Sonos yesterday introduced the layoff of 100 staff, sending shockwaves via the tech neighborhood and elevating critical issues in regards to the firm’s future. These layoffs, which focused key departments equivalent to engineering and buyer help, adopted the discharge of a disastrous cell app redesign in Might 2024, leaving customers grappling with bugs and eroding their confidence within the model.
Additionally: One of the best sound methods you should buy: Skilled examined
In response to the rising backlash over the problems, Sonos CEO Patrick Spence issued a uncommon public apology, acknowledging the corporate’s missteps. To regain person belief, Sonos is now contemplating re-releasing its earlier model of the S2 app — a tactical transfer that, if made, would acknowledge the severity of the app’s failure. Compounding the corporate’s troubles, Sonos has additionally delayed the launch of two main merchandise on account of ongoing points with the app, additional deepening the disaster.
The corporate has an estimated 15.3 million households in its collective person base, however its gross sales have slowed significantly since 2020. In 2023, in accordance with Statista, the corporate shipped 5.73 million models, under 2020 ranges of 5.81 million and its 2021 gross sales excessive of 6.5M.
All of this upheaval at Sonos has uncovered the risks of counting on proprietary, closed methods in residence audio and shopper gadgets. The brand new app was meant to unify Sonos’ software program and drive innovation. As a substitute, it has obtained widespread criticism. Sad customers have reported sluggish efficiency, damaged options, and — till just lately — a evident lack of help for native music libraries — points which have tarnished Sonos’ once-sterling repute.
It might probably worsen for Sonos and its prospects
The issues at Sonos run deeper than a botched app rollout. With layoffs and rising buyer dissatisfaction, the potential of Sonos going below with no purchaser is changing into more and more actual.
Keep in mind Aether Cone and Rdio? One thing related may occur with Sonos however on a far grander scale. This type of failure can be catastrophic for thousands and thousands of Sonos customers worldwide, probably leaving high-end audio system and audio methods as costly paperweights, bricked by the sudden lack of cloud providers and software program updates. The environmental influence — thousands and thousands of gadgets probably changing into e-waste — is equally staggering.
Additionally: How Apple can rescue depressing Sonos customers
It is clear that the present mannequin of proprietary, closed methods within the residence audio trade is unsustainable. The trade must shift towards an open-source streaming audio and wi-fi multiroom hi-fi working system — a platform that a number of distributors can construct on and that buyers can belief to be resilient, interoperable, and future-proof.
AudioPiLe: A modular, open supply future
In 2020, I launched the idea of AudioPiLe, an open-source, modular audio system designed to function the muse for a brand new method. The AudioPiLe system can be constructed round a standardized {hardware} platform, just like a Raspberry Pi, however tailor-made particularly for high-fidelity audio. This platform can be supported by an open-source working system maintained by a consortium of producers and the open-source neighborhood.
The AudioPiLe imaginative and prescient carefully aligns with Android’s achievements within the cell area. By offering a typical platform that may be freely adopted and customised, AudioPiLe may allow producers to concentrate on {hardware} innovation whereas making certain that each one gadgets work collectively seamlessly in customers’ houses. This method would lead to a extra resilient, sustainable, and interoperable ecosystem for residence audio, permitting customers to customise and management their audio environments greater than ever earlier than.
An open speaker connectivity customary
For AudioPiLe or any open-source audio platform to achieve its full potential, it have to be a part of a broader ecosystem the place interoperability is assured throughout gadgets from totally different producers. That is the place an open speaker connectivity customary turns into essential.
Android’s preliminary success trusted its open-source nature and talent to unify a various vary of {hardware} below a single, interoperable platform. The house audio trade wants a common language that ensures all gadgets can talk and work collectively seamlessly.
Matter, an open customary developed by the Connectivity Requirements Alliance, permits good residence gadgets from totally different producers to work collectively seamlessly. Matter supplies a common language for gadgets to speak, making certain that buyers can combine and match merchandise with out worrying about compatibility points. In the identical method that the Matter customary has unified residence automation connectivity, the audio trade desperately wants an analogous customary for networked residence audio methods.
Additionally: Open supply is definitely the cradle of synthetic intelligence. This is why
An open-source working system like AudioPiLe would supply the muse, however an open speaker connectivity customary can be the framework that ties the whole ecosystem collectively. This mixture would permit customers to construct their best audio setups with parts from a number of producers.
This customary would additionally encourage competitors and innovation throughout the trade, as producers may concentrate on creating the very best {hardware} whereas counting on a sturdy, shared platform for connectivity and interoperability.
Shopper advantages of open supply
Some great benefits of an open-source method prolong properly past producers. Customers stand to achieve considerably from such a shift. Open-source platforms empower customers to customise their gadgets, prolong performance via community-developed add-ons, and keep away from being locked right into a single vendor’s ecosystem.
Additionally: How open supply attracts a few of the world’s prime innovators
Furthermore, open-source options can prolong the lifespan of gadgets. Even after a producer discontinues help, the open-source neighborhood can proceed offering updates, making certain that gadgets stay useful and related for years. This openness advantages customers and addresses the rising environmental concern of e-waste by decreasing the necessity for frequent {hardware} replacements.
Studying from Android and open supply
Android, developed by Google and primarily based on the Linux kernel, is likely one of the most profitable examples of open-source collaboration in shopper electronics. It has turn out to be the world’s most generally used working system.
Regardless of competitors amongst firms like Samsung, Motorola, OnePlus/Oppo, and Xiaomi, in addition to Google itself with its Pixel {hardware}, Android has enabled producers to innovate and differentiate their merchandise whereas sustaining compatibility and interoperability throughout gadgets. Along with being utilized in Android TV gadgets and car IVI methods equivalent to Android Automotive, a customized model of Android can be utilized in Amazon Hearth tablets and the streaming machine ecosystem.
Android supplies an ideal mannequin for what an open-source audio platform may obtain. As Android created a unified platform that numerous producers may undertake and customise, an open-source audio OS might be a foundational system for networked residence audio gadgets. This basis would permit manufacturers to construct distinctive, high-quality audio merchandise whereas making certain all of them work collectively seamlessly in a multiroom setup.
Additionally: Winamp shouldn’t be going open supply. This is what it’s doing – and why
OpenWrt is one other open-source undertaking that has considerably impacted the buyer electronics market, notably community gadgets. Initially developed for routers, OpenWrt supplies a totally writable file system and bundle administration, permitting customers to customise and prolong their gadgets far past what the unique producers supposed. Along with delivery in OEM routers and community gadgets, the flexibleness of OpenWrt has made it the muse for a lot of customized firmware tasks, giving customers the facility to manage and optimize their residence networks.
One other key instance from the buyer electronics world is FreeBSD, a sturdy working system broadly utilized in embedded methods. FreeBSD’s permissive license permits firms to construct proprietary merchandise whereas benefiting from a shared, community-driven codebase. This flexibility has made FreeBSD a well-liked alternative for community gadgets, gaming consoles just like the PlayStation 4, the networking parts constructed into Apple’s merchandise, and different embedded methods that require stability, safety, and excessive efficiency.
Sonos and open supply right this moment
Sonos already leverages important open-source software program in its merchandise, notably parts ruled by GPL and LGPL licenses. This software program contains core components, equivalent to numerous Linux kernels, audio processing libraries like alsa-lib and ffmpeg, and important system utilities like busybox and dbus.
The corporate’s reliance on these parts illustrates the crucial nature open-source software program performs in powering Sonos gadgets and the broader shopper electronics market. Linux and plenty of of those libraries that Sonos makes use of are frequent parts utilized in many merchandise right this moment, together with Android-powered gadgets and good audio system.
Additionally: Sonos simply introduced TV Audio Swap to extra gadgets. This is why it is my all-time favourite headphone function
If Sonos have been to open supply its S2 OS, adopting a business-friendly license just like the Apache License 2.0 (like Android), MIT, or the BSD License may guarantee vast adoption whereas permitting the corporate to take care of some management over its mental property.
Constructing the way forward for networked audio
The present scenario at Sonos ought to function a wake-up name for the whole audio trade. The dangers of counting on proprietary methods are too nice for customers and the surroundings. It is time for the trade to come back collectively and create an open-source streaming audio and wi-fi multiroom hi-fi working system to function the muse for the following era of audio gadgets.
In a latest article, I mentioned the potential of firms like Apple or Amazon buying and integrating Sonos into their ecosystems. Whereas this method might present a short lived resolution, it may result in a extra closed ecosystem the place customers are additional locked right into a single firm’s {hardware}, providers, and software program. Even in a well-run ecosystem like Apple’s, the restrictions of a closed system may stifle innovation and scale back shopper alternative in the long run.
Additionally: Can AI even be open supply? It is difficult
This name to motion is not nearly saving Sonos customers from the potential catastrophe of thousands and thousands of deserted and bricked gadgets. It is about constructing a extra resilient, sustainable, and consumer-friendly audio ecosystem that advantages everybody. Very similar to the Matter alliance has completed for residence automation, an open-source audio platform may revolutionize how we take into consideration residence audio, giving customers extra alternative, flexibility, and management over their listening experiences.
