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Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

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Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#191

Post by atomicthumbs »

blackflame wrote: post #149
jellicle wrote: post #134

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Literally the only "improvements" that are ever going to happen to audio in your lifetime will be a) internetifying it and b) adding more restrictions to how you use it. We've hit peak audio (best reproduction, no restrictions on usage) and it's only downhill from here. I look forward to my 2025 speakers that only work for an hour a day unless I pay for extra time credits. "Do you wish to play a) music b) music and l…

What about things like Dolby atmos that use 3D noise wave cancellation/amplification technology to effectively do to surround sound what 3D glasses did for the TV

doesn't do a thing for music.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#192

Post by mikeyouse »

michaelmrose wrote: post #133
fourthark wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why?

So that I would have to chase fewer scumbags who constantly steal to sell tools on craigslist/facebook market/pawn shops to support their drug habits.

I don't think most people realize how incredibly pervasive theft from construction sites is. Residential / commercial - it doesn't matter. There are organized groups who spend a ton of time and energy breaking into tool lockers or into actual buildings under construction. Work equipment is very expensive, often portable, and has great resale value.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#193

Post by guipinto »

tasty_freeze wrote: post #52

About 8(?) years ago my wife tasked me to get a whole-house audio system that was simple to use. After reading a lot, sonos was the clear choice, though pricey. We started with two play:3's, then added a play:5 and two more play:3's. And things were good. But for the past year the system has been a mess. Music stutters, some units can't be found, some units fail to upgrade through multiple retries/reboots. I've waste…

Alexa or Google Home speakers make amazing (synced) whole-house audio systems that are surprisingly affordable.

Besides that fact, yeah it sounds like you have some wifi issues instead and is blaming Sonos.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#194

Post by acdha »

fiblye wrote: post #78
jjtheblunt wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When expensive devices have to "phone home" to first be enabled, that kills the aftermarket for stolen expensive devices?

People still steal smartphones, despite them being locked down with thumb and face scanners along with being traceable. It seems to be a hard market to kill.

The thing which really reduced iPhone thefts in the U.S. wasn’t biometrics: it was the carriers begrudgingly cooperating on activation locks. Not being able to get cellular connectivity really took the value out of it since someone couldn’t just pay a disinterested retail store employee to activate a suspiciously cheap phone.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#195

Post by rainbowzootsuit »

atomicthumbs wrote: post #105
jessriedel wrote: post #27

If the devices become useless, how is this any different from Sonos just offering customers "trade-in" value for their old devices (like for used cars) and then throwing them out? Just that the device doesn't get physically mailed to Sonos? Like if you think it's just spiritually bad to throw working things out, fine. But how is Sonos doing wrong by the customer?

Used cars don't get thrown out when they're traded in. And it's not "spiritually bad," it's actively destructive to the environment. Manufacturing things requires a great deal of energy.

It sounds like the proceeding comment might be thinking of something akin to the "Cash For Clunkers" program where the cars' engines were destroyed with sodium silicate in the crankcase.

I found this idea an egregious waste as someone who maintains vehicles, often with serviceable used parts.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Car_Allowance_Rebate_System

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#196

Post by zxcb1 »

baybal2 wrote: post #7

Well, this is where the industry is going. The latest buzzword we hear in the industry is called "product as a service" — you buy a product, but still don't own it. You have to keep paying them for using your own property or else they remotely brick the device. First gen Ipods were a prime example, but now everybody seem to want to do the same. We recently had a prospective client who had an idea of very cheap intern…

Yes. It is painful to realize that Apple has turned into that. My reference example is a Mac Mini and MacBook Pro which I bought around 2012. Both still work, and are upgraded with dual SSD and 16GB RAM. It is, however, not possible to upgrade or even reinstall the OS. Linux is now the only option, which without they would be useless.

With my latest MacBook Pro, I already know that there are no upgrades, the keyboard is almost broken, and that its lifetime is determined through policy. Question is; will it be the hardware or software which determines end of life?

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#197

Post by alt219 »

tasty_freeze wrote: post #52

About 8(?) years ago my wife tasked me to get a whole-house audio system that was simple to use. After reading a lot, sonos was the clear choice, though pricey. We started with two play:3's, then added a play:5 and two more play:3's. And things were good. But for the past year the system has been a mess. Music stutters, some units can't be found, some units fail to upgrade through multiple retries/reboots. I've waste…

Okay, I’ll throw my hat into the unsolicited troubleshooting advice ring— I had similar problems and it ended up being that the Sonos Bridge is no longer supported. Once I removed the Bridge from my system and plugged a Play:5 directly into the network, all the weird issues you described that I too was having resolved themselves. YMMV.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#198

Post by savrajsingh »

jacquesm wrote: post #33

Sonos had a fair shot at having me as a customer. I was ready to put down money on an installation for a house and then I found out it needed 'activation over the internet'. That being the sign of a company to avoid I walked out again, to the consternation of the sales person who had (his words, not mine): "Never had a customer decide against Sonos because of that". Looks like I made the right call.

The sad thing is, as hacker news readers, we're a tiny minority of people that even know about or care about these issues. The masses (and that salesperson) are completely oblivious to, maybe 99% of content on HN. :)

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#199

Post by bborud »

I have a sonos speaker at my cabin and while the audio isn’t bad the spotty wifi coverage and the choppy audio that keeps dropping out when I listen to Audible at 1.25 to 1.5 speed is annoying.

It just isn’t a very good product in my eyes. I have cheap Bluetooth speakers that work much better.

So I would be interested in “upcycling” the Sonos with new innards.

Time to watch some teardown videos to see what can be done.

Re: Sonos's “recycle mode” intentionally bricks devices so they can't be reused

#200

Post by S_A_P »

Hey everyone. I get that Sonos does have some value add here allowing mesh networking and encrypted audio. Buuuuuuuuuut, there are tons of alternative options. I like building speakers and I have built my sound bar using components from parts express and some reclaimed hard woods. Parts express has tons of Bluetooth options and the quality is mostly pretty good. I am using morel and peerless drivers and the 2x50 watt Bluetooth amp. The sound is as good or better than any sound bar I’ve heard and I don’t have to update software or deal with obnoxious TOS agreements. My tv connects to it without issues and while it’s not as elegant as the Sonos experience but I will take that over planned obsolescence.
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