Menu Bar Controller App for Sonos Speakers Updated for macOS 11

[MacRumors]

German developer Alexander Heinrich today updated his popular Menu Bar Controller app for Sonos speakers connected to Mac, with a new design that mimics Apple's Control Center aesthetic in macOS 11 Big Sur.

The updated app retains all the features of the previous versions within the new layout, which shows the current playing song, its album cover, and larger buttons to interact with the queue.

A new slider has been added to integrate muting and changing the volume in one control button, while at the bottom of the main panel, users are able to quickly select the current Sonos group or room in their system.

In addition, the views for playing music on grouped speakers have been redesigned. For example, the Group view now clearly shows which song will play on the created group and which speakers are selected.

Lastly, a new set of configurable keyboard shortcuts allow users to quickly mute or pause the current playback.

Menu Bar Controller for Sonos costs $1.99 and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]

Article Link: Menu Bar Controller App for Sonos Speakers Updated for macOS 11

 

[thefourthpope]

Did not know about this. All this time I’ve been streaming over AirPlay like a caveman. Definitely adding to my iMac. Thanks MR!

 

[mw360]

Two purchases in the space of two comments. That guy's going to be rich!

 

[lo5co]

Three.

 

[Wayfarer]

This looks pretty cool and aesthetically pleasing! I can't wait to try this out.

 

[IIGS User]

The Sonos speakers were appealing to me until I realized you needed WiFi for them to work. I ended up going with a Bose revolve. My work environment doesn't have WiFi.

 

[kyleh22]

My fingers are still crossed that Amazon buys Sonos. Amazon would really benefit from a premium speaker and solid speaker software. The app to control echo audio is way behind in user friendliness.

 

[lawrencejuliano]

This is an instant buy for me, thank you! I can’t stand Sonos’s clunky proprietary controller.

 

[DeepIn2U]

Did not know about this. All this time I’ve been streaming over AirPlay like a caveman. Definitely adding to my iMac. Thanks MR!

Actually this menu bar feature from Sonos has been defunct since 2014 and not been updated until now. You had to really use a G search to locate the older installation files.

 

[ToomeyND]

Just bought, but it's being buggy. I can't pull up music to play via the app. Regardless, I can see the speakers and can group, which is nice. And I'm sure it'll work fine, just not at initial launch for me.

 

[mw360]

Just bought, but it's being buggy. I can't pull up music to play via the app. Regardless, I can see the speakers and can group, which is nice. And I'm sure it'll work fine, just not at initial launch for me.

The app can’t access your 3rd party accounts like Spotify etc, hence why it can only show you Sonos playlists and favourites. You would still have to use the Sonos app for browsing, this is just for a much quicker access to stop/start/volume etc.

 

[CarpalMac]

Yep, I'm in.

 

[NJRonbo]

Would you guys who purchased this app recommend it?

 

[mw360]

Would you guys who purchased this app recommend it?

It works as advertised, and was worth the purchase to save having the official app, or mini player cluttering the screen. It gives handy access to playback controls, grouping and volume, which I personally have fiddle with a lot (when the phone rings etc). It's little/no use for browsing music.

For me it doesn't appear on start-up, despite being set in the prefs, and I wish it had a button to open he official app for those moments you're in the UI and realise you need the app instead. I don't miss the £2 or whatever it was.

 

[ToomeyND]

The app can’t access your 3rd party accounts like Spotify etc, hence why it can only show you Sonos playlists and favourites. You would still have to use the Sonos app for browsing, this is just for a much quicker access to stop/start/volume etc.

Thanks for this. While this limits the features I understood there to be, learning how to use a tool properly is just as important. In this case, the tool is limited, but useful.