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173 'Sonos' stories October 2013 - March 2016
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Sonos seemingly plans to compete with Siri/HomeKit as it announces layoffs to refocus on smart home control

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 10 2016 - 4:17 am PT
14 Comments

In a blog post long on words but short on specifics, wireless speaker firm Sonos has announced that it will be increasingly focusing on support for streaming music services – but also moving into voice control. CEO John Macfarlane says that in the immediate term, the company will need to layoff employees as part of its refocusing plans.

Macfarlane hints at a possible collaboration with Amazon, using Alexa, the company’s competitor to Siri.

We’re fans of what Amazon has done with Alexa and the Echo product line. Voice recognition isn’t new; today it’s nearly ubiquitous with Siri, OK Google, and Cortana. But the Echo found a sweet spot in the home and will impact how we navigate music, weather, and many, many other things as developers bring new ideas and more content to the Alexa platform …


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How-To: Get a Sonos-like whole-home speaker setup on a budget

Avatar for Chance Miller Mar 8 2016 - 5:40 pm PT
28 Comments
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Sonos speakers offer some of the best features in the game, but they come with one drawback: it’s expensive to get the whole-home setup that people love so much. The cheapest speaker, the Sonos Play:1 comes in at $200, while the Play:3 runs $299, and the Play:5 goes for $499. And remember, to get that whole-home setup, you’ll have to buy at least two speakers. While the Sonos speakers definitely offer the added benefit of being easy to use, it’s hard to justify spending so much if you’re living on a budget. Thankfully, there are a couple of other ways to get a whole-home speaker setup at a fraction of the cost…


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Free streaming music attacked at Grammys as Apple Music/Sonos ad airs during break [Video]

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Feb 16 2016 - 4:05 am PT
31 Comments

Free streaming music came under attack at last night’s Grammys, as Apple and Sonos aired a new Apple Music ad during the break.

Recording Academy President Neil Portnow and Common said that free tiers on streaming music services threaten the viability of music as a career, reports The Verge.

“Isn’t a song worth more than a penny?” Portnow asked the audience at the Staples Center, referring to the minuscule profits artists earn from ad-supported streaming. “Listen, we all love the convenience, and we support technologies like streaming, which connect us to that music. But we also have to make sure that artists grow up in a world where music is a viable career” …


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Sonos to officially support Apple Music starting tomorrow

Avatar for Chance Miller Feb 9 2016 - 3:27 pm PT
6 Comments
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After launching in public beta last December, Sonos has revealed that it will officially add support for Apple Music to its connected speaker lineup tomorrow, February 10th. We had an opportunity to go hands-on with Sonos support for Apple Music when the beta was announced last year and noted that in some cases, using Apple Music through the Sonos Controller app is better than Apple’s own app.


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Insteon adds Sonos integration to control speakers from its iOS app & hardware

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jan 6 2016 - 7:06 am PT
2 Comments

Users of Insteon’s connected home automation products will now be able to control their Sonos speakers directly from Insteon hardware and the company’s iOS app. The feature comes thanks to a new integration with Sonos that the company announced today at CES 2016.

With the integration, users will be able to control their Sonos speakers from the Insteon wall keypads, handheld remotes and sensors, as well as the company’s Hub app for iPhone and iPad. Instead offered some examples of how you can sync your Sonos speakers and music with lighting scenes and more:

Through this integration, music can now play a part in custom Insteon lighting scenes so that while the lights slowly fade on in the morning, gentle music resonates throughout the home and the coffee starts brewing. Alternatively, at dusk, the lights could fade on while users arrive home to their favorite dinner prep playlist.

You’ll also be able to make adjustments by assigning specific functions for Sonos (like volume up and down, for example) to the Insteon wall keypad. Sonos owners can easily control their speakers as they walk in and out of rooms or when they simply do not want the hassle of dealing with an app.

“It’s easy for homeowners to replace normal wall switches with Insteon keypads that can be used to control the existing light, while adding additional buttons for control of Sonos speakers or other lights and appliances throughout the home. Users can also pick up an Insteon wireless remote from the coffee table and instantly enjoy control at their fingertips. Insteon will be offering pre-printed keypad buttons specifically for Sonos related functions, which will make basic sound control even easier for anyone to use and understand.”

The Sonos integration for Insteon will go live some time this week via an update to the company’s iOS app on the App Store.

Sonos rolling out Apple Music support in beta from today

Avatar for Zac Hall Dec 15 2015 - 6:56 am PT
8 Comments

Sonos is beginning to roll out support for streaming Apple Music content to its wireless speakers starting today. The feature is available in beta and limited to select Sonos customers who signed up earlier this month when the update was first announced. Sonos will continue to add more people to the Apple Music beta ahead of a wider release to all Sonos customers early next year. I’ve had a chance to try out the Apple Music beta with Sonos, which works through the updated Sonos Controller app, and in some cases it looks better than Apple’s own app.


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Review: Sonos Play:5 packs premium sound in a sleek wireless speaker

Avatar for Zac Hall Dec 2 2015 - 11:00 am PT
7 Comments

A couple of months ago we took an in-depth preview look at the Sonos Play:5 all-in-one wireless speaker ahead of its release as the company unveiled its new Trueplay speaker tuning feature. The new Sonos Play:5 (2nd gen, $499) has since launched in stores and Apple Music streaming will be supported from December 15th. I’ve spent a few weeks testing a pair of new Play:5 speakers to see how it performs. The short answer is that it delivers on its promise of providing premium sound, but here’s how it compares to the cheaper Sonos Play:1 ($199) and mid-sized Sonos Play:3 ($299):

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Happy Hour Podcast 043 | Fresh iPhone 7 Rumors

Avatar for Dom Esposito Dec 2 2015 - 10:34 am PT
0 Comments

Recently, we’ve seen a good amount of iPhone 7 rumors with everything from USB-C support to Apple potentially removing the 3.5mm headphone jack. It all sounds a bit crazy, but today we’ll get to the bottom of the rumors and discuss what’s actually possible and what makes sense. Big thanks to Jamf Now (formerly Bushel) for sponsoring this week’s episode. To find out what awesome cloud-based mobile device management can do for you, check out https://www.jamf.com/happyhour.

[soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/235771643″ params=”auto_play=false&hide_related=false&show_comments=true&show_user=true&show_reposts=false&visual=true” width=”100%” height=”150″ iframe=”true” /]

The Happy Hour podcast is available for download on iTunes and through our dedicated RSS feed.


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Apple Music streaming is coming to Sonos speakers on December 15th

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 30 2015 - 10:37 am PT
2 Comments

Sonos users rejoice: Apple Music support now has a date, December 15th. Sonos support for Apple Music fulfills a promise made by Apple in June to bring the subscription service to the connected speakers by the end of the year. Opening the Apple Music catalog for subscribers and free trial members makes brings a massive collection of content to Sonos speakers. If you’re looking to jump into the Sonos ecosystem, 9to5Toys recently highlighted an excellent Play:1 Starter Set deal for $349, which includes two Sonos Play:1 units (reg. $199 each). Sonos also offers a medium-packaged Play:3 ($299) and a larger, all-new Play:5 ($499, previewed here).
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9to5Mac’s premium audio gift guide: special gifts for the music lover in your life

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Nov 26 2015 - 7:30 am PT
8 Comments
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If you’re buying gifts for music lovers in your life, there has never been a better time to do it: there’s a vast range of products to choose from at every price level. But here I’m focusing on the premium end of the market – a main gift for someone who you love as much as they love music!

These are products consistent with my philosophy of buying the right thing once. Gifts that will be appreciated as much a few years down the line as they will when first unwrapped.

Let’s start with headphones … 
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Sonos debuts new Trueplay speaker tuning feature with latest Controller iOS app

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 10 2015 - 8:11 am PT
2 Comments

Back in September, Sonos unveiled an impressive new feature for its wireless speakers called Trueplay. Using the built-in microphones on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, this Sonos feature lets you fine tune your speaker to the room it’s in while optimizing the sound regardless of placement. Starting today, Sonos users can use try out Trueplay using the latest version of the controller app for iOS.
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Sonos upgrades flagship Play:5 HiFi wireless speaker with new design, overhauled sound; unveils Trueplay tuning software

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 28 2015 - 8:59 pm PT
11 Comments

Five years in the making and fifteen months since its last speaker release, all-in-one speaker maker Sonos is ready to unveil its next flagship speaker to the world with the all-new Play:5. If the name sounds familiar, that’s because Play:5 is the same name as the previous flagship home speaker from Sonos before today. With its name unchanged, then what exactly is different with the latest premium connected speaker from Sonos? For starters there’s a streamlined design with a new input method for controlling playback. Sonically, the new Play:5 delivers an array of sound with volume that easily fills a sizable room.

And alongside the new Play:5, Sonos is releasing a new speaker calibration tool called Trueplay. Using the built-in mic on your iPhone or iPad, intelligent algorithms, and a bouncy sci-fi tone, Trueplay enables Sonos speaker owners to enhance their speakers to deliver enhanced sound in the home regardless of speaker placement. Current Sonos customers will be happy to learn that Trueplay isn’t just coming to the latest connected speaker either…
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Apple Music ‘adding features and cleaning up’ service this year, says iTunes Intl. VP

Avatar for Zac Hall Sep 3 2015 - 12:56 pm PT
12 Comments

While Apple Music’s content library may be plenty, there’s undoubtedly issues with the software behind it as the product is new and faces the hurdle of integration with lots of legacy iTunes cruft. Some may find that okay during the start of the three-month free trial period, but Apple’s streaming music service will have to shape up and quick if it wants to compete with Spotify and others in the same space. Oliver Schusser, iTunes International VP, tells The Guardian that Apple is currently working to clean up and improve the overall product:

“There’s a lot of work going into making the product better. Our focus is on editorial and playlists, and obviously we have teams all around the world working on that, but we’re also adding features and cleaning up certain things,” Oliver Schusser, vice president, iTunes International, told the Guardian.

Schusser is likely referring to improvements coming to the Music app in iOS 9, which Apple is expected to preview again next week and release later this month ahead of the iPhone 6S, but the exec also mentioned the upcoming Android version, Apple Music Connect, and Sonos support.
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Yamaha announces MusicCast Wi-Fi multi-room audio system, supports Apple Lossless + FLAC formats

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Aug 20 2015 - 7:26 am PT
5 Comments

If you want a Wi-Fi-based multi-room audio system, you so far haven’t had many alternatives to the market leader, Sonos. Other manufacturers offer their own solutions, but generally only in a handful of products. That looks set to change as Yamaha today announced that its MusicCast system will be supported by more than 20 products, with pricing starting from $250. That includes all but one of its 2015 receivers, reports CNET.

Unlike Sonos, MusicCast supports five different lossless audio formats, including Apple Lossless, FLAC and WAV. It’s controlled by an iOS app, which can stream both your own music library and services like Spotify, Pandora and Rhapsody. Support for Apple Music seems likely further down the road … 
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Everything you hate about Apple Music & what needs improving before converting switchers

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jul 2 2015 - 1:16 pm PT
170 Comments
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Many have praised Apple Music’s launch this week, although the focus has largely been on the free component of the service, a 24/7 streaming radio station called Beats 1. But how are users reacting to the rest of the Apple Music service? It received a lot of positive reviews in the media, but users have noticed some user experience issues and technical hiccups with Apple Music that might keep them from making a switch from the competition when the service’s free three month trial is up. Since the issues aren’t getting a lot of attention from the main stream media, I wanted to share everything we hate about Apple Music so far and what Apple needs to fix before converting potential switchers:
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Apple Music will be available on Sonos speakers by end of the year

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Jun 28 2015 - 7:14 am PT
22 Comments
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Update: Apple has confirmed in a statement to Buzzfeed that Apple is working with Sonos to get Apple Music available on the connected speaker system by the end of the year. Original story below.

Apple Music senior director Ian Rogers — ex Beats Music CEO — has announced on Twitter that integration with Sonos for Apple Music is coming as soon as possible. Although Beats Music did have native support on the popular internet-connected speaker system, there have been no announcements about a partnership with Apple Music so far. In the tweet, Rogers confirms that there will be no Sonos integration at launch.


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Beats almost had a Sonos killer built before Apple bought them and killed it

Avatar for Chance Miller Jun 12 2015 - 5:09 pm PT
35 Comments
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According to a new report from Variety, Beats was developing a line of Sonos-like speakers before it was acquired by Apple. When the Apple acquisition occurred, development of the connected speakers was stopped, according to the report. Some of the engineers that were working on the project were moved to other teams, while others have since left the company.

The line of speakers that Beats had planned was originally slated to launch before the 2014 holiday season. While the company already offers several Bluetooth-based speakers, the company wanted to develop a new line that combined Bluetooth, WiFi, and NFC technologies to allow for more seamless playback. Beats was planning a large, living room speaker that was reportedly going to be priced at around $750, as well as several smaller, more affordable options.


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Sonos Controller app updated w/ quick Rooms access, new iPad UI, improved search, more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 3 2015 - 7:57 am PT
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Sonos is today rolling out version 5.3 of its Sonos Controller app for iOS to introduce a few new features and a tweaked user interface. 

The feature being highlighted above others in the update is easier access to controlling the app’s Rooms feature: Effortlessly move your music around your home with a more accessible ROOMS menu available by tapping the top of any screen in the Sonos app. Group and ungroup rooms from the ROOMS menu to play music in perfect synchrony throughout your home.

Also new in the update is an updated user experience for iPad users that offers new, separate views for currently playing music and discovery features:

  • More engaging browse experience for tablets. Version 5.3 provides separate views for music discovery and what’s currently playing.
  • Last browsed on a phone or tablet. Quickly return to the last place you browsed.
    • Touch to view the last place you browsed. On your phone, you can also go back to the last place you browsed by swiping down on the Now Playing screen.
    • Touch the collapsed Now Playing screen at the bottom of the screen to return to full-screen view.

Sonos highlighted a few other new features including more readily available search and a new playback progress slider.

The updated app, version 5.3, is available on the App Store now.

What’s New in Version 5.3

SIMPLER ROOM CONTROL AND FASTER ACCESS TO ALL YOUR MUSIC.

Effortlessly move your music around your home with a more accessible Rooms menu available by tapping the top of any screen in the Sonos app.

A more engaging browse experience for tablets with dedicated screens for what’s playing and music discovery.

Simplified track progression bar, just below the album art in the Now playing screen. Drag it to whatever point in the song you want to play. This is only applicable for music sources that allow this.

Switch between screens by swiping down from the Now Playing screen to go back to browsing your music. Then swipe from far left to right to show all your music sources.

Search is now more readily available so you can quickly find and play music.

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Sonos Controller app updated for iOS 8 & iPhone 6/Plus, Sonos Boost support

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Oct 14 2014 - 8:43 am PT
2 Comments

Sonos today updated its Controller app for iPhone and iPad bringing full support for iOS 8 and optimizations for the new larger iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus. The app, which offers control of wi-fi connected Sonos audio hardware, also now supports the company’s new Sonos Boost enterprise-grade wi-fi extender accessory:

This update includes support for SONOS BOOST, an accessory that provides enterprise-grade wireless performance for your Sonos system so you get unparalleled reliability – even in homes that are known to have wireless connectivity problems.

Announced earlier this year, the Sonos Boost accessory is available starting today from the Sonos website and other retailers. The Boost will sell for $99 USD, slightly higher than the similar but less powerful $49 Sonos Bridge the company previously offered. “Similar to the BRIDGE ($49 USD), BOOST connects directly to your router to create a dedicated network, allowing all your Sonos speakers and components to talk to each other, with up to 50% greater wireless range.”

Version 5.1.1 of the Sonos Controller app for iOS is available on the App Store now.

What’s New in Version 5.1.1

SUPPORT FOR SONOS BOOST
This update includes support for SONOS BOOST, an accessory that provides enterprise-grade wireless performance for your Sonos system so you get unparalleled reliability – even in homes that are known to have wireless connectivity problems.

SUPPORT FOR NEW APPLE DEVICES AND OPERATING SYSTEMS
This update includes support for iOS 8, including support for iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

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9to5Toys Last Call: free Amazon credit w/ Sonos, Netatmo iOS weather station $150, Seiki 39″ 4K $400, more

Avatar for Jun 2 2014 - 3:00 pm PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Get a $50 Amazon credit and 6 months of Google Play w/ a Sonos PLAY:3 or PLAY:5

Netatmo Weather Station for iOS and Android Devices $150 shipped (Reg. $179)

Seiki 39-inch 4K Class Ultra HDTV w/ HDMI: $400 shipped (Reg. $700)


Other new deals:

  • New! Bluetooth Speakers: Sony Portable NFC system: $98 shipped (Reg. $150), more
  • New! Games/Apps: Diablo 3 $20, up to 66% off Batman Arkham (Mac), iOS freebies, more
  • New! LifeProof frē water/shock proof case cover for iPad Air: $66 shipped (Reg. $110)
  • New! iPad Deals: iPad Air 64GB WiFi $580 (Reg. $699), free $50 gift card w/ iPad Air, more
  • New! Up to 30% off MacPaw apps: Gemini, Hider 2, CleanMyMac, more
  • New! Printers: Canon Portable w/ AirPrint $75 (Reg. $100), HP All-in-One $230 (Reg. $300)
  • New! Daily Deals: Beats by Dre Solo Headphones: $80, Pioneer 4K Receiver: $250, more
  • New! More than 50% off select ‘Scroogled’ apparel


More deals still alive:

New products/useful info:

Giveaways presented by SlickWraps: Apple TV, $100 iTunes gift card, $50 SlickWraps gift card, more

The above contest is now over, congratulations to our winners: @Jemarch86, @austinkeith and @robertburnspr – stay tuned for more great giveaways…

Microsoft/Google/Android:

Sonos releases redesigned iPhone & iPad apps w/ universal search & more

Avatar for Jordan Kahn May 13 2014 - 6:28 am PT
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First launched a couple months back as a beta for Android users, Sonos today announced that its redesigned mobile app for iPhone and iPad users is now available. On top of a streamlined interface with a darker color palette (pictured above), the app also introduces a new universal search feature and much more:
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9to5Toys Last Call: Up to 50% off Kingston SSDs, Free Super Bowl music, PNY 128GB USB3 flash drive $57, more

Avatar for Feb 3 2014 - 10:20 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals: 

Computer Components & Peripherals:

Free and discounted music from Super Bowl Halftime performers on Google Play

PNY 128GB USB 3.0 flash drive: $57 shipped (Reg. $100)


Other great deals from today:

More great deals still alive:

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9to5Toys Cyber Monday: ZAGG 50% off, Logitech UE BT speakers, Belkin Lightning dock $18, Adobe Lightroom $70, MacBook Airs, more

Avatar for Dec 2 2013 - 9:48 am PT
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Take a few moments out of your Cyber Monday to cash in on some terrific deals! Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+

Update: Pad and Quill is taking: 20% off iPhone cases,  25% off MacBook cases for 9to5 readers

Update2: Adobe Lightroom: under $70 shipped.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

ZAGG Cyber Monday: 20% off tablet keyboards, 50% off everything else (InvisibleSHIELD, Lightning cables, more)

Belkin Charge and Sync Lightning dock w/ built-in USB cable $17.50 (Reg. $35)

Apple MacBook Air 11.6″ $870 shipped (Reg. $1,060), MacBook Pros $100-$200 off

Adobe Photoshop Lightroom 5 for Mac/PC or Photoshop/Premiere Elements: $70 shipped

 

SanDisk MicroSD Cards: 16GB: $10 (50% off), 32GB: $17 (76% off), 64GB: $35 (65% off)

The best Cyber Monday tech deals from around the web

Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive: