Sonos
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Amazon Cloud Player now lets you play content on your Sonos system, helps get the party started
Along with letting us know it had pleasantly updated its Cloud Player with 256 Kbps matched files, Amazon also briefly mentioned that Sonos compatibility would be coming sometime "soon." Well, it turns out you won't have to wait much longer to blast those jams on your HiFi wireless speakers, as the online retailer's announced its Cloud Player can now be used with any Sonos system. Naturally, the experience will be enhanced by using one of Amazon's apps, including those on iOS and, of course, its own Kindle Fire -- though you're not limited to these, as there are plenty more ways to stream content. Sound good? You can give it a try yourself now, or check out the meaty presser after the break if you're interested in perusing over the official notes.
Sonos finally adds retina support to iOS app, tablet UI on Android
It's taken over two years, but Sonos has finally added high-res graphics to its iOS apps to support the Retina Display. The music streaming remote has been saddled with an interface designed for much lower resolutions until today's update which finally ushered it into the modern age. Thankfully, the company brought Retina support to both the iPhone and iPad app in one fell swoop, avoiding letting one version lag behind the other. The Android remote also got a nice update today, finally delivering a tablet UI. The app has technically supported Google-powered slates for sometime, but it lacked a truly optimized interface with multiple columns like the iPad version. Hit up the source links to download them now.
Sonos, 1Password apps receive Retina updates
A couple of well-known apps have received updates today providing all of the Retina display love that you've been waiting for. 1Password for Mac and the Sonos Controller apps for iPhone and iPad now have bazillions of more pixels for your viewing pleasure. Over at AgileBits, ex-TUAWer David Chartier noted that "Our valiant designer, Dan Peterson, just got done hand-crafting over three and a half million new pixels just for you, owners of the new MacBook Pro with Retina display. And boy is his paint brush tired! ba-dum" The update to 1Password 3.9.6 for Mac is free for Mac App Store customers, while those who purchased the app via the website get a free upgrade to 1Password 3.8.20 for Mac (go to 1Password > Check for Updates). Next, if you have a Sonos wireless HiFi system, you'll be happy to know that the Sonos Controller apps for iPhone and iPad have high-resolution graphics designed for Retina display devices. Sonos also noted that they've added the ability to use the hard volume buttons on your favorite iOS device to control your Sonos system volume.
Sonos Sub a welcome addition to wireless speaker system
Sonos has released the Sub, a smart subwoofer that works with the Sonos family of wireless speakers. The team took a unique approach to research and design and the results sound great. I got to spend about an hour discussing and listening to the Sub at Sonos offices in Cambridge, Massachusetts. While your wallet might reflexively tighten at the US$699 price tag, your ears will be glad you spent the money. Here's my look at the new Sonos Sub. Design When the team at Sonos decided to create a sub, they visited music lovers with existing subwoofers in their homes, across several countries. "The chief complaint we got," said Craig Wisneski, product manager at Sonos, "is that users didn't like how their subwoofers looked." Craig noted that people tried several solutions to get their subwoofers out of sight, including hiding it behind, along side and sometimes even under furniture. The Sonos team addressed this concern by creating several large, foam geometric shapes: a cone, a cube, a sphere and so on. They then asked the users to select the shape they found most appealing, and imagine were it could live in their home. The vast majority chose the box shape represented by the Sonos Sub today. As you could imagine, the engineering team was then handed a unique challenge: design a fantastic subwoofer that would fit inside the customer's choice of case. "There was an uncomfortable silence at that first meeting," Craig told me. I bet. The result looks great. The sleek, glossy Sub (a matte finish model will be available late this year) is pretty enough to leave out in the open. The two custom-designed, oval speakers face each other in the center of the cabinet (if the Sub were a donut, the speakers would be in the hole), allowing you to position it however you want. Even under the furniture. Use The Sub sounds great. Rib-rattling great. But before I get to that, let me talk about setup and integration with other Sonos products. The demo unit I heard was paired with two Play:3 speakers, each on a riser about 5' off the ground. The Play:3s were in portrait orientation. I mention this because the Sonos speakers are clever enough to note how they're oriented and adjust their output accordingly. In portrait mode, the two drivers and one tweeter are in a column, and the Sonos software fiddles with the EQ to optimize that setup. The Sub likewise recognizes that it's got two Play:3s available to it and adjusts its own EQ settings accordingly. If a Play:5 was in the mix, it would react to that, too. Of course, you can fiddle with basic EQ settings manually if you like, but I suspect most people won't (and won't need to). Setup is so basic I hesitate to even mention it. On the bottom you'll find a power port and an ethernet port. That's it. Once turned on, the it recognizes other devices and is pretty much ready to go. Sound I sent music to the Sonos setup from several streaming services via the iPad app, including Spotify, Rdio and Pandora. The app is great and allows you go create playlists on the fly and even interject music from several sources into a single playlist. iTunes music stored on a computer and a slew of Internet radio stations are also available. The first track we listened to was a bit of reggae and the bass shook my sternum. But don't get the wrong impression. The Sub provides much more than volume. Next we listened to Billie Jean by Michael Jackson. Thriller is a master class in pop music production, and the Sub does justice to Quincy Jones's work. As the song transitioned from the first verse to the refrain, I turned to Craig and said, "I've never heard this song like that." And I meant it. The "shh-shh" of the hi-hat was razor sharp while the Sub accentuated the punch of each snare drum stroke with an appropriately solid shot. We turned it up loud and the case never rattled. Finally, the guys indulged me and let me blast a little Van Halen (the poor Sonons office workers!). "Drop Dead Legs" sounded as if we were in Eddie's 5150 studio. Conclusion Here's a very nice solution for serious music lovers. You'll spend a grand on the setup Sonos showed me: two Play:3s and a Sub. That's no impulse buy. But the results are really tremendous (and, honestly, less expensive that several other high-end setups). The Sub competently adds a welcome bottom-end to the Sonos setup and looks great. If you can swing it, definitely pick it up.
Sonos Sub review
More Info Sonos' wireless Sub adds extra thump to your Sonos system for $700 (ears-on) Sonos Play:3 review Sonos S5 ears-on review: a premium iPod speaker dock without the dock Every audio product Sonos has delivered so far has worked on the assumption that you would never need anything else after you bought it, whether it's linking to a sound system you already owned or an all-in-one system that Sonos built itself, like the Play:3 or Play:5 (born as the S5). The newly released Sub, by its nature, is entirely dependent on having one of the two Play speakers, and shows the company is becoming more of a traditional audio brand with a full ecosystem. A primary Sonos component can now be just the first step in a growing collection that improves as you expand it -- much as you'd buy a basic stereo, then better speakers, then more at a high-end audio shop. The Sub's $699 price certainly catapults any Sonos system into high-end territory, however, and sets some decidedly lofty expectations for how it will perform. We'll find out after the break if the sheer power and a few clever tricks are enough for the Sub to be an essential ingredient of a wireless home audio setup.%Gallery-158435%
Switched On: Cisco's hard-luck hardware
Each week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology. When you think about companies that dominate specific technology markets, alongside names such as Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Intel. SAP and Oracle, you would no doubt include Cisco Systems. Founded in 1984, the networking giant, which has grown largely via acquisition over the years, earned $43 billion of revenue in 2011. That placed it at #64 on the 2011 Fortune 500. Cisco has a current market value of about $113 billion. Linksys, acquired in 2003, has remained among the top-selling home networking brands, and Cisco recently moved to bolster its TV service provider business -- formerly known as Scientific Atlanta -- with the acquisition of NDS. But for all the success that Cisco has had building connections among network endpoints, the company has had a tough road when it's come to selling end-user devices directly to end-users over the last few years.
Sonos 3.8 update adds Mountain Lion support
Sonos, which was a bit tardy when it came to adding Lion support after having to rework some of its software, is ready for Mountain Lion. The home music system software has been updated to version 3.8, and along with it comes Mountain Lion support. There are a few enhancements to the Sonos Controller app as well, which allows it to fit better onto smaller-sized screens -- such as the 11-inch MacBook Air -- and resizing the mini controller by clicking an icon at the top of the app's window.
Sonos' wireless Sub adds extra thump to your Sonos system for $700 (ears-on)
Although we generally raved about the performance of Sonos' Play:3 wireless HiFi speakers, one of our chief complaints rested in their slightly muddy bass output. Folks who've felt similarly should be pleased to know that the company has unveiled its first subwoofer, dubbed Sonos Sub. This $700 bass-dropper works wirelessly with your existing Sonos speakers, requiring a quick a setup within the app to ensure it's in-phase and putting out an adequate level of volume. You'll only find a single cable and switch for power on the outside, while looking through its center reveals a duo of "force-cancelling" drivers. Two internal air-ports also flow from top to bottom to aid in the unit's bass reproduction. We gave a pre-production unit a very brief listen with a stereo array of Sonos Play:3s and came out fairly impressed. The speakers are no slouches on their own, but there's no denying the extra power a sub can add to the HiFi boxes. Measuring in at 15.8 x 6.2 x 15 inches (402 x 158 x 380mm) the Sub dwarf's even the larger Play:5, but a Sonos rep let us know it ensures it'll cover a range of spaces -- not mention folks using the Connect:Amp with their own HiFi speakers (Sonos' Connect, ZP90 and ZP80 aren't compatible, however). We got pleasing results from our unit planted on a table a few feet away from any walls, and the system didn't show any signs or shaking or rattling. The Sub can thankfully rest sideways for placement under some couches, but you'll likely want to "set it and forget it" since it weighs about 36 pounds. Our only displeasure rests in the glossy finish -- a magnet for fingerprints and dust -- but we're told a non-gloss version will be offered later for $100 less. You'll be able to pick up this wub-maker come June 19, so check out the video and press release after the break for more info in the meantime. %Gallery-155914%
Sonos to bring subscription-based QQ Music service to its hardware in China
Wireless HiFi maker, Sonos, has just signed a deal with Tencent Holdings to provide the QQ Music service direct via its hardware in China. The holdings firm owns the QQ suite of internet services that boasts a massive user base in the country. QQ Music already exists in an ad-supported form, but the new partnership will break it out directly into audio equipment, and hopefully encourage users over to the premium paid-for version. The consumer preview is available on all Sonos systems if China now via the Sonos controller. A personalized version will follow, later this year.
Sonos drops dedicated controllers in favor of iOS and Android apps
It was probably inevitable. Sonos, maker of wireless, whole-house music systems, will halt production of the handheld Sonos Control after May 31. The company has offered iPhone and iPad controller apps for years, which are free and offer a complete set of features. I doubt the company sold many hardware controllers at US$349 when you could buy an iPod touch for about half the price and accomplish the same thing. When the Sonos system was first offered for sale 10 years ago, smartphones were new, and some kind of small controller was necessary. With the invention of the iPhone, and the later ability to have dedicated apps, it was natural for Sonos to offer full control that way. An iPad app followed, and the dedicated controllers have become more and more irrelevant. It's a small chapter in the larger book of changes that smartphone apps have added to the way we entertain ourselves, communicate and control household items like cable boxes, DVRs, and even security and lighting systems.
Sonos listens to reason, drops dedicated controller in favor of smartphone apps
Sonos will halt the sale of its pricey CR200 remote control from June 1st, after acknowledging that it's been nudged into obsolescence by free software controllers for Macs, PCs, tablets and smartphones. It'll honor warranties and issue software updates for the "foreseeable future," but CEO John MacFarlane indicates the decision was inevitable, having been brewing ever since the "early days of the iPhone explosion." That never stopped his company from selling the CR200 for a hefty $349, but then again he probably deserves some respect for finally making the call. After all, rival Logitech charges a premium for its own touchscreen-equipped Duet and Touch controllers, even if you only use them once during installation and then never go near them again.
Engadget Giveaway: win a limited edition Sonos Play:3 and ZoneBridge, courtesy of Sonos!
We're not settling down after last weekend's crazy pair of giveaways -- in fact, we're just getting started! When it comes to bragging rights, a solid limited edition product to show off can't be beat, especially when it's a highly coveted Sonos system. New York artist / musician Hisham Bharoocha of Black Dice fame has taken his stenciled styling talents to no more than 150 limited edition Sonos Play:3 systems (some of which can be seen below), and one of them may end up in your hands alongside a ZoneBridge thrown in for good measure. You know the drill -- read the rules, leave a comment below and keep those fingers crossed!
Sonos' new controller apps now available for kicking out those jams
Remember those revamped Sonos apps the company teased last week? Now they can be yours whenever you choose to update the software on your OS X or Windows computer. As well as a refreshed user interface, you'll get unified search, drag-and-drop functionality and one-touch party mode -- although it turns out, that last one doesn't suddenly make a party appear in your house. Shame, that.
Sonos shows off upcoming Controller apps for Windows and Mac
You unfortunately can't download them yet, but Sonos has now detailed just what folks can expect from its newly redesigned Sonos Controller apps for Mac and Windows. In addition to a completely revamped look, they'll offer an improved search box that promises to make it easier to find music across various services, as well as expanded drag-and-drop functionality, more accessible sleep timer and alarm settings, and an all new mini player -- not to mention a "one-touch Party Mode," which lets you adjust the volume in grouped rooms simultaneously. Head on past the break for a quick video, and look for the updates themselves to be available sometime next week.
Google makes 'next gen personal communications device,' is testing it in employee abodes
We first heard about Google's foray into home-based hardware late last week, when it asked the FCC for Special Temporary Authority (STA) to have employees test an "entertainment device" in their homes (as opposed to a lab). According to the New York Times and Wall Street Journal, it's rumored to be a Sonos-like device related to the Android@Home Tungsten hub we saw at Google I/O last year. It appears, however, that's not all Google's got in store, as some information has trickled out about another Google-branded gadget. Apparently, it's a "next generation personal communication device," and Mountain View has asked the FCC for another STA to test 102 of them in the same cities as the aforementioned entertainment box: Mountain View, LA, New York and Cambridge, Massachusetts.Why? Well, Google wants to track its Bluetooth performance and evaluate "the throughput and stability of the home WiFi networks that will support the device" in a real-world setting. Other details about the device are scant, but we do know that testing on this second Google-made gadget is ongoing through July 15th, so here's hoping we can get a glimpse of one between now and then. Check out the FCC docs for both devices at the source below, and feel free to sound off on what you think Google's got in store in the comments after.
Sonos software updates bring Android tablet support, Slacker and Spotify upgrades
Wireless music streaming kingpins Sonos rolled out a number of software updates tonight, including System Software 3.6, which brings added controls to Sonos Wireless HiFi, integration with Slacker and some improvements to the service's Spotify offerings. The newly revamped Sonos Controller for Android, meanwhile, offers up support for Android tablets running 2.2 or higher. More info after the jump.
Sonos updates software for iOS 5, Lion
It has taken a long time but the Sonos software is now Lion friendly. When Lion came out in July, Apple substantially changed the way shares work, and the popular Sonos home music system depended on the SMB protocol to share with your iTunes library. In Lion, Apple moved to a proprietary method, and that started the problems and caused a lot of anger among Sonos owners. Streaming services like Pandora, SiriusXM, or Spotify worked fine, but you couldn't get access to you own music if you had your files on your main computer or an external drive. Some people had their music on a Network Attached Storage device, or NAS, but Lion broke some of those as well. I've tested the Sonos update, and it does the trick, which will make music starved Sonos customers happy. If you are using the iOS Sonos remote apps have an update today as well. Happy listening.
playGo USB does wireless audio in the style of a kitchen counter top (update)
Audiophiles wanting to wirelessly liberate their music from desktop speakers have a tough choice -- buy a $99 Airport Express, which uses a less-than-ideal 3.5mm line-out jack, or spend big on a Sonos. Audiophiles wanting to wirelessly liberate their music from desktop speakers can either grab a $99 Airport Express or a $299 Sonos Play:3. Bicom's playGo USB is the new cord cutting kid on the block, and it's aiming for the middle slice of that market. For $450 you get a transmission unit which connects via microUSB to your computer and a receiver that connects to your HiFi with RCA or Optical cables. Song streaming couldn't be easier, the two have a range of 75 feet and pair up automatically over the 2.4 GHz band to send 24-bit sound to your beloved home audio kit. To stand out from the crowd, the playGo is hewn from Corian (yes, the stuff used for kitchen counter tops) and has a layer of LEDs to add some color to your musical experience. It's currently on sale for $400, but let's be honest -- you can't put a price on freedom from wires, can you? Update: The Airport Express' line-out port is a hybrid -- capable of using analog or optical cables. Update 2: We incorrectly wrote in the original version of this post that the Sonos Play:3 was more expensive than the playGo USB, the Play:3 is $299 [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
Sonos Play:3 review
Sonos may not inspire the sort of high-end audio lust that a company like Polk can, but it doesn't draw the ire of serious audiophiles the way Bose does either. It straddles a fine line between respectability and gimmicky, and rightfully so -- Sonos isn't really an audio company in the purest sense of the term. Rather than loading up its components with vacuum tubes and gold-plated connectors, units like the recently launched Play:3 make their mark by incorporating wireless streaming -- a feature that's actually painless to setup. They're for people who have embraced the digital music revolution, but don't want to be stuck sitting in front of the computer or tethered to an iPod when the mood to groove strikes. The Play:3 also happens to be the first accelerometer-packing speaker we've ever tested that dynamically changes the EQ based on its orientation. As usual all the details -- from connecting and controlling the player to whether or not it produces the sound quality to justify its somewhat lofty $299 price tag -- are after the break.%Gallery-129581%
Review: Sonos Play:3 speaker system
Sonos was nice enough to loan me the new Play:3 wireless speaker system that I mentioned earlier this week, and now I've had a chance to listen. It's good. Very good. If you're unfamiliar with Sonos, here's a bit of background. The company began in 2003 with an idea of providing whole house wireless systems for much less than custom install jobs. Sonos has been Mac-friendly from the start, a Sonos device connects to your iTunes library and then with several additional pieces you your music where you need it. Control can be through a dedicated hardware controller, or even better from a free iPad or iPhone app. Sonos makes what they call ZonePlayers that connect as a component to your HiFi, or models with amplifiers that can drive speakers. Last fall, my colleague Dave Caolo reviewed the Sonos S5, now renamed the Play:5, a standalone music player with built-in amps and speakers. Now Sonos has an even lower priced entry, the US $299.00 Play:3. It's a one piece speaker system with digital amplifiers. The speaker enclosure is 5.2 x 10.5 x 6.3 inches and weighs a shade under 6 pounds. It can be plugged directly into your router with the supplied ethernet cable and it's ready to go. To use it wirelessly, you get a $50.00 Sonos Bridge unit and plug that into your router. Then put the Play:3 anywhere in the house, and your iTunes library is available, as well as thousands of internet radio stations. You can also access Pandora, and subscriptions music services like Last.fm, Rhapsody, SiriusXM, Stitcher and more. The Play:3 is a stereo unit, but the drivers are quite close together. I heard a clear stereo effect, but it wasn't a very wide image. Sonos allows two Play:3 units to be placed in a stereo pair mode, so you can separate them as widely as you like. The speakers can be placed vertically or horizontally. Sensors in the enclosure make some adjustments to the sound depending on how the speakers are oriented. The Sonos architecture is very mix and match. You can add a lot of playback units, and they can play music in sync all over the house, or you can have each play different things in different locations. The flexibility is unlimited. How did it all sound? Really well for such a small box. I listened to Jazz, some hard rock and some classical. Vocals, always a good test, were clear and defined. I listened to some Bach organ music and the stunning Saint-Saëns Symphony #3 for Orchestra, Organ and 2 Pianos the bass was excellent given the size of the drivers. If you already have a Sonos system and are looking to extend it to a kitchen, night stand or guest bedroom the Play:3 is worthy of serious consideration. If you have been wanting to get a Sonos system started this is a great way to begin. There are lots of ways to get music around your home these days, but I find the Sonos system reliable, elegant and great sounding. Note: Like a lot of companies, Sonos is struggling a bit with the significant network changes in Lion, and the Sonos software won't play your local iTunes share until a software update. Here is the latest statement from Sonos on the issue. %Gallery-128984%
