Without a doubt,
Sonos makes an excellent wireless distributed audio system. If we had to nit pick (and we do), then its massive controller, the
CR100 is easily the first thing to complain about. For starters it's a $400 remote control that does one thing, it controls your Sonos audio system. Granted, the CR100 is rugged, splashproof, and turns on in an instant thanks to a built-in accelerometer; features that can't justify the price, however, in light of the solid Sonos did its user base when it released a free
Sonos controller app for the iPhone and iPod touch. The app even one-ups the CR100 with its on-screen QWERTY since the CR100's scrollwheel isn't exactly the best interface for typing out the name of an artist search. So imagine our intrigue when we saw a new CR200 Sonos Controller pass through the FCC. The new controller appears to prefer a portrait orientation (instead of landscape like the CR100) and was tested across 802.11g WiFi frequencies with a 24Mbps fixed data rate. While that doesn't give us much to go on, at least it passed the tests meaning we could be close to an official announcement. Considering the controller's physical design hasn't changed since its launch in
January of 2005, a few more days or weeks of waiting shouldn't be a problem.
posted Jun 20th 2009 2:40AM
I know this has nothing to do with the topic, but does any one think apple will ever allow other companies to use their os instead of keeping it to them selves, im in a heated debate with one of my friends
Go Away.
but will it run crysis?
But will you shut up?
Unless they price this thing less than an iPod Touch or netbook, it is cheaper and more useful to buy either of the previous and download Sonos' own FREE software to control the zones.
I think Engadget is wrong in stating that it has an accelerometer. The controller I have has a "ball bearing" of sorts to trigger a mechanical switch. I can pick the thing up and as long as I don't jostle the ball bearing, it doesn't turn on. Perhaps newer models have an accelerometer?
Well from a standards perspective, Apple could take a lesson from Sonos on the requirements of European WEEE Directive mark....
Interestingly, it specified a compatible battery pack on the label (CB200). The current controller doesn't have a user replaceable battery, which seems to be a trend in consumer electronics. Also, from the FCC report, we can see the codename is "Woodstock". I'm going to go out on a limb here, and theorize that perhaps the new controller will also be able to act as a mobile ZonePlayer, or maybe (although I doubt this) be able to store music for use away from home. This would differentiate it from the iPod Touch + ZP software enough that it might be able to fetch the premium prices Sonos is used to charging for stuff.
if sonos adds wireless and maybe news/weather feeds this controller could do some damage but if they dont then most will likely opt for th ipod touch and just use the controls from that.
http://ziggytek.com/
Ok SONOS gives out a free gesture based UI for Ipod/Iphone.
And then we have the FCC reviewing a new controller?
Does anyone see a pattern here? It would be great to have a controller with touch screen UI.
But it would suck that i already have two controllers.
Since I currently use an iPod touch with my Sonos, I can tell you that there is one advantage to the Sonos controller: that it's wireless within the mesh network, *not* in your WiFi network. This is advantageous in situations where the Sonos mesh reaches to an outskirt location but your network doesn't. I had to get an extender for that very reason. Not that it makes the cost any less outrageous, but there are pros. Just sayin'.
Can anyone polease tell me there I can find this on the FCC site ?