Sonos is launching an Apple TV 4K competitor soon that might cost $400: report – 9to5Mac
Sonos has had a very bad past year. But under a new interim CEO, the company is reportedly planning to launch a major new hardware product soon: an Apple TV 4K competitor that could cost between $200 and $400. Its codename: ‘Pinewood.’Chris Welch writes at The Verge:Sonos is planning to take a big swing in a new product category: it’s getting into video for the first time. In the coming months, Sonos will release a streaming player that sources tell me could cost between $200 and $400 — a truly staggering price for its category.[…]Sonos plans to combine content from numerous platforms including Netflix, Max, and Disney Plus under a single, unified software experience. Universal search across streaming accounts will be supported. We’ve seen similar efforts to mask the fractured nature of modern entertainment from Sonos’ soon-to-be rivals. But I’m told this is a cornerstone of Pinewood’s appeal. Sonos Voice Control will be integrated, and Pinewood will also ship with a physical remote control that includes shortcuts for popular streaming apps.Welch says the new product is “deep into development” and looks like a black square from the top that’s slightly thicker than a deck of cards.Other details on the ‘Pinewood’ device include:This sounds like a major, ambitious new product for Sonos. It could potentially have significant impact on the company’s future—for better or for worse.Welch’s report stresses that the launch is expected in the months ahead, so we shouldn’t have to wait too long for a full unveiling.Seems interesting, but not interested. I have Apple TV 4K’s in every room and I’m very happy with them. Not to mention all the cool tricks and features we can have being in the ecosystem. The Apple TV 4K for years was criticized for being too expensive, but with the last revision it came down to a more reasonable $129 entry point. Sonos offering a product that could double or even triple that price sounds like a wild risk. But until full details on ‘Pinewood’ come out, I’ll wait to reserve judgment.Are you interested in the Sonos TV streaming box? Let us know in the comments.FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:Ryan got his start in journalism as an Editor at MacStories, where he worked for four years covering Apple news, writing app reviews, and more. For two years he co-hosted the Adapt podcast on Relay FM, which focused entirely on the iPad. As a result, it should come as no surprise that his favorite Apple device is the iPad Pro.Manage push notifications
