Apps and Hardware - Where Do You Stand?

2 or 3 years ago, I bought a Sonos system after experiencing at a friend's house. Whilst the sound was fine, what I loved was the iPad App which, in my (experienced) view, was a masterpiece of user experience: it was beautifully simple and did everything you'd hope in the way that you wanted it. It's what sold me on Sonos.

Anyhow, a year or so ago, they "upgraded" the App and, what was so beautiful in my eyes, became a steaming pile of crap. Steps that used to take one or two clicks became 5 clicks, information was hidden, screen real estate got used up with rubbish - it was truly horrible.

Now here's the thing: they basically ruined the product I had bought. I resisted upgrading the App as long as I could but, eventually, I was forced to. I felt like I'd bought an elegant and refined car and, one day, collecting it from a service, I find they'd taken it to Halfords for a Max Power/Ripspeed refit. And there's nothing I can do about it.

I've actually signed up for their beta tester programme in the hope of influencing future editions and there were plenty of complains on the App Store.

But it does raise the question of what you've actually bought and how much use might you get out of it. And, if they screw it up at some point in the future, what rights do you have? Not many, I suspect.

Good point, Rich. This has happened with a number of apps I've had. It is also a nuisance when (like I do) you own an older version of a device and then can no longer use things you've bought and paid for.

Are there any third party apps that are more what you need or is it pretty tied down to the official app?

I think it's pretty much tied up AFAIK.

That's one of the good things about Philips Hue lighting systems - it's been opened up for 3rd party apps which bring lots of innovation (and therefore value) to the product and this is going to be needed in the Internet of Things. (in full disclosure, I work for Philips - though the lighting bit is being spun off as a separate company).

I think Garmin are beginning to come around to more open source. It is, after all, what has made smart phones so successful and will become more and more critical.

Quick google throws up sonopad.com?

Ooh - I'll take a look - thanks

I was very tempted to get some sonos gear, but instead opted for single room set up (with optional second zone), music streaming from DLNA server or ipad/iphones.

The annoying thing is the GUI on both the phones/ipads isn't that great and on the ONKYO receiver its pretty dire (even when its displayed on the TV). I was hoping when I bought my PS4 that it would have inbuilt DLNA streaming but Sony don't seem to have covered it yet.

As it happens I don't even use it that often. Only when the kids want to listen to Frozen for the unpteenth time or when everyone else it out and I have the house to myself!

I stopped upgrading my Android apps after finding so many negative reviews for the "upgrades", with features being lost or the user experience deteriorating. The Barclays app is another good example, it wasn't broke, yet they fixed it (ruined it) and forced you to upgrade.

But sometimes you can find some kind soul has preserved an .apk of an old and favourite version, so use that instead...
.

When the ps3 first came out you could install Linux on it. It was also compatible with Super Audio CD's. Both of these features were actually printed on the retail box, but both features were later removed with firmware update. More than a bit annoying if those features influenced your buying decision.

Lifx lightbulbs had features listed on the box that were not enabled until a year after the product was released.

Plex is currently the daddy for multi-room media sharing, and interestingly, every new release gets better.

It can be used like Sonos (e.g. playing music in one room, fling it to another device in another room etc), but on many more devices and without the proprietary hardware - the main thing that put me off Sonos.

They have Windows Phone, iOS, Android, SmartTV, Xbox, PlayStation, Windows (x86/x64), Linux and Roku apps - literally no reason to use anything else!

Yep I use Plex and have been for a couple of years, although only for video... I share music with a combination of iTunes Library sharing and logitech media server (squeezebox).

I’m a Plex user too. I run the server on a Mac and I mostly watch through an Xbox One – the interface through that is lovely (and voice control is ace).

That’s for video though. I use iTunes for music around the house.

American Airlines hate this too, apparently...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-32513066

I like(d) Sonos for the simplicity and robustness - I have the Soundbar and Play 1 in my apartment and a Play 5 at home (which everybody loves). I use Spotify, Audible, Amazon music, iTunes etc etc through it and it all interfaces nicely. Unfortunately the hardware etc is now let down by the interface which was originally its key selling point (like one day discovering they've removed the turbo from your Coupe).

But, it's really the question of your rights and what have you actually paid for? If, tomorrow, Sonos decide that the system is only going to play Agadoo all day, what comeback do you have?

push pineapple, shake the tree?

I guess it depends on the t+c's of the application and any service agreement you entered as part of any account. Interesting point though I could see a class action in the US at some point related to this kind of issue.

I know this is a tangent, but Plex updated their system’s music capabilities today, in a big way.

https://blog.plex.tv/2015/04/30/plex-music-goes-eleven/

Surely if you never update the firmware on the base or remote units then it'll function "as is" indefinitely and you've still got exactly what you initially paid for?

This is why I always disable automatic updates. Unless the design sucks and requires an internet connection and forces automatic updates with no option to disable them.

Yup - until you want to add another component (which naturally comes loaded with the new software/firmware). Or until there's an IOS update that requires a new version of the App. Or you get a new phone for which you need to load the latest app.

Hell yeah! Thanks mate - shall go upgrade me server right away.