ElementFire

This is because Google products do not support AirPlay, unsurprisingly.

I do hate that Google Play Music could Cast to Sonos, but YouTube Music cannot.

Patents cover methods, not effects. Sonos is not claiming ownership of being able to control speaker volume. They are claiming ownership over the method of changing volumes across a group of speakers from a single control.

Similarly, creating a stereo pair or speaker group with autocalibration to prevent latency-based echoes requires specific methods to accomplish.

Argh, I just bought it for $30 during the holiday sale!