Kinsky - as it might have been

Posted by: Tog on 22 October 2011

This morning I have been using the latest version of Kinsky on the Mac and iPhone. I must admit to hating previous versions but now I'm quite impressed.

It runs quickly, finds my Vortexbox server and can it seems stream from my iTunes library as well.

It's not perfect and won't operate my Uniti's volume control or change inputs but otherwise once I understood the queue approach and how it creates playlists it is really quite impressive. 

Most importantly it's open source and shows what can be done. I wonder what would happen if Linn and Naim chose to develop Kinsky together? At the moment it obviously integrates well with Linn's streamers but surely it wouldn't take long to adapt for Naim as well.

Much of Naim's UPnP control point competition is absolute rubbish so there may be a sense of complacency developing.

Kinsky is a wake up call. It is not only good but it shows up any argument that there are any real technical issues in the way of nStream improvements including creating simple playlists.

I don't like Linn streamers but I do like the new Kinsky.

Tog

Posted on: 22 October 2011 by james n
Good isn't it. I have high hopes for the new n-Stream ...

James
Posted on: 24 October 2011 by realhifi
Originally Posted by Tog:

I wonder what would happen if Linn and Naim chose to develop Kinsky together?

*lol* yeah, that'll happen!

Posted on: 24 October 2011 by pcstockton
Originally Posted by Tog:

This morning I have been using the latest version of Kinsky on the Mac and iPhone. I must admit to hating previous versions but now I'm quite impressed.


Tog,

 

Have you tried the iOS app with other servers than Kinsky?  I am wondering why I am getting such poor performance with it and both Foobar and JRMC servers.

 

Both PP and eLyric are similarly quick (enough) with either Server.  But Kinsky iOS app is brutally slow.  I am guessing it is tuned to work best with the Kinsky Desktop server?

 

For example, it takes about 2 minutes for the jump letters to appear on the right.

 

Thanks,

Patrick

Posted on: 24 October 2011 by james n

That's very slow Patrick. I found it to be a tad slow on first start up and cached images etc but after that it flew along

 

James

Posted on: 24 October 2011 by Tog
Using it with my Vortexbox server I don't see much of a delay in showing artwork - similar to Remote in speed.

Occasionally a tad slow to pause a track.

Tog
Posted on: 24 October 2011 by pcstockton

I already deleted it as it doesn't bring anything to the table over PP.  I couldn't even figure out how to make a varied playlist.

 

Maybe I will grab again after some updates.

 

Thx,

p

Posted on: 25 October 2011 by Geoff P

Since the i-apps are so cheap or free I have tried out all the following with my Linn (don't know about Naim). My server is Asset UPnP.

 

PP:- was fast but since it now insists on loading little 'thumbnails' of Album art has become frustratingly slow

 

Songbook:- Was clunky but in its latest version is now stable and fast, Takes a tad longer to get a WiFi connection initially than PP

 

PS e-lyric:  Seems to be working well in its latest version about the same speed as Songbook but I don't much care for the Blue interface. Not my colour choice

 

Kinsky: Slow to connect and though the 3 page format is nice not as straightforward to make a paylist

 

Chorus DS: Dedicated to the Linn DS range. Works nicely but no use for Naim I suspect.

 

Control points that run on computers such as 'Asset Control' for PCs and Songbook for Macs both seem fast but then you have to have a computer running of course.

 

regards

Geoff

Posted on: 25 October 2011 by pcstockton
Originally Posted by Geoff P:

 

 

PP:- was fast but since it now insists on loading little 'thumbnails' of Album art has become frustratingly slow

 

 

PS e-lyric:  Seems to be working well in its latest version about the same speed as Songbook but I don't much care for the Blue interface. Not my colour choice

 

Kinsky: Slow to connect and though the 3 page format is nice not as straightforward to make a paylist

 

 

regards

Geoff

Geoff,

 

PP has options in iOS Settings for "Playlist Art" and "Browser Art".  I keep the latter off.  Playlist art is good for quick differentiation of albums within the list.  Although I must say it is as fast as ever for me and much quicker to populate the thumbs than Remote App.

There are quite a few options in that Settings Page.  Check them out.

 

eLyrics is slick.  I dig the interface.  But if I am not mistaken, it still requires the app to be open at all times.  Deal breaker.  Also, you cannot jump around with the track progress bar as you can with PP and Remote.  But the LastFM Bio is a nice touch.

 

Kinsky....  too slow for me as well.  I am not liking the 3-page approach either.  I really like the playlist creation afforded by Remote and PP. 

 

 

Apparently PSAudio uses the same devs as those who made PP.  My hope is eventually eLyric is a better looking clone of PP, as the aesthetic of PP is slightly wanting.

 

-Patrick

Posted on: 27 October 2011 by Geoff P

Geoff,

 

PP has options in iOS Settings for "Playlist Art" and "Browser Art".  I keep the latter off.  Playlist art is good for quick differentiation of albums within the list.  Although I must say it is as fast as ever for me and much quicker to populate the thumbs than Remote App.

There are quite a few options in that Settings Page.  Check them out.

 

Peter

 

Thanks for the tip I will check that out.

 

Geoff