Sonos: Difference between revisions

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In 2018, citing an aging processor and lithium-ion battery, Sonos announced the release of software version 8.5, which would discontinue support for the controller.<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/news/sonos-finally-kills-off-cr100-controller-and-long-time-fans-arent-happy</ref> After the update was applied to a system, the CR-100 would be permanently bricked, and would be unable to connect to another system.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPnfqzBF3fw</ref> Sonos offered a coupon of $100 to affected customers,<ref name=":0" /> however, it is important to note that Sonos did not offer a similar product for sale. A discussion thread was initiated on the Sonos forum by dissatisfied users urging the company to reconsider its decision to discontinue the controller,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220823113720/https://en.community.sonos.com/controllers-software-228995/save-the-cr100-6800510</ref> but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

=="Recycle Mode"==

==Recycle Mode==

In 2019, Sonos ~~rendered formerly perfectly~~ working ~~devices~~, such as Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP90, ZP80, ZP100, ZP120, and Play:5 (Gen 1) ~~into paperweights by disabling them altogether~~, because those devices were no longer receiving software updates. Customers were offered a 30 percent discount on a new Sonos device if they accepted Sonos to intentionally remotely bricking their existing device. Once a device is in Sonos' "Recycle Mode," it ~~can no longer be used~~.<ref>https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/unable-to-set-up-a-sonos-product-in-recycle-mode</ref><ref>https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-31-sonos-recycle-mode-explanation-falls-flat.html</ref> Sonos later ended this highly controversial and environmentally unfriendly program, but the damage was already done to otherwise still working hardware.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/5/21166777/sonos-ending-recycle-mode-trade-up-program-sustainability</ref>

In 2019, Sonos started offering customers a 30 percent discount on a new device, in exchange for allowing the company to remotely brick their existing Sonos device. Sonos calls this "Recycle Mode". Recycle Mode is an software lockout that renders a working device, such as Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP90, ZP80, ZP100, ZP120, and Play:5 (Gen 1), permanently inoperable, turning it into e-waste.<ref>https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/unable-to-set-up-a-sonos-product-in-recycle-mode</ref><ref>https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-31-sonos-recycle-mode-explanation-falls-flat.html</ref>

~~However~~, ~~since 2023~~, an open source project ~~was created~~ to ~~recover devices that Sonos had put into "~~Recycle Mode."<ref>https://github.com/dbmaxpayne/Sonos-DSP</ref>

The practice of intentionally breaking devices sparked controversy and boycotts. In a response, Sonos CEO suggested that the customers are "confused",<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/23/21079269/sonos-ceo-patrick-spence-apology-legacy-products-software-updates</ref> but later the company gave in, and stopped using the lockout mode in their trade-up program.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/5/21166777/sonos-ending-recycle-mode-trade-up-program-sustainability</ref>

An open source project started in 2023 attempts to repair a Play:5 (Gen 1) speaker bricked with Recycle Mode.<ref>https://github.com/dbmaxpayne/Sonos-DSP</ref>

==Forced app download==

@@ Line 14: / Line 14: @@
 In 2018, citing an aging processor and lithium-ion battery, Sonos announced the release of software version 8.5, which would discontinue support for the controller.<ref name=":0">https://www.techradar.com/news/sonos-finally-kills-off-cr100-controller-and-long-time-fans-arent-happy</ref> After the update was applied to a system, the CR-100 would be permanently bricked, and would be unable to connect to another system.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPnfqzBF3fw</ref> Sonos offered a coupon of $100 to affected customers,<ref name=":0" /> however, it is important to note that Sonos did not offer a similar product for sale. A discussion thread was initiated on the Sonos forum by dissatisfied users urging the company to reconsider its decision to discontinue the controller,<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20220823113720/https://en.community.sonos.com/controllers-software-228995/save-the-cr100-6800510</ref> but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.
-=="Recycle Mode"==
+==Recycle Mode==
-In 2019, Sonos rendered formerly perfectly working devices, such as Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP90, ZP80, ZP100, ZP120, and Play:5 (Gen 1) into paperweights by disabling them altogether, because those devices were no longer receiving software updates. Customers were offered a 30 percent discount on a new Sonos device if they accepted Sonos to intentionally remotely bricking their existing device. Once a device is in Sonos' "Recycle Mode," it can no longer be used.<ref>https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/unable-to-set-up-a-sonos-product-in-recycle-mode</ref><ref>https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-31-sonos-recycle-mode-explanation-falls-flat.html</ref> Sonos later ended this highly controversial and environmentally unfriendly program, but the damage was already done to otherwise still working hardware.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/5/21166777/sonos-ending-recycle-mode-trade-up-program-sustainability</ref>
+In 2019, Sonos started offering customers a 30 percent discount on a new device, in exchange for allowing the company to remotely brick their existing Sonos device.  Sonos calls this "Recycle Mode". Recycle Mode is an software lockout that renders a working device, such as Connect, Connect:Amp, ZP90, ZP80, ZP100, ZP120, and Play:5 (Gen 1), permanently inoperable, turning it into e-waste.<ref>https://support.sonos.com/en-us/article/unable-to-set-up-a-sonos-product-in-recycle-mode</ref><ref>https://www.engadget.com/2019-12-31-sonos-recycle-mode-explanation-falls-flat.html</ref>
-However, since 2023, an open source project was created to recover devices that Sonos had put into "Recycle Mode."<ref>https://github.com/dbmaxpayne/Sonos-DSP</ref>
+The practice of intentionally breaking devices sparked controversy and boycotts. In a response, Sonos CEO suggested that the customers are "confused",<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/23/21079269/sonos-ceo-patrick-spence-apology-legacy-products-software-updates</ref> but later the company gave in, and stopped using the lockout mode in their trade-up program.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2020/3/5/21166777/sonos-ending-recycle-mode-trade-up-program-sustainability</ref>
+An open source project started in 2023 attempts to repair a Play:5 (Gen 1) speaker bricked with Recycle Mode.<ref>https://github.com/dbmaxpayne/Sonos-DSP</ref>
 ==Forced app download==