After the new Sonos app was released this week, there was a hail of criticism from customers. They complain that many popular features are missing. Sonos announced the new version of the Sonos app before its launch without mentioning that it would lack functions. The manufacturer has now admitted that many functions are missing from the new app.
“We know there are popular features that our listeners would like to continue using now”Chief Product Officer Maxime Bouvat-Merlin will join Sonos from The Verge quoted. “We are working hard to reintroduce these in the coming months”, it continues. The manufacturer did not give a more precise schedule.
The manufacturer does not provide any explanation as to why the app was released before all basic functions were integrated. There is also no explanation as to why Sonos did not inform its own customers in advance about the reduced range of functions. Quite the opposite: Sonos informed some customers about the new app in an email dated May 9, 2024 and still gave no indication of missing functions. If you don’t switch to the new Sonos app, you can continue to use the old app.
Sonos basic functions are missing
Those affected criticize that alarm clocks and sleep timers can no longer be set up or edited in the new Sonos app. Activated alarm clocks continue to work, but they can no longer be switched off. In addition, the Android widget was omitted and the equalizer settings in the volume control were deleted.
For months, Sonos users have been complaining about slow response times and problems recognizing existing speakers. According to reports from customers, both problems still exist – many Sonos customers were hoping for improvement with the new app. Instead, things have gotten even worse: There are reports that mobile Sonos speakers disappear from the app as soon as they are in standby mode.
There is also a lot of criticism for the changed search function, which has been limited to a maximum of 50 hits, and customers complain that the search function for a personal music library has been completely removed. In addition, the integration of NAS music libraries has been omitted, making it even more difficult to support a local music collection.
Local Play will not return
When asked by Golem.de in April 2024, Sonos explained that the new version would disable the function of local playback of music files on the smartphone or tablet used. The function was switched off on Apple devices in the summer of 2019, and local playback was removed on Android devices a year ago.
Another point of criticism is that the update destroys existing playlists and renders many favorites inoperable. This means that such settings have to be laboriously made again. Muting individual speakers should also no longer work and the new volume control is perceived to be less precise.
Users complain about complicated operation
Some of those affected find the entire operation of the new Sonos app to be more complicated – the manufacturer itself says that control will be easier with the new app. One of the criticisms is that you now have to click twice to jump to another song.
It is unclear whether Sonos will add all of the above-mentioned functions back into the app or whether some functions will be permanently missing.
Four years ago, Sonos introduced a new operating system and originally wanted to make old devices unusable. Only after significant customer protests did the company react and move away from this plan and decide to continue supporting the old operating system. Since then, there have been two Sonos operating systems and two Sonos apps. The app update is only available for devices with the newer operating system called S2.