New n-Stream app is here

I take your point... That is a real pain when issues are just left hanging even when they are being addressed!

Nothing "over" about it. The new interface is rubbish. Naim Support are not interested in such views for obvious reasons. They have people with urgent non functionality issues to address. But for something that's been more than eight months in the works the new interface is very disappointing.  It seems the volume control has always been buggy and the solution is to limit its availability.  That's just not good enough. Check out Linn Apple and Sonos. Maybe Naim needs to put another shilling in the meter.

Hi Harry,

We've had both positive and negative reaction to the new user interface ... and the feedback that we have had has been passed to the development team for consideration and I know that some of the feedback that we have had is already being incorporated into the next build / release.

Perhaps if you wish to provide us with specific feedback to support@naimaudio.com then we could include yours in there too?

Cheers

Phil

Adding my experience :

Loaded new App to iPhone5 iOS8 and it is working fine for me streaming to NDS. N-Stream has now been called NAIM.

Naturally N-Serve not affected running the US-SSD serving the DAC-V1 in the office.

I have an old iPad version 1 with the older original N-Stream App still running also (iPad 1 is stuck on iOS 5.1.1 no upgrade available after this for these older iPads) so have both options.

The new App, for me, has taken a short while to navigate the new access and routes to options (bit quirky here mind some of the pathways chosen to certain areas of the app/info) but I quite like it and it will improve as new features are added/adapted.

For me it is all working ok and I quite like the new UI look if the navigation is a little quirky.

I seem to have volume control fine, file info is in the NOW PLAYING page showing Bit Rate, Format and Sample rate.

Considering some of the awful user interfaces I have programmed over the years, thinking that I was introducing some really cool "features", I am staying well away from commenting on the interface design. At the moment, I'm not convinced... But that is just personal opinion

I like the new design and features and think this is a great step forward. All the little things will be resolved and I'm sure it will only improve. Great work, Naim!

Hm. I cannot get the app to stay open at all. I've gone into the settings (sometimes opening that closes the app!) and checked "Stay connected" then when I try to add an album to the playlist and the app crashes the "stay connected" setting is unchecked.

Cannot see a UPnP compatibility mode option anywhere in the settings options.

Thank you for your even handedness Phil. The only operational bugs I've had have been a few random crashes when going from portrait to landscape mode and when the uPnP server is lost. I will wait for a patch before I report because I expect one (or two) will be along in fairly quick succession. I shan't ever be happy with the interface. One person in this household has highly specific needs for clarity and operational ease and the new interface has, and will continue to defeat her (it's not her fault). So of course I'm disappointed. It could have gone for clarity but it's gone for technical nerdiness because this looks clever to the people who built it.

I really need nStream back.  And having stated my disappointment repeatedly, I will now refrain from adding more noise to the discussion.

It has as many new features as ios8

The reality is that when you launch a new UI to an existing market, even if 75% of people love it,15% will think it's not great and 10% will think it's an incompetent disaster. Unfortunately, it's always the 10% who are most vocal and that can warp perceptions. 

A new UI is a platform - you can increment on that platform and improve functionality, but you need that platform first. I think the new app is a solid step forward in terms of basic UI design, and I look forward to the increments in due course. 

Honestly, if I was new to Naim, buying a fancy new Mu-so, and was presented with N-Stream, I'd think it was a bit old hat. I'm glad Naim has done this. Bug fixing aside, I think it's good work. 

I also admire Phil and the team for the speed and pleasantness of their support. This makes me more positive about continuing as a Naim customer. 

Alex

It's probably worth considering that it is both a new platform as well as a new UI. The existing n-Stream app has now been out in the market for about four years now, which is quite a while in software cycles....

I understand the technical limitations!  But I do like how, say Google Music, serves up photos for the 'artists' folders.  

Our in-home servers would have to either store such images, or be able to pull them from some online database.  

I've been fiddling about with the new app for a day now and must say that generally I like it and haven't encountered any significant problems. I am using it with a ND5-XS (latest firmware) and an iPhone 5, IPad 3 and an iPod Touch 5 - all running iOS 8. It does feel a little less "safe" than n-Stream, it's easier to get lost as you find your way around. I find I can run a listening session from all three devices but only one can be active at a time. The others don't have to be switched off.

Two things that I don't like: album cover art is a lot less clear, particularly on my iPad; and no indication of buffering any more. This is less of an issue as I don't run the ND5 over Wi-Fi these days, but it would annoy me if I did! Similarly, I miss being able to just tap to see file information (format, bit rate). I know it's still accessible but it's not as good.

I like being able to change the style of the app (not bothered about olive green!) and love being able to browse uPnP whilst listening to another input.

So: pretty good but no Great Leap Forward. I suspect the changes are mainly to service the new mu-so equipment.

Seems fine so far but what does input trim do?

Whether i like the new look or not, and i do, is irrelevent. What i'm miffed about are the random crashes i think most have had and the omissions.

for me these are

1. Selecting an album and having no play button. Why do i need to select another menu to get a play menu. Have the other menu for other functions, but put a play button on there,

2. Showing buffer level on iradio. I find this essential as it allows you to see instantly if your going to have issues with the station rather than waiting for it to start dropping out.

3. Having the file format and resolution showing while playing a track. important when a/b'ing tracks and making sure server changes have taken

but whats got me more than anything is this was all available on the old version. Its meant to be an improvement and its not and as i have said previously i think its very poor from Naim to have put it out like this. 

So far i have found two new features

1. Browse upnp while listening to radio. Great feature. Nice one

2. Swipe to change track. Gimmick

How many nstream wish lists have we had on the forum??????

sorry if ive upset anyone but i really think its poor

Input trim adjusts the level of the inputs relative to each other. So if FM is louder than streaming, give it a trim. This has always been available via the front panel.

Thank you HH

I too have just downloaded the new Naim n-stream app, and found that it does not work on the UPnP input option. All others inputs OK, iRadio, DAB, FM, minidisc, iPod dock etc. But the UPnP option does not allow changing of streamed music or any control at all really.

I have deleted the app and reloaded it, but to no avail. I am fully upgraded to iOS8.

From the trail above I can only think that my UnitiServe firmware is not up to date. Any other potential answers gratefully received.

I have been reading the comments on here with interest, but have not yet downloaded the new app. It seems I'm not an 'early adopter'! But reading the comments has raised a few questions for me.

1. I have noticed the 'Clear UPnP cache' function, but have never used it. What does it do? Why would one need to use it?

2. Several people have mentioned the volume control or the mute control. I have never seen either of these in n-Stream. Surely they'd be working in the digital domain anyway, which must affect the SQ?

3. I have never been able to save a playlist in n-Serve, having instead to create one before each listening. They then seem to disappear. Generally this doesn't bother me as I tend to listen to full albums anyway.

I think I will wait until the issues have been resolved before switching from n-Serve, which I find very good anyway. 

Dumb blonde is rather offensive. All fur coat and no knickers is preferred here. 

Hi Allen,

Trim is in Input Settings.

Keith

I would also like to see the album view sorted by album artist...

Why does Phil Harris blaim UPNP/Servers for not showimg an album art against artists when eLyric and PlugPlayer have been doing it for years?

Keith

XH558: Have you tried rebooting your Naim streamer

Thanks LeeTom. The answer was too simple, guess I was looking for something more complicated!

all working fine, well, as fine as the new app can for the time being.