Well, we all make mistakes sometimes. I always respect when a person or company does make a mistake when they take ownership of the issue and make it right. This is one of those situations. Yesterday, Sonos admittedly did what I as a Sonos dealer would consider a “terrible” job of communicating the fact that some of their older devices will no longer receive software updates starting May 2020. Although this isn’t a very big deal and is pretty much business as usual in the technology sector, they made it sound as if the devices were going to be put in an “end of life” status and stop working. Below is an email that Sonos CEO Patrick Spence sent out to clear the air and set the record straight.
“We heard you. We did not get this right from the start. My apologies for that and I wanted to personally assure you of the path forward:
First, rest assured that come May, when we end new software updates for our legacy products, they will continue to work just as they do today. We are not bricking them, we are not forcing them into obsolescence, and we are not taking anything away. Many of you have invested heavily in your Sonos systems, and we intend to honor that investment for as long as possible. While legacy Sonos products won’t get new software features, we pledge to keep them updated with bug fixes and security patches for as long as possible. If we run into something core to the experience that can’t be addressed, we’ll work to offer an alternative solution and let you know about any changes you’ll see in your experience.
Secondly, we heard you on the issue of legacy products and modern products not being able to coexist in your home. We are working on a way to split your system so that modern products work together and get the latest features, while legacy products work together and remain in their current state. We’re finalizing details on this plan and will share more in the coming weeks.
While we have a lot of great products and features in the pipeline, we want our customers to upgrade to our latest and greatest products when they’re excited by what the new products offer, not because they feel forced to do so. That’s the intent of the trade up program we launched for our loyal customers.
Thank you for being a Sonos customer. Thank you for taking the time to give us your feedback. I hope that you’ll forgive our misstep, and let us earn back your trust. Without you, Sonos wouldn’t exist and we’ll work harder than ever to earn your loyalty every single day.
If you have any further questions please don’t hesitate to contact us.”
Sincerely, PatrickPatrick Spence CEO, Sonos
https://circle9tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Sonos-Logo.jpg150399Jayson Lacassehttps://circle9tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/c9-logo-300x102.pngJayson Lacasse2020-01-23 17:34:292020-01-23 17:55:10All Sonos products will continue to work past May!
You may have received a message in your Sonos app regarding the end of software updates for some products in your system. In May, the following products will be classified as legacy products and no longer receive software updates and new features.
Any system including one or more of these legacy products will no longer receive software updates and new features. Over time this is likely to disrupt access to services and overall functionality.
We understand that this may be difficult for you and want to ensure that you understand your options and get all your questions answered.
As your installer, we’d be happy to walk you through the best options for your Sonos system.
Please contact a Circle9 representative with any questions you may have.
The following are some FAQ’s Sonos has shared with us that we think may be helpful:
Will customers still be able to use their legacy products after May? Yes. Customers can continue using legacy products as before. Their system will stop receiving software updates. Over time, this is likely to disrupt access to services and overall functionality.
What do my customers need to do if they have legacy products in their system? We are giving customers options and the time to think them over. ● They can continue using their system as is and stop receiving software updates and new features starting May 2020. Their system will work as it does currently, though over time, this is likely to disrupt access to services and overall functionality. ● They can also Trade Up to a new Sonos product with a 30% credit for each legacy product they replace. This program is optional and open to customers at any time should they decide to upgrade to the latest Sonos products.
What is the Trade Up program? Sonos’ Trade Up program allows customers to recycle select Sonos products in exchange for a 30% credit on any new Sonos product. Eligible products include the following: ● Connect (sold until 2015) ● Connect:Amp (sold until 2015) ● Play:5 (Gen 1) ● All Zone Players If a customer chooses to participate in the Trade Up program, their legacy products will be put in Recycle Mode, a state that deletes personally identifiable information and prepares these products for e-recycling. Recycle Mode also protects unsuspecting people from buying legacy products that are approaching the end of their useful life and won’t provide the Sonos experience customers expect today.
My customer wants to continue using legacy products in their Sonos system. What’s going to change? Starting May 2020 their Sonos system will no longer receive software updates. This means their experience will initially remain the same, however, the functionality of features and services will eventually be impacted as technology, particularly music service and voice partners, evolves over time
What will the experience be like for customers with legacy products, compared to households with modern products? From May, customers with legacy products will no longer receive software updates or new features. Over time, this is likely to disrupt access to services and overall functionality, particularly as our music service and voice partners evolve their technology. We will do our best to preserve core functionality and provide bug fixes, but our efforts will ultimately be limited by the lack of memory and processing power of these legacy products. Because Sonos is a system, all products in the home need to be running the same software. If legacy products remain connected to the same system as modern products, then the modern products will no longer be able to receive software updates or new functionality, either
When will the experience diminish for a legacy system after it receives its last software update? There won’t be any immediate impact, but over time, technology will progress in ways these products are not able to accommodate. We will do our best to preserve core functionality and provide bug fixes, but our efforts will ultimately be limited by the lack of memory and processing power of these legacy products. An example would be a streaming service issuing new software that cannot be made to be backward compatible, or that requires more computing power than the old hardware can sustain.
Will Sonos devices ever simply stop working? Sonos devices will continue to work as long as the hardware allows, and we expect no immediate impact from the end of software updates. Over time, some features and functionality will be impacted by changes to technology, particularly by music service and voice partners.
Why is Sonos ending software updates for some products? The reality is these are our oldest products, which have been stretched to their technical limits. We’re proud that we have been able to keep these products part of the core Sonos system for many years, but they simply don’t have the memory or processing power to sustain software updates or new features. We’re giving customers options and the time to think them over. One option is to continue using these legacy products after May, knowing that over time their experience will likely be impacted.
Should Sonos customers expect this to happen again? Our commitment is to support products with software updates for a minimum of five years after we stop selling them, and we have a track record of supporting for longer. Once a given product stops receiving software updates, it will continue to work as it did the day before. Over time, this is likely to disrupt access to services and overall functionality.
https://circle9tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Sonos-Logo.jpg150399Jayson Lacassehttps://circle9tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/c9-logo-300x102.pngJayson Lacasse2020-01-21 10:58:492020-01-21 12:43:56Sonos Announcement - End of software updates on legacy equipment
LG OLED TVs Make Creators’ Dreams Come True bringing Cinema, Sports, Gaming to Life in New Ways
LAS VEGAS, Jan. 6, 2020 – LG Electronics (LG), the world leader in OLED TVs, is raising the bar again in 2020 with 13 new LG OLED models led by three new art-inspired GX Gallery series 4K Ultra HD TVs, 88- and 77-inch class Real 8K models and an all-new OLED screen size – 48-inch. Unveiled at CES® 2020, the new LG OLED TVs – and new 8K and 4K LG NanoCell LCD TVs – are designed to deliver stunning picture quality and innovative design with upgraded performance and artificial intelligence-enabled features that bring movies, sports and video games to life like never before imagined.
At the heart of the latest 8K and 4K LG OLED and 8K LG NanoCell TVs are a number of advanced core technologies, most notably the new α (Alpha) 9 Gen 3 AI Processor. This advanced processor leverages upgraded processing power and artificial intelligence deep learning algorithms to improve on LG’s renowned picture quality and enable a host of specialized features for various types of content including movies, games and sports, taking the user experience to new heights.
LG’s 2020 premium TVs flaunt unique, elegant designs that integrate effortlessly with any home decor. The all-new minimalist Gallery Series takes design to a whole different level with an ultra-thin form factor – the 65-inch model is a mere 20 millimeters (0.79 inches) thin. Paired with an included specially-designed wall mount, these 55-, 65- and 77-inch class models hang completely flush on the wall, providing a dramatic appearance, transforming the OLED into a piece of art.
The GX Gallery series 4K UHD models join the groundbreaking LG OLED WX Wallpaper series (razor-thin 77- and 65-inch models) and the LG SIGNATURE OLED R (model 65RX) to provide genuine space integration and an element of futuristic luxury, elevating their surroundings regardless of whether they’re turned on.
The 2020 LG OLED ZX Real 8K models, delivering four times more detail than 4K TV and 16 times more than HDTV, exceed the strict requirements established by the Consumer Technology Association’s (CTA) official industry definition for 8K Ultra HD TVs. The 88- and 77-inch LG OLED models are among the first to earn the new CTA 8K Ultra HD logo.
For 2020, while offering new versions of the two popular 4K UHD series (models CX, BX) in 77- (CX only), 65- and 55-inch class sizes, LG is also bringing the unparalleled picture quality of LG OLED TV to an all-new screen size – 48-inch. This 4K UHD unit (model OLED48CX) reproduces even sharper picture quality with 8 million-plus pixels on the 48-inch screen, density comparable to that of a 96-inch 8K TV.
The 2020 LG NanoCell TV lineup is highlighted by four Real 8K TV models (75- and 65-inch models in Nano99 & Nano97 series), all exceeding the stringent requirements needed to display the official industry 8K UHD logo from CTA.
ULTIMATE CINEMA EXPERIENCE
LG’s award-winning webOS smart TV platform will bring 2020 LG OLED and LG NanoCell TVs a plethora of programming from the constantly-growing number of top global content providers through apps and services such as Disney+, Netflix and CBS All Access. New for 2020, the Apple TV app allows customers to subscribe and watch Apple TV+ and Apple TV channels as well as access their iTunes video library and buy or rent more than 100,000 films and TV shows. Customers with 2018 and 2019 LG TV models will also be able to enjoy the Apple TV app this year.
ULTIMATE GAME EXPERIENCE
With stellar picture quality and newly added gaming features, LG’s 2020 TVs are ideal for serious gamers, delivering the most seamless, immersive big-screen gaming experiences available anywhere. As the first TV manufacturer to offer NVIDIA G-SYNC® Compatibility, LG is expanding this capability in 2020 to 12 OLED TVs to provide a flawless PC gaming experience without screen tearing or other distracting visual artifacts.
In another industry-first, 2020 LG OLED TVs feature the HDR Gaming Interest Group’s HGiG Mode so gamers can enjoy high quality visuals as game creators and developers intended when playing HDR games via consoles on their LG TVs. HGiG is a body made up of companies from the game and display industries that develops standards to improve the HDR gaming experience for consumers.
During intense gaming sessions, LG OLED TVs even help address eye fatigue. The Eye Comfort Display certification, from the trusted international testing lab TÜV Rheinland, verifies that LG OLED TVs offer adjustability for blue light content, are flicker-free, and provide exceptional image quality from any angle. LG OLED screens meet every TÜV testing criterion, including wide color gamut and HDR.
ULTIMATE SPORTS EXPERIENCE
Not only ideal for film buffs and gamers, LG OLED TVs are perfect for sports fans, too, made possible by the new α9 Gen 3 AI Processor – and sports-centric features.
Sports Alert helps users to keep track of their favorite teams and schedules and notifying them as soon as a team scores. Users can select their favorite teams in various sports – soccer, football, baseball, etc. – to receive automatic updates at the start of a match, whenever a team scores and when the game ends.
Sports fans can also benefit from enhanced sound. Viewers can connect the TV to Bluetooth speakers to create a more dynamic soundscape to create a real stadium environment.
LG’s full 8K and 4K OLED and NanoCell LCD TV lineup will be on display during CES 2020 from January 7-10 at the company’s booth (#11199, Central Hall, Las Vegas Convention Center). For more information on LG at CES, please visit ces2020.lgusnewsroom.com, and follow other exciting CES announcements from LG on social media using #LGCES2020.
https://circle9tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/LG-Logo.jpg10241024Jayson Lacassehttps://circle9tech.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/c9-logo-300x102.pngJayson Lacasse2020-01-06 14:38:092020-01-10 14:57:23LG OLED technology at CES (Consumer Electronics Show ) 2020
