone  to create groups other than rooms (iOS 17, latest version of the Sonos app). Thanks! I have several Google Home Max speakers in addition to some Minis, and I’m able to add them to both rooms and speaker groups. This means I can tell a device, “Play music in the living room” or “Play music downstairs” and it functions as expected by playing music in either just the living room, which is downstairs, or the living room and kitchen, both of which are downstairs. 

To be clear, I’m not a fanboy of a particular platform, ecosystem, or product group. I’m happy with the sound quality of my $2000+ in Sonos speakers (cheap by HiFi standards but a lot for the average person). I’m just disappointed there’s a feature missing that Sonos is literally suing a competitor for using (re: “It’s not the same feature” message, it’s covered by the IP or Google wouldn’t have waited to re-deploy it until the court decided in their favor). I fully expect Sonos to appeal and it’s as likely as not Google will be forced to pull the feature again, I’m just trying to draw attention to the fact that Sonos doesn’t have it (and should, IMO).

Nope, just a fervent belief in competition and the hope a top-tier consumer products technology company will add a feature the competition now has. Much the same way Google/Apple mirror features in iOS/Android, or Microsoft with Windows/macOS.

Also - Per the Arstechnica article, I don’t think the question in the litigation is that Google stole code, it’s that the action/capability itself was patented by Sonos. If that’s not the case I’d appreciate some details elucidating!

Unless Sonos has been working on this feature already, it’s awfully unlikely to be released any time soon. I’d think the process would be months: design spec, engineering, internal testing, beta testing, then release. And all of that is only if it’s both on their priority list, and have spare engineering talent to work on it. 

Settings > System > Groups, create group(s).  Click group button from the now playing screen, click on group name.

Its easy for Google to put this back, and take it out again, whenever they want:

git revert

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/10/23911491/google-home-grouping-features-now-available-sonos

https://www.theverge.com/2023/10/10/23911256/google-statement-sonos-patent-victory

Shame they worked on this together, and then fell out, users are the ones that lose out…..

All of my speakers are in one room. Groups isn’t available until you have three rooms (per the app, “This feature is only available on systems with three or more rooms”), and even then it seems geared toward music rather than providing surround sound.