A Sonos TV with no distant? No thanks

In 2023, rumors concerning a attainable Sonos TV system picked up steam when Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that the corporate had plans to launch a devoted streaming field priced round $150 to $200. The system, code-named “Pinewood,” in keeping with Gurman’s unnamed sources, will deal with 4K video, together with Dolby Atmos and Dolby Imaginative and prescient. Now, due to a beforehand unreported Sonos patent utility unearthed by Janko Roettgers, we all know a bit extra about how such a Sonos TV system would possibly work, together with one very disconcerting element: it could lack a bodily distant management.

The patent utility, which matches into exhaustive element describing the Sonos ecosystem as an entire, locations a particular emphasis on the position of smartphones as the way in which we might work together with an as-yet-unreleased Sonos TV streaming system. And sure, within the utility, it’s truly referred to as Sonos TV.

A brand new model of the Sonos app (or presumably a separate Sonos TV app) can be used for the setup and management of a Sonos TV. It might embrace entry to streaming apps and a bunch of associated options like social sharing with pals and the flexibility to make deep dives into associated media like music and video games. Like many present media streamers (Apple TV, Roku, Fireplace TV, and so forth.), the app would come with a pop-up interface for navigation and voice management (through your telephone or any appropriate microphone-equipped system). However not like these different gadgets, Sonos’ utility doesn’t point out the existence or use of a devoted bodily distant.

We reached out to Sonos for remark. Unsurprisingly, that is the assertion we obtained through electronic mail: “We’re in a perpetual state of invention at Sonos, constructing on the 3000+ patents we’ve to this point. You’ll proceed to see us ship new innovations, some in classes we’re in, some in classes we might envision coming into sooner or later. We don’t share particulars on our patents or future highway map.”

That’s additionally precisely what Roettgers was advised when he requested.

An comprehensible selection

A streaming system with out its personal distant isn’t a brand new concept. The unique Google Chromecast was 100% reliant on a telephones to do its factor (although it was by no means actually meant to actively management what you’d see on the TV). Google retired the idea after the Chromecast Extremely, switching to the remote-equipped Chromecast with Google TV as its present imaginative and prescient of what a full-fledged streaming system ought to seem like.

You may partially perceive why Sonos would possibly desire a remote-less Sonos TV. Thus far, the corporate’s total ecosystem of wi-fi multiroom audio merchandise has been designed to work by means of the Sonos app — both from a smartphone, pill, or laptop. Third events have created Sonos-compatible distant controls like Ikea’s Symfonisk Music Distant, however Sonos itself has caught steadfastly to its remote-free philosophy (which additionally retains prices down).

There’s additionally a robust argument to be made {that a} bodily distant for wi-fi audio system has restricted worth. The audio system themselves have built-in bodily controls for probably the most very important features (quantity and playback). And so they more and more have voice help so that you don’t even must be standing subsequent to the audio system.

Furthermore, a easy, screenless distant wouldn’t provide you with entry to the complete breadth of audio streaming choices that Sonos is thought for. You actually do want an app for that.

Purely hypothetical

Primarily based on Sonos’ patent utility, a Sonos TV would equally be chock-full of options that might profit from a smartphone-based management app — particularly the options which might be user-specific, like networks of pals and content material suggestions. However irrespective of how refined the Sonos TV expertise will get, we’re nonetheless going to desire a bodily distant.

In case your telephone battery dies, are you OK ready for it to recharge earlier than watching TV? If a member of your loved ones needs to regulate the TV, however their telephone is in one other room, will they should go get it, or will you go them your telephone? In case your telephone locks routinely, will you thoughts going by means of your unlock sequence (even when it’s as quick as facial recognition) each time you simply need to pause your present? And what about muting or altering the amount? And when the inevitable occurs, and the Sonos TV app merely gained’t launch or crashes every time you attempt to swap exhibits, will you look forward to a repair to get your day by day repair of a favourite present?

In the meanwhile, that is all purely hypothetical. Patent functions aren’t an outline of what’s going to be — they’re an outline of what might be. And as typically as not, merchandise based mostly on patents arrive in shops with a really totally different set of options or designs than what’s described within the submitting. In spite of everything, a superb patent doesn’t simply shield an organization’s near-term merchandise, it additionally acts as a protection in opposition to those that would possibly want to create aggressive merchandise within the years to come back.

So whereas I’m not thrilled on the prospect of needing a telephone to regulate a Sonos TV,  I’m not going to lose sleep over it both. Sonos prides itself on offering easy and simple methods for its prospects to get pleasure from music all through their properties. The Sonos app stays one of the simplest ways to search out and play music from a number of sources throughout a number of audio system, and the audio system themselves earn loads of reward for his or her considerate design.

To me, that claims the corporate is not going to flip a blind eye to the numerous advantages that include a devoted distant management. Sonos could determine to not make one itself, however on the very least, it’ll probably present third events with a method to make one. And if a kind of third-party remotes proves standard? Sonos can all the time change its tune.

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