Sonos Era 100 Pro & new Zones feature now available

Photo: Sonos

Sonos announced the availability of its first speaker designed specifically for professional installers: the Era 100 Pro. This Ethernet-powered speaker is sold in pairs through authorized Sonos installation partners. Pricing is set by these partners, with one Toronto installer estimating a price of $409 each, or $499 CAD with a wall mount. Buyers should note the Era 100 Pro requires a powered Ethernet connection because it won't work with typical wired home networks.

Alongside the new speaker, Sonos has introduced Zones in its app. This new feature allows for the creation of semi-permanent speaker collections of up to 16 compatible devices, simplifying control in commercial settings. Zones offer synchronized content and volume, with individual speaker trim and EQ adjustments. 

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Sonos weighs old app revival

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Sonos has been grappling with the issues surrounding the redesigned app it launched in April. The buggy, incomplete app was met with widespread criticism and customer dissatisfaction. Despite the company's efforts to address the issues, the app continues to cause frustration for users.

In an attempt to alleviate the situation, Sonos leadership is reportedly considering a return to its previous "S2" app. This move would provide a temporary solution for users while the company works to resolve the problems with the newer app.

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The Sonos app overhaul: A costly miscalculation

The new Sonos app (Photo: Sonos)

Sonos’s ambitious redesign of its app promised a more modern, customizable, and user-friendly experience. However, two months later, the overhaul has proven to be a colossal misstep. While the company has been frantically backtracking with frequent updates to restore missing features, widespread customer frustration persists.

In a damage control effort, CEO Patrick Spence issued a public apology, acknowledging the significant disruption caused by the new app. The mea culpa comes after initial responses were perceived as tone-deaf, given the app’s numerous bugs and shortcomings.

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Sonos unveils redesigned mobile and web apps

Photo: Sonos

Sonos is shaking things up with a major update to its mobile app, launching on May 7 for both iOS and Android. This complete overhaul focuses on speed and ease of use, with a brand-new homescreen that puts everything you need at your fingertips.

Gone is the tabbed navigation bar. Now, you can customize the layout to prioritize your favourite playlists, line-in sources, and even specific carousels from music services (like Spotify's "New releases"). A persistent search bar at the bottom lets you find music quickly while swiping up from the mini player reveals a system overview for volume control and grouping speakers.

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