Nstream for Android / Bada

guess for me Android is garbage compared to Apple iOS, even if just playing video on Galaxy 3 phone , it does not use complete screen, interface not as good. Price difference not enough to justify poorer operating system and at $329.00 canadian ipad mini is affordable. For audio video there is more apps for apple than android. Where I work there is apps from Pioneer, Denon, Yamaha, Panasonic, Naim, Sonos etc. When I set up Sonos stuff apple app always works but android app crashes a lot. Belkin even has app t o use with WeMo switch to turn on lamps etc from my iPad or iPhone, Lift Master has garage door opener app.

Almost any tablet does email and internet but it is the additional programs or apps makes iPad more use-able.

We had a Naim rep over here in Toronto last week. Sorry, can't remember his name - Scottish accent.  I specifically asked him about the Android app. he stated it would be towards the end of the year. 

That would be Doug Graham.

Tony if indeed we need to wait yet another year that is depressing.

for a item that sells more than the pad it is poor service ,fast moving market  I guess

One of the features I looked for in a upnp control was the ability to build a queue (current playlist , if you like)  of music as you moved around different artists & albums. Bubble handles this admirably. I had a very brief play with n-stream and while I liked the album information+++ it seemed to only have the ability to play the current selection and not to enqueue ( winamp term I think) music. Am I correct in that.

Also is there a thread discussing how good the nstream app is. How good do people find the information served up? Does it satisfy that lost (at least for us that don't have albums any more) pleasure of devouring the album while listening to it.

Thx

Tony

Nstream in its current incarnation has a very flexible and easy to edit queue system that you can dynamically build whilst listening to something else...

The item in bubble I like not in Nstream is the lyric lookup function which is neat. I can't get the volume control on bubble to work with my NDX and of course input automation doesn't function either.. I guess this is proprietary to Naim so we will need the ported Nstream. I do enjoy the Nstream Rovi information lookup and the integration to Amazon and that has been responsible for several purchases.. 

Simon

Thanks Simon for the feedback

I use the 'queue next' and related features quite a bit with nStream.  It's essentially a playlist for one-time use, and I find it pretty handy.

Hi all,

Those of you using Bubble uPnP (which is awesome BTW) should think about Bubble uPnP server

http://www.bubblesoftapps.com/bubbleupnpserver/

It's free, and gives you amazing extra functionality - such as on-server playlists etc - various NAS version arfe available.

Conrad, just a point of note, it appears Bubble uPNP server is a UPNP server proxy and you still need your main UPNP server active.

It appears Bubble UPNP server uses the OpenHome specification, and Naim by chance or by design also uses some aspects of the OpenHome specification to make up for limitations in the original Upnp AV spec.

Simon

I see here again a debate concerning the exclusive positioning of Naim on the Apple platform, and the lack of investment for Android.

Each one is presenting his opinion rather than facts. Forum members should look after the market share evolution:

I would suggest the forum administrator to organize a survey in order to compare Naim’s users to this graph.

http://www.businessinsider.com...market-share-2012-11

> Forum members should look after the market share evolution:

Why? I throw marketing stuff in the dustbin. I'm interested in playing music rather than what the market says. I am often expected to suffer marketing presentations at work, but i have a habit of not switching my phone off so I can make an early exit.

My requirements for computer audio are simple enough ... the computing platform must not require me to buy anything from Microsoft ... Ideally it should be Apple centric, but more than happy with a Linux based system - just to show what a reasonable dude I am. I'm disappointed Naim has followed a Microsoft route with its desktop client  .. It could have used HTML 5 and made it available to everybody, as Firefox runs cross platform. ... and embedded OSs - have you noticed nearly all the problems posted hereon refer to UPNP or streamers with Windows embedded in them. 

if supporting users of open systems is too much to ask then I'll find another way to play music ... I still have my Cassette Deck. 

Now how can i control my NAS from my new Kindle Fire .........

Philippe, interesting market positioning, it does question Naim's strategy of backing iOS. Perhaps it was a case of backing a horse that isn't now winning the race.. I guess hindsight is a great thing .. and to be fair early Android implementations were far  from stellar, but things have moved on and  in the environment where Naim doesn't appear to licence software to independent developers  or publish APIs, not supporting the market leader for the Naim streamer/disk server control software looks questionable.

Simon

Surely Naim needs to use what works, best with its kit. It has never been one to follow fashion and my guess is Androids are mainly bought by kids. Marketing charts will only say what the author wants them to - there is always a vested interest. 

Naim used to make a very expensive remote control ... I think called the Flash, it now makes a more cost effective one using the iOS platform to run it. 

I think Naim should have an API and let third party developers build apps for the Kindle Fire, a very nice device, and Androids, For those who like them. This would save Naim the hassle and support headache. I don't believe there are many customers who reject a Naim purchase because of lack of a Kindle or Android app.

i think Naim's concentration should be on the Reference DAC rather than apps and streaming software which is probably going to be left to the computing companies in the near future. I don't understand the push to trying to make Naim diversify in to software. nStream is fine for those who want it - now let third parties develop future apps. Naim has more important developments ahead and the DAC V1 is hopefully the shape of things to come. 

Guy, I agree about focussing on the reference DAC.. and also agree about Naim publishing the API, and perhaps even running a certification programme which could be a revenue generator. Others in the IT industry do this.. It's kind of like fringe product outsourcing.. Allowing you to concentrate resources on the core portfolio. Certification assures quality and interoperability.. I really suggest Naim looks at this.. It drives innovation as well.. 

Simon

Have to confess as a 10 yr total Mac user on my 3rd MacBook with an iMac at work and on my 2nd iPad and iPhone, plus Time Machine and Apple network at home, and a 2012 Mini as a music server, I really don't get your antipathy to Apple. Hey its just a tech company!...

Whatever, but probably a good idea for Naim to be platform agnostic....

3 Macbooks in 10 years is reason enough for me to be wary of buying Apple - my 1st generation iPod Touch won't run anything much now. I also specified Apple Newtons for an international research project back in the day... I look for 5 years+ from IT devices and have always got that from non Apple kit.

Having said that, I did like the Apple II and the Lisa and I do think Naim needs to support all the major platforms given how dependent streamers are on control software and firmware updates, If they can't handle it I agree that they should publish the API and let others do it who can because as it stands Naim are failing just about everybody one way or another.

It's fun to see the Apple's followers criticizing the behavior they had and still have with Microsoft!

This backlash is hardly surprising.

Nor do I ... I am delighted with every product i have bought from Apple. 

I agree Naim should be platform agnostic, its use of so much Microsoft stuff really puts me off. 5 years eh, I've never had more than 5 minutes useful support from Microsoft .. I don't know why they said they had a help desk. It is help, but not as you know it. Still now they are well and truly on the wane then perhaps i should be a little more sympathetic. 

To be honest, there are lots of startup companies around now who are as bad or even worse. I think the word they use is entrepreneur, but i think we used to call them by a different name ...

Took an iPad home from work to try out n-stream. It worked well. Certainly a good addition to the SU. Couldn't for the life of me figure out how to queue tracks. No local menu for options . Just seemed to have the ability to select a track to start playing it. 

Like Simon mentioned earlier the ability to look up lyrics would be a good addition.

I did ask a senior Naim person at Bristol about an Android version of Nstream and got a very offhand reply about it being "on the wish list" . I tried to press re timing but got no sense of urgency or concern even when I pointed out the growing market share of Android.

Most disappointing.

On the iPhone, when you try to play a track whilst another is playing, you get several options including to cue it next or at the end of the current cue list.  My iPad battery is dead so I can't try it there at the moment.

Pev, that really is disappointing news; do you know who you spoke to. I was hoping to see it shortly , as it has been on the wish list a huge amount of time.. Nearly as long as cue forward and cue backwards and certainly longer than the Apple firmware loader from what I can see. I know Naim customers are unusually patient but I do hope that is not taken advantage of.

If Naim are not going to definitely do this in the forseeable  future they should say so clearly so their customers can decide what to do.