Sonos is readying Sonos S2, its new OS for connected speakers, which will be released in June and power all new hardware from the company from that point on. As you might have guessed, the arrival of Sonos S2 is also the reason why the company began encouraging owners of some of its earliest hardware to consider upgrading over the past few months.
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In December, audio company Sonos faced criticism over the 'Recycle Mode' mode it introduced to brick perfectly good, but obsolete, speakers. The mode was a requirement for customers who wanted to use the company's Trade Up program, which offers a discount on new products that are still supported. Going forward, Sonos no longer requires users to brick their devices, but the speakers will still soon be obsolete.
Bang & Olufsen has revealed its latest speaker, the Beosound Balance, intended to hold up to scrutiny even when you're not listening to it. A solid oak base, topped with a knitted textile cylinder, it has touch controls and supports multi-room playback through services like AirPlay 2 and Chromecast.
Ultimate Ears is adding to its portable rugged Bluetooth speaker line, and the new UE HYPERBOOM is as big as it promises to be loud. Resembling what the apes from 2001: A Space Odyssey might come up with were they tasked with designing a speaker, it's an ominous black monolith that's topped with some unexpectedly simple controls.
Sony Japan has introduced an unusual new product that combines a large wireless speaker with an atypical television remote control. The device enables users to listen to the television content no matter where they're located in the house; the built-in controls eliminate the need to carry around the remote alongside the speaker. The device would be particularly useful for the elderly.
Roku today announced that it will soon be pushing an update to its smart soundbars that will enable support for surround sound setups. At the same time, Walmart is launching new Roku wireless surround sound speakers through its onn brand, so if you need to buy additional speakers to pad out your surround sound setup once this update ships, Walmart is one of the companies vying for your dollar.
Sonos has tried to stem the tide of bad press around its controversial plan to leave behind old hardware, after news that it would be ceasing support for some of its earlier connected speakers left the company's loyalest fans fuming. Legacy Sonos products - including the original Play:5 - would no longer get updates from May, the company had warned earlier in the week. Now, the company's CEO says, the plan has evolved a little.
Today the folks at IKEA revealed a limited-edition collection of products made in collaboration Teenage Engineering. Included in the mix of items is a speaker with subwoofer, a tripod, an LED spotlight, a bar stool, a serving set, a tote bag, a blanket - and a few other oddities. Just when you thought you'd never see a Cajon drum at IKEA, they make one available - neat!
Sonos announced today that it will be ending support for some legacy hardware later on this year. The phase out won't happen for a few months yet, and Sonos says that it will only impact its "oldest products." Those products can still be used once support ends too, but they'll no longer receive software updates and new features from Sonos.
After a long period of obsessing primarily about display quality and visuals, consumers are now wising up to the fact that audio is just as critical in creating an immersive experience, especially when it comes to entertainment. But as they start to look for audio systems that mix performance and design as well as their TVs, they may be shocked to discover that those tend to sometimes cost more than their TVs. Enter Enclave's two new CineHome home theater systems that bundle five speakers and a subwoofer at the cost of a single high-end soundbar.
Accessory maker Belkin is probably best known for its chargers, cables, and power banks but now it is dipping its toes into a brand new market. It partnered with audio brand Devialet to develop a new audio accessory that doesn't simply connect to a speaker but is a speaker in its own right. And something more up Belkin's alley, the Soundform Elite Hi-Fi smart speaker also doubles as a wireless charger to boot.
Automobiles are becoming more and more advanced these days, almost becoming like smartphones on wheels. Especially with the advent of full or hybrid electric vehicles, smart car systems, and the upcoming 5G, modern cars offer an almost completely new experience to both drivers and passengers except in one aspect. Audio is still delivered by conventional speaker systems, something that Sennheiser and Continental are working to change with their new immersive audio system that turns the whole car into a soundbox.