Sonos Considered a MagSafe Speaker for iPhone, But Scrapped It

[MacRumors]

Sonos, known for its range of high-end speakers, considered developing a speaker that would connect to the iPhone via MagSafe, reports The Verge.

Engineers at the company prototyped a tiny, iPhone-compatible speaker that would attach directly to the device, with music that would play over a Bluetooth connection. According to The Verge, the prototype speaker had a square shape, and it was similar to the look of Apple's now-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack, but thicker.

Some employees thought the speaker product would resonate with Gen Z, and expected it to deliver good sound regardless of the compact size. Sonos ended up scrapping the project, though, due to "technical limitations, questionable appeal, and a limited target market."

Sonos has been working to expand its product lineup. Last year, Sonos introduced the Sonos Ace headphones that compete with high-end headphones like the AirPods Max, and later this year, it is rumored to be planning to introduce a set-top box similar to the Apple TV.

Article Link: Sonos Considered a MagSafe Speaker for iPhone, But Scrapped It

 

[LogicalApex]

The iPhone already has pretty impressive speakers for its size and whatnot. Improvements on that would need something larger and more substantial. This wouldn't be it.

Good thing it was scrapped.

 

[JosephAW]

Apple need to make the OLED screen the woofer speaker along with the top and bottom speakers. 📱🔊

 

[turbineseaplane]

Interesting idea

Aside from this idea, which sounds interesting for travel usage in particular, I would still like to see a larger MagSafe speaker dock of some kind, from somebody

 

[Chiromac81]

Does this company have no shame?!?

A million pet projects-FIX YOUR APP FFS

 

[WilliApple]

I WOULD BUY THIS!
But first, they need to have a good app.

 

[slicktor]

Sonos out here doing side quests when the main story needs attention.

 

[holmesf]

it's not the dumbest idea. The wife and I go running at night sometimes in the wilderness and the music helps scare off the coyotes and mountain lions and helps make the run more enjoyable. If it were possible to build a better speaker in a package like that I'd buy it.

There is a product that does this made by a company called Chargeworx but the reviews aren't inspiring. The iPhone's speakers are actually pretty good on their own. Doing better needs something pretty high quality.

 

[miamialley]

Why do they show the Apple MagSage battery in the picture? Totally different product by a totally different company.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Why do they show the Apple MagSage battery in the picture? Totally different product by a totally different company.

I think they were trying to show "something" that is MagSafe and maybe about the size of what a speaker on the back could plausibly be

 

[alchemistmuffin]

Sonos, known for its range of high-end speakers, considered developing a speaker that would connect to the iPhone via MagSafe, reports The Verge.

Some employees thought the speaker product would resonate with Gen Z, and expected it to deliver good sound regardless of the compact size. Sonos ended up scrapping the project, though, due to "technical limitations, questionable appeal, and a limited target market."

I am guessing the they wanted all focus on the disastrous new app that was terrible. This product would’ve been a hit in my opinion that would have directly competed with Beats Pill but in much more compact and convenient size.

 

[mansplains]

What a shame, we need more bluetooth speakers playing in public spaces and nature /s

 

[bmark]

Does this company have no shame?!?

A million pet projects-FIX YOUR APP FFS

Sonos management is utterly abysmal!

 

[segfaultdotorg]

Sad! Reminds me of when Apple scrapped the iCar (which would have also required an iPhone to run--none of those lowbrow Androids allowed).

 

[Joshuaorange]

Sonos should have gone out of business over 5 years ago. They don’t offer anything compelling over their competitors and that was before they ruined their already terrible app.

 

[svish]

Don't think I would have bought it if it was ever released. Not sure how it would have been if it is thicker than the battery pack. Price would also have very very high.

 

[macfacts]

I WOULD BUY THIS!
But first, they need to have a good app.

Why does a speaker need an app? What's wrong with a "dumb" speaker?

 

[ikir]

Sonos, known for its range of high-end speakers, considered developing a speaker that would connect to the iPhone via MagSafe, reports The Verge.

Engineers at the company prototyped a tiny, iPhone-compatible speaker that would attach directly to the device, with music that would play over a Bluetooth connection. According to The Verge, the prototype speaker had a square shape, and it was similar to the look of Apple's now-discontinued MagSafe Battery Pack, but thicker.

Some employees thought the speaker product would resonate with Gen Z, and expected it to deliver good sound regardless of the compact size. Sonos ended up scrapping the project, though, due to "technical limitations, questionable appeal, and a limited target market."

Sonos has been working to expand its product lineup. Last year, Sonos introduced the Sonos Ace headphones that compete with high-end headphones like the AirPods Max, and later this year, it is rumored to be planning to introduce a set-top box similar to the Apple TV.

Article Link: Sonos Considered a MagSafe Speaker for iPhone, But Scrapped It

They focused on app development instead

 

[haruhiko]

Momax got one exactly like this and it’s $25.

 

[iToph]

Seems like you have a lot of budget for stupid things when you lay off 200 employees lol

 

[wanha]

Does this company have no shame?!?

A million pet projects-FIX YOUR APP FFS

are you saying that while a certain group of employees are working on one thing, the rest shouldn't be taking their work forward until that first group is finished with theirs even if they are completely separate teams and tasks?

 

[Veinticinco]

"Appeal to Gen Z"

The only interaction I've had with Sonos was when I had my car in for service and they gave me a new EV courtesy car with Sonos speakers. Like everything else in the interior, it felt cheaped out, lacking depth and overall quality. That experience has stuck.

When I dropped it back, a sales guy lurking by the service desk, actually said they much preferred the "new advanced" Sonos in-car sound system to my current Bang & Olufsen. Straight-faced. Almost.

Like airline cabin crew trying to convince that flying premium economy is better than business class.

 

[norwaypianoman]

It is sad. Because it would almost be the only truly useful accessory out there.

 

[krull1015]

I would purchase if the sound quality was good. Would be nice when traveling, I have been looking for an ultra compact speaker with good sound quality. For for it Sonos 👍🏻👍🏻

 

[JoshuaBru]

Does this company have no shame?!?

A million pet projects-FIX YOUR APP FFS

I haven’t noticed any issues with the app. Is it still buggy for you? The layout is trash and it’s horrible to use but I’m not getting any dropped songs, lag, device connection issues