by Jason Snell
Why compatibility’s not just a computer problem anymore
This week’s More Color column is about clashes in compatibility in the car and in smart home technology:
Some people I know who dearly love their Sonos speaker systems were feeling nervous this week as Apple launched Apple Music. Would Sonos support Apple Music, and vice versa? Some tweets from Sonos and Apple made it clear that it would, and those Sonos-using friends gave a sigh of relief.
But it struck me that this is yet another example of how conflicting compatibility between hardware and services can frustrate consumers, making us regret our purchases even of otherwise fine devices. In the competition between different standards, between online services, and plenty of other areas, there’s often fallout that can make it hard to be a user of tech products.