Why nStream?

Posted by: Bananahead on 06 January 2014

What does nStream do that other software doesn't?

 

When you make a selection of tracks to be played, does it copy that playlist into the streamer so that the iDevice can be switched off?

 

The reason that I ask is that my slow entry into the world of streaming is trickling along. I now have internet access at both of my locations. At one location (France) there is a wireless bridge attached to my Arcam amp (that has a net client). At two location (Switzerland) there is a Synology NAS with some music on it. Next I will put a duplicate NAS at the one location also attached to the bridge and then - hopefully - in a few months a NDX to go with the first NAS at two location (this is where the CD player and CDs are).

 

At Christmas I took my NAS and attached it to the bridge as a test. All works fine in that I can stream to the Arcam using either the built in Arcam net client (functionally very poor) or the Synology app (Functionally challenging) and the sound (for Arcam) is very nice.

 

I also tried the latest 4.1 build of MediaMonkey on my MS Surface Pro 2 that allows for some very nice playlist creation and also runs as a push client. The only downside is that the Surface needs to keep powered up to run MM otherwise playlists stop and I wonder about how nStream works.

 

 

Oh, and just in case anyone is interested or has missed it, there is a MediaMonkey Android version in late beta.

Posted on: 06 January 2014 by Bart
Originally Posted by Bananahead:

When you make a selection of tracks to be played, does it copy that playlist into the streamer so that the iDevice can be switched off?

 

Yes.

Posted on: 06 January 2014 by Bananahead

So all Naim needs to do is publish the API's and then MM and the others can add functionality.

 

Actually I would argue that there should be industry standards for the API's so that any software could be used with any streamer.

Posted on: 07 January 2014 by Fretfan

Interesting thought, but why should Naim distribute their API's and what's in it for Mediamonkey ?

Posted on: 07 January 2014 by Pev
Originally Posted by Fretfan:

Interesting thought, but why should Naim distribute their API's 

Because they are apparently incapable of developing it for the range of platforms required by a large segment of their customer base within a reasonable time frame

Posted on: 07 January 2014 by Simon-in-Suffolk

Fretfan - the advantage it allows others to develop clients on different platforms to control their Naim rather than rely on Naim to produce these software products. I am sure we would like Naim to focus on audio and perhaps their reference apps - but let others develop alternate ways to control their Naim equipment - After all Naim mostly use standardised APIs and the proprietary extensions are relatively limited (in terms of the streaming products at least)

Posted on: 07 January 2014 by Fretfan

Simon, I agree that it would be advantageous to the end user for independents to develop control apps for the Naim equipment, but my point was  that I could not see any commercial advantage for a professional software house developing for what is a niche product in the Naim.  The ability to control Naim gear would not be a major factor in the decision to purchase MediaMonkey, for example, for most people.

 

Naim produce a decent control app, and that was an influential factor in my decision to purchase Naim, as it will have been for others, so there is a definite commercial advantage in Naim continuing the software development, as well as ensuring that the app is of a decent standard.

 

however, releasing the APIs may finally produce a long awaited Android app.

 

 

Posted on: 07 January 2014 by Fretfan
Originally Posted by Pev:
Originally Posted by Fretfan:

Interesting thought, but why should Naim distribute their API's 

Because they are apparently incapable of developing it for the range of platforms required by a large segment of their customer base within a reasonable time frame

Pev

So if you manufactured streamers you would leave the development of the control apps to anyone who had the whim to develop for it.?   The future of your streaming product is dependent on someone who is not affiliated with your company ?   

 

I don't think that would be good from a business POV, even if you have more time to make your product sound great!

Posted on: 07 January 2014 by Bananahead

I am not suggesting that Naim should not continue with the development of nStream.

 

I am suggesting that other companies could produce alternative control software.

 

Naim are a hardware company and do not charge for nStream (other than what is included in the hardware price).

 

 

 

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Fretfan
Originally Posted by Bananahead:

I am not suggesting that Naim should not continue with the development of nStream.

 

I am suggesting that other companies could produce alternative control software.

 

Naim are a hardware company and do not charge for nStream (other than what is included in the hardware price).

 

 

 

Fair enough... But it's hard to beat NStream, with iradio, source switching and Rovi.  If a 3rd party could produce a similar fully featured app, that was better to use, I would consider purchasing it.
(providing it would be compatible with future Naim firmware upgrades). 

 

I do find NStream very robust and probably the ultimate control app for my purposes. Mind you if a third party could produce an app that integrated Spotify, and streamed it, I would be very happy. !

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Bananahead

Most of us have come to Naim as an upgrade. Maybe we started off with a cheaper CD player and then moved to a Naim player for example. We simply unplugged the cheapy, plugeed in the Naim and got on with playing CD's.

 

Wouldn't it be great if people that have a Sonos or a Pioneer streamer could simply unplug it and plug in a Naim without having to change software?

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Pev
Originally Posted by Fretfan:
Originally Posted by Pev:
Originally Posted by Fretfan:

Interesting thought, but why should Naim distribute their API's 

Because they are apparently incapable of developing it for the range of platforms required by a large segment of their customer base within a reasonable time frame

Pev

So if you manufactured streamers you would leave the development of the control apps to anyone who had the whim to develop for it.?   The future of your streaming product is dependent on someone who is not affiliated with your company ?   

 

I don't think that would be good from a business POV, even if you have more time to make your product sound great!

It works for Linn:  http://oss.linn.co.uk/trac  - read it and see how it should be done!

 

Naim are great at hifi but their software development cycles are woefully slow - Nstream for Android was promised in December  2012! Even with Android done there will still be gaps.

 

There are third party apps for Foobar for example; and one guy on this forum is already trying to create an app to control Naim inputs so there's no reason to assume developers won't be interested. Naim should either stick to what they do best or invest in more software development capacity.

Posted on: 08 January 2014 by Fretfan
Originally Posted by Pev:
Originally Posted by Fretfan:
Originally Posted by Pev:
Originally Posted by Fretfan:

Interesting thought, but why should Naim distribute their API's 

Because they are apparently incapable of developing it for the range of platforms required by a large segment of their customer base within a reasonable time frame

Pev

So if you manufactured streamers you would leave the development of the control apps to anyone who had the whim to develop for it.?   The future of your streaming product is dependent on someone who is not affiliated with your company ?   

 

I don't think that would be good from a business POV, even if you have more time to make your product sound great!

It works for Linn:  http://oss.linn.co.uk/trac  - read it and see how it should be done!

 

Naim are great at hifi but their software development cycles are woefully slow - Nstream for Android was promised in December  2012! Even with Android done there will still be gaps.

 

There are third party apps for Foobar for example; and one guy on this forum is already trying to create an app to control Naim inputs so there's no reason to assume developers won't be interested. Naim should either stick to what they do best or invest in more software development capacity.

Hi Pev

I knew you would cite Linn as an example.   However Linn collaborates with developers, to produce a quality product and allows the use of it's trademark.

 

I have no gripe about Naim doing this,  I just would not like to see any old "Tom Dick or Harry" playing with the API's and flogging a substandard app on line...