Sonos has announced it is updating its app and operating system for its current and upcoming home audio products. Called Sonos S2, the new set up will run on most existing Sonos products but may not work with a lot of Sonos’ legacy hardware (via The Verge).
In an FAQ page, Sonos said:
“In June, we will release Sonos S2, a new app and operating system (OS) that will power the next generation of products and experiences. In addition to new features, usability updates, and more personalization moving forward, Sonos S2 will enable higher resolution audio technologies for music and home theater.”
Sonos recently came under scrutiny for stopping updates for its oldest hardware, and the messy PR surrounding the announcement of it. The current Sonos app will be renamed Sonos S1 Controllers, while the new S2 OS and app will simply be branded as ‘Sonos’.
The move to two distinct operating systems is part of Sonos’ end of support, and the FAQ page details how you can run both apps simultaneously to keep your network of older and newer Sonos equipment running together. Older devices will have to be grouped together exclusively and won’t run in a group with products that run S2.
The devices not compatible with the new S2 architecture are:
- Zone Players
- CR200
- Bridge
- Connect (Gen 1)
- Connect:Amp (Gen 1)
- Play:5 (Gen 1)
We still recommend Sonos speakers as they represent good value for money if you’re trying to painlessly set up a good quality home audio network. But the issues the company is facing in retiring older products shows that the audio buying public aren’t used to equipment that has a shelf life thanks to its now outdated connectivity and hardware capabilities.
Author: Henry Burrell, Phones Editor
Henry is Tech Advisor’s Phones Editor, ensuring he and the team covers and reviews every smartphone worth knowing about for readers and viewers all over the world. He spends a lot of time moving between different handsets and shouting at WhatsApp to support multiple devices at once.