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Mike48 · 27-02-2013, 18:29

What do other MinimServer users favor as control-point apps? As devices to run them?

I am using UPnPlay on my Android phone. Unlike the other CPs I've tried, it displays full information on tracks (playing or queued). This is especially important in classical music, where the trackname (title) tags can be long. It is irritating to have the title cut off after the beginning of a work's name, before the movement information.

However, in my setup, UPnPlay crashes at least once per listening session, losing the current play queue. That would be a reason to switch, or maybe to try it on a more capable device (Android tablet?). I have tried Kinsky, but I can't get the entire title to display. I have tried Bubble, but I had constant problems.

Would I get better results using a tablet as the remote? If so, would I be better off with an iPad? I dislike Apple's hyper-proprietary worldview, but it seems that many of the better apps of this type are available only for iThings.

Comments, please!

simoncn · 27-02-2013, 19:14

(27-02-2013 18:29)Mike48 Wrote: What do other MinimServer users favor as control-point apps? As devices to run them?

I am using UPnPlay on my Android phone. Unlike the other CPs I've tried, it displays full information on tracks (playing or queued). This is especially important in classical music, where the trackname (title) tags can be long. It is irritating to have the title cut off after the beginning of a work's name, before the movement information.

However, in my setup, UPnPlay crashes at least once per listening session, losing the current play queue. That would be a reason to switch, or maybe to try it on a more capable device (Android tablet?). I have tried Kinsky, but I can't get the entire title to display. I have tried Bubble, but I had constant problems.

What problems? BubbleDS is working well on my Nexus 7. I presume you've tried BubbleUPnP, which might not work as well as BubbleDS.

Quote:Would I get better results using a tablet as the remote? If so, would I be better off with an iPad? I dislike Apple's hyper-proprietary worldview, but it seems that many of the better apps of this type are available only for iThings.

Comments, please!

I've decided not to buy an iPad because of the proprietary Apple world-view issue. My Nexus 7 works well as a control point, but it's not as good as the Apple hardware in some respects. Specifically, the display colour calibration is poor, and the built-in DAC is noticeably inferior to the DAC in my iPod.

Most of the time, I use Kinsky on Windows. If I don't have my laptop open in front of me, I use either Kinsky or BubbleDS on the Nexus 7.

bbrip · (This post was last modified: 27-02-2013 20:34 by bbrip.)

i use Songbook Lite and LUMIN, both designed for iOS and IPad and working flawlessly.

I just dont like Android. All looks a bit "cheap". Like a Ford compared to a Merc Smile

Mike48 · 28-02-2013, 02:16

Simon, thanks for the reply.

(27-02-2013 19:14)simoncn Wrote: What problems? BubbleDS is working well on my Nexus 7. I presume you've tried BubbleUPnP, which might not work as well as BubbleDS.

It's been a while, but I think it was instability. You're right about BubbleUPnP. I don't understand the difference. If Kinsky works with my device (the PS Audio PWD), why wouldn't BubbleDS work? Hmmm...

I understand a new Nexus 7 is due out in May. Maybe I'll see what that looks like.

Mike48 · 28-02-2013, 02:20

(27-02-2013 20:34)bbrip Wrote: i use Songbook Lite and LUMIN, both designed for iOS and IPad and working flawlessly.

I just dont like Android. All looks a bit "cheap". Like a Ford compared to a Merc

Yes, I owned a Merc back in the 1970s, and it was a nice car.

I am reluctant to get an iThing, as I'd be using it only as a control point. They are attractive, but also costly. Even used ones are being offered for twice the price of an Android device.

The factor in favor is, it seems there is much more development for A/V on iOS than on Android. More apps, better regarded.

Nothing is simple in audio.

jvilly · 28-02-2013, 08:26

On my iPad I have used: Kinsky and SongbookDS with the PS Audio DAC + Bridge, but they somehow were not able to FastForward through a song (even those with a timeseek table in the FLAC). However I like the Kinsky interface a lot with the dials instead of a sliderbar for volume changes.

bbrip · 28-02-2013, 09:57

(28-02-2013 08:26)jvilly Wrote: On my iPad I have used: Kinsky and SongbookDS with the PS Audio DAC + Bridge, but they somehow were not able to FastForward through a song (even those with a timeseek table in the FLAC). However I like the Kinsky interface a lot with the dials instead of a sliderbar for volume changes.

You are right. Fast-forwarding doesnt not work well with Songbook Lite. I just hardly ever use it, so it doesn't matter to me. It does work well though with Kinsky (as you already said) and LUMIN.

bbrip

bbrip · 28-02-2013, 10:01

(28-02-2013 02:20)Mike48 Wrote: ...They are attractive, but also costly. Even used ones are being offered for twice the price of an Android device.

The factor in favor is, it seems there is much more development for A/V on iOS than on Android. More apps, better regarded.

Nothing is simple in audio.

I'm not one of those religious Apple guys (still have some windows gear around here...) but I must admit that stuff just works. Also the higher cost is partly being compensated that you can sell it again for a good value of you don't like it / no longer use it.

Interesting to compare used iOS device prices and Android devices on eBay. Almost like trying to sell a Korean used car here in Germany Smile

simoncn · 28-02-2013, 10:43

(28-02-2013 02:16)Mike48 Wrote: It's been a while, but I think it was instability. You're right about BubbleUPnP. I don't understand the difference. If Kinsky works with my device (the PS Audio PWD), why wouldn't BubbleDS work? Hmmm...

BubbleDS is specific to the Linn DS and supports the Linn (OpenHome) extensions to UPnP for gapless playback, etc. BubbleUPnP controls any generic UPnP renderer, without these extensions. Kinsky combines both these capabilities in a single application.

I believe earlier versions of Bubble* were less stable than the current versions.

simoncn · 28-02-2013, 10:53

(28-02-2013 02:20)Mike48 Wrote: The factor in favor is, it seems there is much more development for A/V on iOS than on Android. More apps, better regarded.

Another reason why I bought a Nexus 7 instead of an iPad is that the Android platform supports Java-based software but Apple iOS doesn't. For a future project, I'm hoping to make some contribution to the Android software gene pool that might slightly reduce this imbalance.