Quick Summary
Sonos is reportedly considering bringing its old app back.
Work continues on fixing the newer version, which lacked features some customers felt were crucial.
The Sonos app issue continues to cause big problems for the company. The firm has reportedly delayed two key product launches while it focuses its energies on fixing its app, and a new report says that it's now considering something previously unthinkable – bringing the old Sonos app back.
The Sonos app update was one of the biggest redesigns in the app's history, but when it launched earlier this year many users found that they could no longer access familiar, and in their view crucial, features. After initially dropping the PR ball Sonos has committed to fortnightly app updates to fix problems and restore missing features. But according to The Verge it's now considering a massive U-turn.
Why would Sonos bring the old app back?
According to the report, there have been discussions "high up within Sonos" about bringing back S2, the previous version of the Sonos app. For context, the newer version's Google Play rating is just 1.3 stars.
That doesn't mean Sonos plans to abandon the new version of its app, and it has no plans to drop its fortnightly update schedule. But making the older one available again might take some of the pressure off as it continues to work on getting the newer app right.
As Sonos CEO Patrick Spence told investors during last week's earnings call, "Far too many of our customers are having an experience that is worse than what they previously had".
While Spence remains committed to the new app – he's consistently said that he sees it as the future for Sonos, especially in regard to new products we haven't seen yet – Spence has also admitted that the bad publicity around the app has overshadowed the launch of the Sonos Ace headphones. It's also been very expensive: Spence says that in the near future, updating the newer app will cost between $20 and $30 million.
-
3 overrated shoulder exercises, according to a fitness expert (and what to do instead)Sculpt 3D shoulders whilst minimising injury with these three alternative exercises
-
Polar’s new subscription feature lands in the shadow of Garmin’s Connect+ rolloutPR genius or timing disaster? Polar’s new Fitness Programme adds adaptive training to its ecosystem
-
Sonos “closing gaps” in its app, but a full fix is far from finishedSome significant features are still absent, such as the playlist editing originally promised for November
-
Apple TV rival cancelled by major competitor – but it might return in some form laterIf you were waiting for Sonos to launch its TV streaming box we've got some bad news
-
The Sonos-streaming turntable is getting an upgrade to make it more than SonosA free upgrade will give your Victrola turntable streaming superpowers
-
Sonos planned a crazy new product for iPhone owners, but reportedly scrapped itSonos had a plan for an iPhone accessory, but it didn't come to pass
-
Sonos' streaming box is reportedly beautiful and could replace your Apple TV, except for one thingEverything about Sonos's new streaming box sounds great... well, nearly everything
-
It’s the end of the line for the Sonos ArcSonos's superb soundbar has finally been discontinued – but for good reason
-
Harman Kardon's new Dolby Atmos soundbars and speakers take the fight to SonosHarman Kardon's new Enchant series could be a serious multiroom alternative
-
Sonos Era 100 review: a superb small smart speakerIt's no longer new, but is the entry-level Sonos speaker still the smart speaker to buy?
