If you are using the Google Home app, connected speakers
Google Home or Nest, a Chromecast, a smartphone
or one Pc
Pixel, you will soon be unable to access some options.
For about two years, Google and Sonos have been engaged in a legal battle over patent infringement on the part of the first to the detriment of the second. A few months ago, Sonos won its first victory against Google in the preliminary committee. This time, it is confirmed and definitive: Google was condemned in this case by justice.
Google’s home automation ecosystem will lose functionality
The American giant now has 60 days to comply and remove from its products and services technologies and features that violate five patents filed by Sonos. If Google does not follow suit, the next step will be an outright ban on the marketing of the offending products.
Many audio devices sold by Google are affected: Google Home speakers of course, but also Nest. And that’s not all: other devices that can produce audio and be controlled by the Google Home app are also targeted, such as Pixel smartphones and Pixelbook laptops. Finally, the Chromecast is the last to suffer.
After Google, Amazon in the crosshairs
Google had already anticipated the loss of the lawsuit and started to adapt. For example, users had lost the ability to adjust the sound volume of content streamed by Chromecast from an Android device. And other features are still being phased out.
In Google Home update 2.47.79.5, for example, it is no longer possible to use the volume key on your Android smartphone or tablet to increase or decrease the volume of a group of speakers. This is still possible via the software interface, but this option too is in danger of being withdrawn.
Google will seriously degrade the user experience with its products. Sonos leaves the door open to the payment of a royalty by Google to obtain the right to continue using its technologies, but the Mountain View firm does not seem to take this path for the moment.
Sonos has already hinted that it now has another tech and home automation juggernaut in its sights for infringement of those same patents: Amazon.
Source: 9To5Google
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