Apple and Beats Scrapped Sonos-Like Speaker Post Acquisition

[Uofmtiger]

The moment Apple announces a multi-room wireless speaker system is the moment Sonos dies. So I'd say the team over at Sonos will be mightily relived that Apple has apparently abandoned any plans to kill them in the marketplace.

It will be interesting to see if Apple gives the same control over Apple Music and the updated iTunes that they provide with the Remote app.

Currently, if you run iTunes on a Mac (not sure how it works with Windows), you can independently send audio from iTunes to any or all AirPlay devices use the Remote app. Having this capability with 30 million songs, without needing to use Airfoil, would be a great addition.

Also, iOS is capable of sending out a stream of audio to multiple AirPlay speakers using the Whaale app. Therefore, there isn't a technical reason that they can't implement multi-room audio without ever needing a computer in the mix.

 

[OllyW]

Currently, if you run iTunes on a Mac (not sure how it works with Windows)...

It works the same with Windows, you have the same Airplay options as in the Mac version of iTunes.

 

[TC03]

It will be interesting to see if Apple gives the same control over Apple Music and the updated iTunes that they provide with the Remote app.

Currently, if you run iTunes on a Mac (not sure how it works with Windows), you can independently send audio from iTunes to any or all AirPlay devices use the Remote app. Having this capability with 30 million songs, without needing to use Airfoil, would be a great addition.

Also, iOS is capable of sending out a stream of audio to multiple AirPlay speakers using the Whaale app. Therefore, there isn't a technical reason that they can't implement multi-room audio without ever needing a computer in the mix.

A remote app is totally obsolete in an Apple Music world.

For audio streaming, there are two kinds:
1. Stream on a device that is wired to speaker, control this device using an app on your iPhone.
2. Play music on your iPhone that is streamed to a device that is wired to a speaker (AirPlay).

Clearly, Apple is on the AirPlay bandwagon. Consequently, no remote app is necessary since your device is the player.

 

[OllyW]

A remote app is totally obsolete in an Apple Music world.

For audio streaming, there are two kinds:
1. Stream on a device that is wired to speaker, control this device using an app on your iPhone.
2. Play music on your iPhone that is streamed to a device that is wired to a speaker (AirPlay).

Clearly, Apple is on the AirPlay bandwagon. Consequently, no remote app is necessary since your device is the player.

The Remote app would still be useful when playing Apple Music on your Mac, PC or Apple TV.

 

[Uofmtiger]

A remote app is totally obsolete in an Apple Music world.

For audio streaming, there are two kinds:
1. Stream on a device that is wired to speaker, control this device using an app on your iPhone.
2. Play music on your iPhone that is streamed to a device that is wired to a speaker (AirPlay).

Clearly, Apple is on the AirPlay bandwagon. Consequently, no remote app is necessary since your device is the player.

I was referring to the Apple Remote app that already controls iTunes and gives you multi-room options for AirPlay. Since Apple Music will be part of iTunes, I would hope that it would retain the same AirPlay features.

 

[2457282]

I have been surprised by how long it is taking Apple to integrate Beats into their ecosystem. With WWDC we finally see the music integration, but I am still waiting on the Hardware integration. My hope would be that they take the hardware and develop a series of AirPlay devices for the home. That would then fully integrate into iTunes and Apple Music. This would make the most sense to me. Then they probably need to come up with a lineup for in-ear and over-ear headsets.

Looks like the music side is no integrated so hopefully we here the hardware plans soon.

 

[BigInDallas]

No I have no idea what I'm talking about, that's why I posted.

Thanks for clarifying that.

 

[BigInDallas]

The moment Apple announces a multi-room wireless speaker system is the moment Sonos dies. So I'd say the team over at Sonos will be mightily relived that Apple has apparently abandoned any plans to kill them in the marketplace.

Wow. The stupid things that you hear.

Sonos is a great product. Apple is far behind in his category. Sonos is safe.

 

[arvacker]

Airplay or GTFO. Let me cast to my speakers from any app that produces audio. Do this and you have my money.

While I like the airplay option to stream my audio (and video) to my Apple TV and sound system, I don't always like my phone being the player. It puts a strain on batterij life, it means when I get called the music pauses, the phone needs to stay connected to a decent wifi connection, the phone cannot leave the house, I can't watch a video while listening to music, ... These kind of things are easily done with sonos. Sonos pulls the music directly from the service of my choice and I can do what I want on my phone. Meanwhile I run Airsonos on my Mac server so I can AirPlay to my sonos speakers. I recently switched to a full sonos setup both for me and my parents. Always works, better battery and you can keep the music playing when you go outside to take a call.

 

[Benjamin Frost]

The railroad??

No, Bang & Olufsen. I don't know the railroad.

 

[Mike Oxard]

Apple has not missed the boat. AirPlay is by far the best way to stream music wirelessly. There are tons of receivers and devices that have AirPlay support.

I wish I could get it to work. I've tried airport expresses and AirPlay speakers and it's always been an awful experience.

 

[DudeDad]

Bose SoundLink Mini for the win.

I'm not sure you understand the Sonos system. It allows you to stream your library and online music services to either self-contained Sonos amp/speaker modules or to Sonos "pods" connected directly to your hifi system (using your amp/speakers) or to a self-powered "pod" directly connected to your speakers. Each "pod" is a zone, and you can easily stream the same music to all zones, or choose which zones play what. For example, I can stream my music to our screened-in porch, while my son streams his music to his room. The Sonos wireless mesh is fantastic. Airplay does not give you the flexibility of simultaneous different streams.

Your Bose Soundlink Mini is a great portable to stream directly from your iOS device (I have one I use at the beach!). But it is not like Sonos. For those bashing to Sonos speakers, you can buy a "pod" that streams to YOUR speakers.

 

[iLog.Genius]

The moment Apple announces a multi-room wireless speaker system is the moment Sonos dies. So I'd say the team over at Sonos will be mightily relived that Apple has apparently abandoned any plans to kill them in the marketplace.

Don't know if this guy is trolling or not...

Sonos has a 10+ year head start and what that lead, you have absolutely know idea big Sonos really is, think of them as Apple in the wireless speaker space. Everyone comes out with wireless speakers, but no one has really come out with a complete wireless setup that is reliable and easy to use like Sonos.

 

[attila]

I have never had any good experience with any bluetooth audio device. I have an Airplay device in my car and I love it. If I am to get a wireless speaker right now it will be Sonos or similar product.

Indeed, I wish there were more AirPlay devices. Let's hope that the next Beats home speaks will have AirPlay support.

Well... not sure I'd buy them anyway, since I don't have high expectations of Beats Anything.

 

[cuencap]

I don't really understand this whole WiFi speaker trend thing, which causes mediocre speakers to be super expensive just because they have WiFi. Just take your computer or phone, plug it into any speaker using the headphone jack, and voila! It's a lot cheaper, there are far more options, and there's no risk of it becoming obsolete, slow, incompatible, or whatever in the future. And now that you can just swipe up to get music controls on the iPhone from the lock screen, there's not much need for playback control buttons on the speaker itself.

I've gotta say, I love our AirPlay speakers and receiver. I click play on my iMac (or iOS device) and the speakers turn on automatically and start playing my music.

When playing from an iMac, I can play to multiple AirPlay-enabled devices, which creates an entire-house music experience, which is what Sonos is all about.

My concern though, is it seems Apple hasn't done much with improving or increasing Airplay's market share. Third parties (ie Sony and others) have implemented AirPlay, but it seems as though they are now favoring Bluetooth. When Bluetooth has the capability to be played to multiple speakers at once, AirPlay may really be pushed to the back burner...

 

[icanhazapple]

Bose has a great Airplay speaker, the Soundtouch. I have one and I love it.

 

[NachoGrande]

The most amazing speaker I have, Amazon Echo with Alexia. I am a Huge Apple Fan, however they missed the boat on this one. Echo is totally amazing and it is still in early development. Apple, pay attention, speakers are the way into home automation and driving music play.

Love my Echo and only $99!

 

[macpro2000]

Bose has a great Airplay speaker, the Soundtouch. I have one and I love it.

Funny you say that, I hated mine and sold it after 2 weeks.

 

[usarioclave]

The problem with the echo is simple: I have a stereo system, and the Echo can't stream to it. If the Echo could stream via AirPlay I'd take it out of the box and stick it back on the counter. Heck if it streamed via BT it'd be fine...but it doesn't.

BT is "good enough" technology for most people's audio. Sonos is fine, but it's in the middle ground between BT and just buying a stereo + ATV for each room. At some point anyone who cares about audio will have enough stereos to put one in each room they care about, which obviates the need for a Sonos.

I suppose the new generation must be dropping a sonos or a soundbar into each room, because it's less wires. But at what point does Sonos become better than a couple of UE booms that are BT linked to your phone/ipad?

 

[bruinsrme]

The problem with the echo is simple: I have a stereo system, and the Echo can't stream to it. If the Echo could stream via AirPlay I'd take it out of the box and stick it back on the counter. Heck if it streamed via BT it'd be fine...but it doesn't.

BT is "good enough" technology for most people's audio. Sonos is fine, but it's in the middle ground between BT and just buying a stereo + ATV for each room. At some point anyone who cares about audio will have enough stereos to put one in each room they care about, which obviates the need for a Sonos.

I suppose the new generation must be dropping a sonos or a soundbar into each room, because it's less wires. But at what point does Sonos become better than a couple of UE booms that are BT linked to your phone/ipad?

Love my echo.
Laying in bed the other night my wife snidely said, why don't you ask Alexa what the weather for tomorrow will be.
Alexa replied for me. Too bad Alexa couldn't have added a sarcastic reply

 

[errant]

Beats products were never purchased for their quality. Apple just saw a chance to buy out a growing alternative to their EarPods. Why not have all the revenue go to them? And that's exactly what is happening.

Ironic, since these two companies make some of the worst-sounding, most overpriced headphones/earbuds on the market.

 

[AlbinoPigeon]

It will be interesting to see if Apple gives the same control over Apple Music and the updated iTunes that they provide with the Remote app.

Currently, if you run iTunes on a Mac (not sure how it works with Windows), you can independently send audio from iTunes to any or all AirPlay devices use the Remote app. Having this capability with 30 million songs, without needing to use Airfoil, would be a great addition.

Also, iOS is capable of sending out a stream of audio to multiple AirPlay speakers using the Whaale app. Therefore, there isn't a technical reason that they can't implement multi-room audio without ever needing a computer in the mix.

Correct me if i'm wrong, but you don't need the remote app to do this. There's an airplay icon at the top of iTunes. If you click it, you see a dropdown of all the speakers you've attached via Airplay.

I have my home theatre system connected via an Apple TV, and speakers in the bedroom connected via an airport express (that has an optical audio out for those that don't know).

The same goes for audio from iTunes on iOS. So if you're in the Apple ecosystem, I don't understand the allure of Sonos. That said, outside of mobile, the Apple ecosystem is quite small still.

EDIT: Oh, and the other advantage of the Apple/Airport/Airplay setup is that the hardware are also routers that can be configured to strengthen and extend your home wi-fi network if you live in a large home. Don't know if Sonos has that built in or not.

 

[Boomish69]

lol so they wanted to compete with Sonos using Beats technology , whoever does their research needs replacing, it's an awful brand, even if they do eventually produce something! I'd never have crap like that in my home, plus I know lot of people who have a Sonos system, I'm pretty sure they wouldn't swap their Sonos for a Beats

Personally I can't see what they got out of Beats they couldn't have done them selves, watching Jimmy Iovine's awful talk on the Keynote said it all, what a bunch of chumps, I miss the Steve common sense factor..

 

[logicstudiouser]

Not sure why so many are trashing Sonos. Sonos is great! Never fails.

 

[taptic]

Homekit is a MASSIVE niche product. Focusing their energies and money on that would be a complete and utter waste.

It's only niche at the current prices. I think if things kept moving along we could eventually get it to be quite a common house feature to be fitted out with these kinds of things.