July 23, 2024, 1:20 pm | Read time: 3 minutes
Sonos customers can use the appropriate app to better utilize their audio devices. However, there have been many negative reports about the offering recently. The reason: A new version of the app was released without many important features. Now Sonos plans to change that with an update.
In May, Sonos completely switched to a new app in the form of a comprehensive update. However, it was met with criticism from users because numerous features were missing in the new version, as Sonos later confirmed. Now the manufacturer wants to make at least partial improvements.
Sonos App Lost a Number of Features with Update
With the major update in May, customers not only lost access to a few rarely used features. Some essential basic functions were also removed. Users complained, for example, about not being able to edit alarms and timers. Important equalizers for individually balanced sound are also missing, as well as some widgets.
There are also complaints about the app’s overall performance. Many customers report that new or already paired devices are no longer recognized and that there are sometimes significantly delayed response times from the app. The search functions have also been significantly restricted in volume.
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Massive Customer Criticism Has Consequences
There was also great outrage over the removal of a feature specifically for Android users: playing locally stored music. This is because the integration of NAS libraries (NAS stands for “Network Attached Storage”) was discontinued–TECHBOOK reported.
The abundance of missing features also promptly led to poor ratings on common platforms. For example, the Sonos app currently has only 1.2 stars in the Google Play Store (as of July 23, 2024). In the App Store, the overall rating is significantly better at 4.3 stars, but here too, the most recent reviews are mostly negative. Looking at user reviews, many write that they actually like the Sonos app, but since the update, hardly anything works properly.
In a statement to “The Verge,” Sonos’ Chief Product Officer Maxime Bouvat-Merlin said shortly after the update in May: “We know there are popular features that our listeners would like to continue using […]. We are working hard to reintroduce these in the coming months.” However, the exact timeline and sequence are unknown. The newly announced update for the Sonos app seems to be at least a first step.
Sonos Adds Features via Update
It is now also known that some features, such as playing local files, will not return. However, others are to be added to the new Sonos app via update. Therefore, the company is now rolling out update versions 80.05.04 for iOS and 80.05.06 for Android.
According to the update notes from July 22, this includes “bug fixes and improved performance.” This includes setup, configuration, and search for local music libraries–a much-requested feature. The account settings for Pro subscribers of the app are also expected to improve, as well as the general accessibility of the settings. Additionally, a setting for automatic playback and compression has been added to the app.
According to Sonos, they have also improved sub-audio settings with Amp (amplifier). They also plan to better inform users about firmware updates via notifications in the future. No further planned updates are known. However, it is assumed that Sonos will make significant improvements and upgrade its new app via update in the near future.