Sonos adds free iPhone app, Last.fm, expanded Internet radio options

(Credit: Sonos)

Add iPhone control, Last.fm, and an expanded Internet radio roster to Sonos' bag of tricks.

Starting Tuesday, a free application available at the iTunes App Store will allow iPhone and iPod Touch owners to control their Sonos digital audio system via their home's Wi-Fi network. The Sonos Controller for iPhone provides the Apple handheld with most of the same functions as the Sonos CR100 Controller, but provides direct touch-screen access not available on the latter device.

The Sonos system can already be controlled via its companion Windows and Mac software, but the iPhone Controller provides a much more convenient and accessible interface to the multiroom music system.

In addition to providing a secondary control option for existing Sonos owners, the Controller App also lowers the effective entry-level price for the Sonos. The company's two-room bundle, the $1,000 BU150, includes a ZP120 base station (with built-in amplifier), ZP90 base station (no amp), and CR100 remote. Previously, those looking for a single-room option were left with purchasing a separate ZP90 ($350) and CR100 ($400), netting out to a very pricey $750.

But the availability of the iPhone application means consumers can grab a ZP90 and an iPod Touch for $580. Still a lot of money, to be sure, but now you're getting top-notch home and portable digital music players. And existing iPhone or iPod Touch owners, of course, need only get the ZP90 or ZP120.

Photos: Sonos Controller iPhone App

Sonos is also updating the product's firmware to version 2.7. The free upgrade (it's a one-touch automatic free download for all Sonos systems, available now) adds the following:

Last.fm compatibility: Access to Last.fm's free online music service. (Disclosure: Last.fm and CNET are both properties of CBS Interactive.)

RadioTime support: Access to more than 15,000 free Internet radio stations from around the world, powered by RadioTime. (Sonos already provided access to most of these stations, but the RadioTime front-end should deliver an easier interface and better organization.)

Enhanced Pandora support: In addition to Pandora's paid subscription Internet music service, Sonos now offers access to Pandora's free, ad-supported version.

Enhanced Rhapsody support: Rhapsody sound quality has been boosted from 128Kbps WMA to 192Kbps MP3 streams.

Looks like we're going to have to update our Apple TV vs. Sonos vs. Logitech Squeezebox shoot-out. (And don't be surprised if Logitech rolls out its own version of the iPhone-friendly iPeng remote software in the future as well.) In the meantime, what do you think: Does the firmware upgrade and the iPhone application make the Sonos a more attractive home audio streaming option for you? Share your thoughts below.

[Eauboy]

This is just the sort of thing I'd love for my PS3 to do. Right now I stream my music collection from my NAS to my PS3. Great solution for music you already own. I could get NetFlix streaming, easy Internet radio and the ability to control them with an iPhone app, I might never leave the house.

Except to buy an iPhone.

[thisislovell]

Grab yourself a PSP (which should be cheaper than an iPhone), and you'll have your very own PS3 controller. Add the Flash 9 support added to the browser recently, and you may just have what you're looking for.

[jbinmpls]

The iPhone App Store had two other Sonos controller apps for $15 which received positive reviews. I wonder if this pushed Sonos to move their app out there, partially cannibalizing their controller market.

As an owner of both products - it's going to be awesome to suddenly have what was a huge remote with a beautiful screen and great interface now shrunk down into a pocket sized device with a beautiful screen and excellent interface! For free. :)

[Jerry A]

If you have a touch or iphone and you are just interested in streaming your itunes library, try picking up an airport express. Current gen (wireless N) is 99, but I was able to pick up a new previous gen airport express (same features except it is wireless G) for 69. Download the free apple remote app for iphone or touch, and your good to go - this enables you to control itunes from anywhere in your network with the iphone or touch with the audio streaming wirelessly from your computer to the airport express which would be patched into your awesome sounding stereo. This works on Mac or PC. If your a stickler for audio quality, the airport express has an optical out allowing your higher end converter to handle the DAC task (the same jack on the airport can pass stereo analog signals as well). If you encode your tunes from cd to apple lossless, you pretty much have yourselve a nice convenient solution for a high end digital music server. Cons are that you won't get internet radio features like last fm or pandora.

[PatPend]

God Bless Sonos, this system just gets better and better. The underlying execution is solid. The iPhone app is sweet. Pandora and Last.FM adds real value. If /when they offer a comparable video system they will slay everyone else.

[coolio107]

Are you aware that there is now also a native iPhone application version of iPeng?