Sonos Updates Mobile App to Include Live Activities Support for iOS Lock Screen and Apple/

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Sonos Updates Mobile App to Include Live Activities Support for iOS Lock Screen and Apple/
Photo: Engadget
tech· A press review of 2 outlets

  1. Sonos released an update to its mobile app that finally introduces support for iOS’ Live Activities, giving iPhone users quick access to playback controls on their lock screen. The added functionality is a “much requested, anticipated, and needed feature,” according to a post Sonos shared to Reddit today that was spotted by 9to5Mac.

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    Engadget

    There's an app update that takes advantage of Apple's Live Activities system. Sonos just released an app update that brings speaker controls to the iPhone lock screen. This is thanks to an integration with Apple's Live Activities notifications system. Sonos is calling this a "much requested, anticipated and needed feature."

  2. Once enabled, the lock screen will let people keep an eye on what's playing. Users will be able to adjust the volume and switch songs, but only once the phone has been unlocked via Face ID or a passcode. When playback stops, the live activity will disappear from the lock screen after 15 minutes.

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    The Verge

    Once it’s turned on, the Live Activity will appear “after you initiate playback and then close the app” and displays the name of the group or room where audio was last playing from and the title of what you’re listening to. After playback stops, the Live Activity will automatically disappear from your lock screen after 15 minutes.

  3. Support for the Apple Watch and CarPlay is included, but while the Live Activity will be displayed on your wrist or in your car, the controls aren’t supported there. It’s not known if or when those controls will ever work, but Sonos says its team is still working to improve the new feature, and when it comes to album art, the company is exploring “alternative ways to enhance the lock screen experience.”

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    Engadget

    There are a couple of caveats. The integration doesn't allow the Sonos app to display album art on the lock screen. The company says it's exploring "alternative ways to enhance" the experience. This feature will work in CarPlay and on Apple Watch, but "right now the controls aren't supported." That means that users will be able to see what's playing, but not make any adjustments.

From the margins

2 details only one outlet reported

Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.

  1. 01 The Verge

    While some features like displaying album art are not available, the Sonos Live Activity provides basic details and controls when listening to music or podcasts through a Sonos system without having to fully unlock your iPhone and open the app.

  2. 02 Engadget

    If this all sounds familiar, it's because Sonos fans used to be able to do this type of thing. The company introduced lock screen controls back in 2016. However, the feature went away in 2023 because the method Sonos used to integrate with the lock screen didn't align with Apple's updated design framework.

Assembled from 3 corroborated claims drawn from 2 independent outlets. Every passage above is taken verbatim — Dorothy doesn't paraphrase or summarize.

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Sources (2)

  • engadget
  • verge

Original Articles (3)

Consumer Sonos finally added Live Activities controls for your iPhone lock screen — The Verge
Consumer Sonos put speaker controls on your iPhone's lock screen (again) — Engadget
Consumer If you're ignoring iPhone focus modes, you're missing out on Apple's best productivity tool — Engadget