Thanks, I have experienced some of these issues, so I get your frustration.
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Sonos Delays Launch of Arc Soundbar Successor to Focus on Fixing App
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The product team does not determine the release date. Senior management determines the date and without an understanding of the issues, management tried the "my way or the hi way" management style and got it wrong.
Of course, management won't say anything, but we all know.
It’s actually much much worse than this. I’ve got 2 play 1s. Under the new app it often takes 10 seconds to change a song with Apple Music and the same thing with changing volume via the Sonos app. It’s a total car crash. The volume change via the app seems to now be sent to the their servers and back again which is ludicrous. Before the app redesign, song and volume changes were instant. The app designers are total incompetent morons. They’ve totally destroyed basic functionality.
Also now I often find it won’t load Sonos radio at all and it’s sometimes will only load after a reboot of the speakers. The whole Sonos network appears to be massively short of capacity for handling either decide requests or any Sonos services. All very bizarre.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
So don't use the Sonos app at all... or even delete the app entirely.
Play music from Apple Music app on Sonos speakers directly by selecting the Sonos speakers as target speakers. Adjust volume in the Apple Music app, not the Sonos app.
You gave me a moment of doubt in spite of playing Apple Music on them almost every day (but not needing to adjust volume much), so I just fired up Apple Music (app, that's Apples app), selected the Sonos speakers and music played immediately. I then started moving the volume bar up and down and it was fast response- certainly not 10 seconds- as fast as the WIRED speakers I have direct attached to Mac.
Mac is wired ethernet to router. Sonos speakers are connected wireless and relatively far from my router.
Will do a fresh test with the Apple Remote app on an iDevice now for an all wireless test and update shortly.
Update: just as fast in the all-wireless test.
Now, that offered, your situation can certainly be different and I fully acknowledge that obviously some people are having problems because Sonos themselves are acknowledging it in a very public, very open way. But it doesn't seem to be a universal problem because then it would affect ALL of us.
And since you want to enjoy Apple Music and rapid volume control, use the (Apple created) Apple Music app to do both. You could entirely delete the Sonos app if you like and still enjoy Apple Music and fast volume control.
After a while, Sonos will de-bug the new app and then it will run the Sonos show for the next 5-8 years or so until they get the itch to do it again... just like Apple does with apps like Pages, FCP, iMovie, etc. I'm still trying to get accustomed to the "evolved" SYSTEM SETTINGS app on Mac, often resorting to web searches to figure out where commonplace settings that used to be easily accessible and seemingly more logically located are now.
Play music from Apple Music app on Sonos speakers directly by selecting the Sonos speakers as target speakers. Adjust volume in the Apple Music app, not the Sonos app.
You gave me a moment of doubt in spite of playing Apple Music on them almost every day (but not needing to adjust volume much), so I just fired up Apple Music (app, that's Apples app), selected the Sonos speakers and music played immediately. I then started moving the volume bar up and down and it was fast response- certainly not 10 seconds- as fast as the WIRED speakers I have direct attached to Mac.
Mac is wired ethernet to router. Sonos speakers are connected wireless and relatively far from my router.
Will do a fresh test with the Apple Remote app on an iDevice now for an all wireless test and update shortly.
Update: just as fast in the all-wireless test.
Now, that offered, your situation can certainly be different and I fully acknowledge that obviously some people are having problems because Sonos themselves are acknowledging it in a very public, very open way. But it doesn't seem to be a universal problem because then it would affect ALL of us.
And since you want to enjoy Apple Music and rapid volume control, use the (Apple created) Apple Music app to do both. You could entirely delete the Sonos app if you like and still enjoy Apple Music and fast volume control.
After a while, Sonos will de-bug the new app and then it will run the Sonos show for the next 5-8 years or so until they get the itch to do it again... just like Apple does with apps like Pages, FCP, iMovie, etc. I'm still trying to get accustomed to the "evolved" SYSTEM SETTINGS app on Mac, often resorting to web searches to figure out where commonplace settings that used to be easily accessible and seemingly more logically located are now.
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Sonos, for years now, has shown nothing but absolute contempt for its customers. The whole two apps fiasco to support legacy kit, demanding location data just to set up hardware, demanding system updates before you can reuse the equipment YOU OWN, the list goes on and on. I'm sure I am not the only once loyal Sonos customer who has vowed never to buy another product.
Yeah but that was an entire OS - anyway, just judging by the responses clearly there are some other doozies
For me though, sonos has been the worst change I can remember. It's so bad for my wife, that she chooses violence when she has to deal with the new app 😝
Only issue I have is true play not allowing me to perform it. Other than that the new app is okay 👍🏻
I don’t have any glitches with it
I don’t have any glitches with it
If you can get by using the Apple Music app and and Airplay you don't really need Sonos. Also lots of installed Sonos systems don't support Airplay at all.
I love my Sonos speakers. However, the App was definitely a miss as many of you are saying. I don't understand (and I am a layman, so could be good technical reasons why) they just didn't roll back until they have a steady version ready. Own it, apologize, provide an interim solution and then move forward when QA was completed.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
What Sonos systems? I've been using them for maybe 7 years and they've always supported Airplay. Perhaps very old systems, older than 7 years? Or maybe a specific speaker(s)? I'm no expert but every time I help people with Sonos, it seems like about everything is Airplay and Apple Music ready.
All our Apple tech is generally left behind by Apple at about year 7, vintaged by 9. Are we as outraged by that practice? HP1 could not even stereo pair with HP2 launched only a short while after Apple quit selling HP1. Are we outraged by that decision? I'm quite expert at Mac but still trying to figure out where everything moved/changed in System Settings in Sonoma. Shall I be outraged about that?
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Hi thanks for the response . Unfortunately changing the volume via Apple Music and selecting the Sonos speakers as target speakers doesn’t work unless the speakers support air play. Play 1s do not support air play. Apple Music can only be played via the Sonos app on play 1s. They’ve totally screwed my set up. Also changing the volume directly via the speaker is equally slow. Why the volume has to go to their servers and back to the speaker is mad. So it’s not just the app, the actual setup up for legacy hardware that is still supported by the app is broken as well. Was perfect until the app roll out and whatever simultaneous changes they have made to their core infrastructure. You should go to the official Sonos forum on Reddit. Soooo many users with all sorts of problems. Total joke.
For legacy hardware that they know full has been totally broken by the app they should have provided the older app. It’s clearly not acceptable to break kit and then not to provide a full back solution.
Unfortunately your argument about tech being left behind and not being outraged doesn’t make sense. They’ve broken the speakers. With legacy equipment you still have every right to expect you can carry on playing the music you always have done, just that you couldn’t upgrade to new features or versions of the app. It’s not even that they claim they’re not supported any longer, so that argument doesn’t even stand. The play 1s are still on the app official supported list, so their is ZERO excuse.
Edit…..the Spotify app has always supported changing tracks and volume control via the app (on play 1s) so it’s another bizarre coding exercise by Apple that they can’t do this via their own app but Spotify can. I shouldn’t have to jump to Spotify to change tracks/volume.
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HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Sorry to hear that.
Plays 1s were launched in 2013. And correct me if I'm wrong, but they lean on the S1 app, not the new one. I don't believe the S1 app has been changed at all during this time (I see it is still available in the App Store). Perhaps delete your S1 app and reinstall again. Best I know, the new app has nothing to do with the old system and S1 app.
They may have some common elements that "broke" S1 app functionality at the same time. I don't know about that as I've only had experience with S2 and now the new app and of course, newer Sonos speakers.
Like Apple drives with ALL products as soon as only 7 years, it may be time to replace them. If Sonos has completely disappointed you, Apple makes HPs... stereo only... and Version 2 could not stereo Sync with Version 1 after < 2 years but then it would be Apple speakers.
Else, there's PLENTY of speakers in that sea. A very good option that I also use myself is separate the "smarts" from the speaker part by using traditional "dumb" speakers and an airplay-capable Receiver to power them. When I don't want to play stuff on my Sonos speakers in spare rooms, I easily "throw" anything to the Receiver and enjoy on the "dumb speakers." Or when I want to play on both the dumb speakers and Sonos (AKA "whole house"), I just airplay to "All speakers" and that works just fine.
And if the airplay "smarts" ever get left behind there, I'll just buy a new Receiver with new "smarts" and carry on with the same speakers. The great negative in "smart" speakers is the great negative in creations like the iMac: when the tech guts go, all of the rest go with it. When the parent company gives up on the tech updates, all of the rest is basically lost at the same time. However, if the "smarts" are isolated from the speakers, only the "smarts" need an occasional update when an Apple or Sonos opts to leave a generation of smart speakers behind.
Plays 1s were launched in 2013. And correct me if I'm wrong, but they lean on the S1 app, not the new one. I don't believe the S1 app has been changed at all during this time (I see it is still available in the App Store). Perhaps delete your S1 app and reinstall again. Best I know, the new app has nothing to do with the old system and S1 app.
They may have some common elements that "broke" S1 app functionality at the same time. I don't know about that as I've only had experience with S2 and now the new app and of course, newer Sonos speakers.
Like Apple drives with ALL products as soon as only 7 years, it may be time to replace them. If Sonos has completely disappointed you, Apple makes HPs... stereo only... and Version 2 could not stereo Sync with Version 1 after < 2 years but then it would be Apple speakers.
Else, there's PLENTY of speakers in that sea. A very good option that I also use myself is separate the "smarts" from the speaker part by using traditional "dumb" speakers and an airplay-capable Receiver to power them. When I don't want to play stuff on my Sonos speakers in spare rooms, I easily "throw" anything to the Receiver and enjoy on the "dumb speakers." Or when I want to play on both the dumb speakers and Sonos (AKA "whole house"), I just airplay to "All speakers" and that works just fine.
And if the airplay "smarts" ever get left behind there, I'll just buy a new Receiver with new "smarts" and carry on with the same speakers. The great negative in "smart" speakers is the great negative in creations like the iMac: when the tech guts go, all of the rest go with it. When the parent company gives up on the tech updates, all of the rest is basically lost at the same time. However, if the "smarts" are isolated from the speakers, only the "smarts" need an occasional update when an Apple or Sonos opts to leave a generation of smart speakers behind.
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Depends where you work. As a senior VP in charge of development at a software company, our product team works with senior management, development, QA, and customers to define features and set priorities and schedules for each release.
Thanks for the reply. I’m on the S2 app. I might try to roll back but I have read on the Sonos forums of users with play 1s trying this and it failed. It’s more infuriating how speakers can work perfectly 1 day and then totally broken the next. Supposedly they can be rolled back but considering the disaster of the volume controls on the speakers themselves I would be amazed if that’s somehow connected to the S2 app and not their infrastructure. Also based upon the Sonos Reddit app, many users with much new Sonos speakers are experiencing exactly the same issues as me, albeit I don’t think they have tried AirPlay via their Apple Music app.
As I mentioned earlier I also don’t get why you can’t change the tracks and volume on play 1s directly in the Apple Music app without airplay support? As stated, Spotify have provided this feature for many years. I assume it’s some issue with Apple not using the Sonos api or falling out with them…..
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Maybe they couldn’t even set up their test unit with the new app lmao
They know no one will buy the new arc with the current software.
They know no one will buy the new arc with the current software.
How do you airplay if the speakers cannot be discovered and set up?
They saw everyone else getting away with it and figured they could too. This just happened to be the last straw for a lot of people.
Hopefully other tech ceos see that this actually cost them money and finally come around to the idea that maybe the entire point of software development isn’t just pushing the corporate agenda and extracting maximum “engagement” from users.
Probably not, though.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
If the source of all pain is the new app and I just looked it up to confirm that Play 1s do work with the S1 app, you might have an unchanged remedy if they will work with S1. The pics of the app in the app stores still look like the classic s1 pics so all of these "changes" don't seem to apply.
Whether it works or not is to be determined. I see that Play 1s are in a group that ALSO worked with S2 too... so they could work with BOTH apps. If the latter app is to blame, perhaps the former app can get you by until the latter gets bug fixes and then you can read some "all clear" messaging.
Volume controls "on the speakers" themselves is- I think- a on/off setting to use them or turn them off. I'm pretty sure I have mine turned off such that I only use the apps to control volume. You might have yours turned off. If so, check and turn them back on and volume controls on the speakers should work again.
I RARELY use the Sonos app- only when I want to listen to Sonos streams and/or the occasional check for software updates. So the vast majority of my enjoyment of them is direct control from the Apple Music apps, Apple Remote app and Airplay. Friends seem to do the same- rarely using the app- but using their iDevices and Macs the same way or just turning on AppleTV and/or TV to which they have one attached and then their remote controls what plays and volume.
Possibly. I don't know that one. I pretty much do NOT use the Apple Music app within the Sonos app but direct... and never have any problems changing tracks or volume. My friends seem to do the same.
I don't see much reason to use the Sonos app except for occasional software updates, installing a new Sonos speakers and/or to play the Sonos music stations themselves. In all other uses, I'd just use the native music apps to airplay and thus control all with the native apps.
I hope the potential test of the S1 apps gives you a usable band aid until Sonos squashes some bugs and gets the new app working well enough with your Play 1s.
Thanks for the detailed reply. When I get time over the weekend I’ll try rolling back to S1 to see if that helps. Falling that maybe I’ll have to switch to Spotify for the volume/device support which would be a shame as I prefer Apple Music….
The volume controls are definitely enabled as they DO work, just take an eternity to respond lol.
HobeSoundDarryl
macrumors G5
Speakers were set up when I bought them, long before this new app was released only weeks ago.
To airplay, I select them in the speaker menu in the Apple Music app...
Arc & Move are 2 Sonos Speakers I often use. Check the boxes click any song or playlist and play. They will play. No need to open the Sonos app at all. Apple Music plays to any speakers (or AppleTVs) I want to target. Adjust Apple Music volume (slider) and volume adjusts... or I can fine tune volume for each speaker adjusting their individual sliders. I just tested very rapidly sliding the AM volume slider left and right and response was immediate, as fast as it is with speakers connected directly to my Mac.
I also have them set up in HomeKit so I can just ask Siri to play some Apple Music playlist on them... and that works too.
The iDevice Remote app (made by Apple) basically works the same way- select the available speakers to which to play music and it will play music there. While I often start playback either on the Mac (as shown above) or with a Siri command to Mac, I often stop and then disconnect on an iDevice via the Apple Remote app. No need to even touch the Sonos app at all, nor open it, nor even have it installed to use them in this way.
And lastly, if I wanted to listen to Sonos's own stations- and they have some good ones- but I'm having ANY problem at all with the mobile app, I could fire up the Mac Sonos App which is still as it has been for a long time now and play and control Sonos Streams through that app (here's a screenshot of that working just fine and captured on my Mac moments ago playing that song from one of their stations)...
By the way, I also just tested THAT volume slider by moving it left & right quickly and volume on my Sonos speakers rapidly responded as expected.
All that shared, if I had to set up a new speaker- while I haven't had to do that since this new app launched for myself- I just did help someone set up a whole bunch of Sonos speakers a couple of weeks ago using the new app, and it worked exactly as expected with no problem at all. Apparently, we just got lucky based upon the collective sentiment of this thread... or... as we often do towards "Not-Apple" topics, "we're" making mountains out of molehills.
Yes, there most certainly are some issues with the new app but it's not universal and some of us are doing all we want to do just fine with it. Those of us with any real problems have plenty of other options to play audio without even having to use the new app at all. All it takes is a little "think different" while Sonos polishes bugs in a brand new app... as we readily do when Apple makes wholesale changes to apps and we rapidly roll with them.
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