Minstrel - asking for early testers

[imush]

Having some music at home NAS and traveling by car fairly often, I have for years been using minimserver over BubbleUPnP. However, bubbleupnp was lacking in several areas and has not made any improvements.

So I decided to write my own player app and transport server (not the media server, minim is great). I would like to introduce Minstrel.

What I hope will make it better than bubbleupnp:

Ease of configuration:
* Connect by sharing one token per device or QR code to your phone app
* Launchpad program for outbound connection runs from any NAS or router, I tested mac, Linux and FreeBSD. This is similar to BubbleUPnP server in some ways but not others.
* If you cannot or do not want to tweak your router, you can launch a small service image in the cloud to facilitate connections from both sides without opening inbound ports or touching the firewall. Works across CGNAT, carrier firewalls and whenever you do not control the router.
* App runs on Android or iOS (flutter), can easily build elsewhere
* Android Auto and Apple Car Play
* Gapless by default
* Open source (BSD 3 clause).

Other than this, at home it is just your typical UPnP/DLNA player control point; plays any audio or video locally or to any discovered renderer.

The app is built and works in my Android phone. What I need is a few early testers in the official stores, especially on Google Play and Apple App Store. It is currently in initial review at both stores. If you are interested, please send your email and platform (iOS or android) to support@minstrelplayer.org or PM here and I can send you an invite. Your email will be used only for this invite and only once.

For any further questions see http://minstrelplayer.org and the linked github.

[simbun]

I’m a happy, long-time BubbleUPnP user myself so I won't be switching to Minstrel. However, I have several friends on iOS who are desperate for a good alternative to mconnect, so I’ll be more than happy to help test.

PM sent.

[imush]

Yes, these are things that are missing in bubbleupnp for me: Android Auto/ CarPlay, iOS and more firewall flexibility. If you do not need them, bubble is good.

(20-10-2026 15:07)simbun Wrote:  I’m a happy, long-time BubbleUPnP user myself so I won't be switching to Minstrel. However, I have several friends on iOS who are desperate for a good alternative to mconnect, so I’ll be more than happy to help test.

PM sent.

[simbun]

(20-10-2026 17:36)imush Wrote:  Yes, these are things that are missing in bubbleupnp for me: Android Auto/ CarPlay, iOS and more firewall flexibility. If you do not need them, bubble is good.

In the past I've used BubbleUPnP with Tailscale, but mobile reception on my regular commute was always a little hit and miss so I now run a completely separate system that's been built from the ground up with remote/offline playback in mind.

[Stake]

@imush

Thank you for sending me the invitation. I now have Minstrel up and running on my iPhone 15 with the latest official iOS.

First impressions:
On launching the app I was requested to allow Minstrel access to local network devices which I did.
Having passed the introduction screens it said that it did not have persisson to access local network devices. So I checked in the settings. It DID have permission. After a while it found one of my UPnP servers (Multi-media streaming add-on on my QNAP NAS), but not the other one (MinimServer on the same QNAP NAS).

Also it is not seeing my WiiM Ultra streamer. All I get for "Play on" is This Device.

A while later it did find MinimServer and the presentation is as expected and working fine.
But still it doesn't see my streamer which is a major issue for me as this is my main use case.

The player screen does not provide a volume slider, at least not when playing on the iPhone itself. I have to use the side buttons on the phone. This ok as long as I'm playing on the phone. But if (when) it will eventually see my streamer, I would definitely want a volume slider.

[imush]

Thanks Stake, this is very helpful. You found two discovery bugs on iOS: the app searched before you'd answered the Local Network prompt, and then neither noticed it had been allowed nor searched again. That's why the warning stuck and MinimServer turned up late. The next build searches again right away once access is allowed, and keeps searching in the background, so players that miss the first search are found later. If the WiiM still doesn't appear, and you are sure that it's on the same Wi-Fi network as the phone and try pulling down on the Servers list? Once it's found, the Now Playing screen has a volume slider for it.

I am an android user and cannot easily test iOS myself except in simulator on my mac, which is not always the same.

I'll upload a new iOS build shortly.

by the way the reply button on this forum is broken? I get an error page, so had to add a new post to the topic.

[imush]

Apple initial review is done so you can download Minstrel Player from App Store. If you want the latest builds faster, I can add you as a tester. I would like feedback on the following
1. Finding servers and renderers on LAN (I think permissions check issue was fixed)
2. If you can install launchpad (see https://minstrelplayer.org/) and try listening remotely from outside your LAN, with or without satellite (that is, punch your firewall directly to forward a port or use the satellite for connection from both sides without touching your router).
3. CarPlay: how it looks and works in the car
4. What other features you need.

For Android, Google is taking their time to review, and reportedly with Android Auto enabled in this app it takes longer. And even then it still needs to go through closed testing. For this I do need more android testers.
On the other hand, from the app QA perspective since I am myself an Android user and have limited means to test iOS (simulator), I need Apple testers more than Android.

[Stake]

Testing the latest version from the official app store.
I'm afraid nothing has changed vs. my first testing.

[Peter StreamMagic]

I downloaded this app and see the same behavior as Stake is experiencing.
Somentimes it finds my NAS and Linn.
I really miss a volume button.