Anybody Know When Naim Server App Will Get A Makeover?
Posted by: Burgy100 on 10 February 2015
Simple question really but a very elusive answer. Well to me any way
Be careful what you wish for...
G
As I understand it, based on comments from Naim, is that there are no plans to change nServe, nor is it possible, apparently, to integrate Spotify into the Unitiserve or HDX.
Be careful what you wish for...
G
Enough said.
It will be interesting to see if the firmware inside the servers will be upgraded in the future. Until now the servers have not suffered from the problems some believe plague the streamers in terms of not enough ram. Spotify connect will require bluetooth wich is a hardware upgrade. But the main problem may be that the servers are running an embeded version of Windows xp, and that is not a current software platform.
But the main problem may be that the servers are running an embeded version of Windows xp, and that is not a current software platform.
Indeed. Has anyone tried to install an open OS or a dedicated audio distribution (Audiophile Linux, Volumio, Vortexbox, etc.) on a uServe ? Best, nbpf
Although I understand that Spotify will not be coming to the servers I hope that other streaming services will be implemented.
Bluetooth should be straightforward given that USB adaptors can be plugged in.
Perhaps Naim is considering a wholesale software update to move things forward from the Netstream days.
Who knows? I'd feel rather disappointed and let down if they completely stop development.
John.
Bluetooth should be straightforward given that USB adaptors can be plugged in.
Who knows? I'd feel rather disappointed and let down if they completely stop development.
John.
My guess is that uServe and HDX are dead ends in terms of software development (partly because they are based on Digify, a third-party product), but I doubt anyone from Naim would confirm this. Ditto hardware.
How much is native Naim code is uncertain. I thought that they had developed the ripper and display/control software for example.
Not sure. And on Bluetooth support I understand the USB input only supports storage devices. Adding the necessary driver/OS support for USB Bluetooth would be a major undertaking.
Well a complete re-write is unlikely... but not impossible.
From what I can tell the core server technology was provided by a company called Digifi which appears to have ceased trading or dormant. So how that leaves Naim with the licensing issues and future development is unclear. Or end users like me for that matter.
I'm blissfully ignorant as to what my uServe doesn't do that I want it to do (aside from acting as a middle-man for online streaming services to which, at the moment anyway, I have no desire to subscribe).
My HDX did pretty much everything that I wanted it to do - except now it doesn't do streaming services and the end-user software needs a bit of a polish.
My Sonos ZP90 - which pre-dated the HDX and cost about £280 (as opposed to £5000 for the HDX) has both a better user interface and streaming services - and continues to evolve.
Frustrating.
I'm blissfully ignorant as to what my uServe doesn't do that I want it to do
A lovely turn of phrase. I'm in the same place as you.
Many thanks for the response people, just the sort of answers I hoped for. As I understand the US has Microsoft XP technology embedded in it, so I would say it would be a major overhaul to update the hardware, although to keep all their ducks in a row I do think they should update the app and make it the same as the N-Stream with look and feel......not unless they intend in ditching it.
I'm blissfully ignorant as to what my uServe doesn't do that I want it to do (aside from acting as a middle-man for online streaming services to which, at the moment anyway, I have no desire to subscribe).
What about support for user-specific tags? This would make the uServe appealing to users interested in classical music or opera (or to users simply wishing to classify their music in a way than better suits their needs). Or perhaps support for opening the booklet of your album on your control application? This can be done in an MPD system with a three-lines script, it should not be that difficult to implement it on nStream shouldn't it? What about being able to download some of your music files from the uServe when you are on holiday or at work? Or to add new data to your collection from a remote site? Woudn't it be nice to be able to buy a version of the uServe without the ripping hardware and software. I mean for users that have no CDs to rip, for example. What about a wireless interface? For those who do not want to use the uServe as a UPnP client, having to lay down a cable from the router to the uServe can be a quite annoying. I know one can connect to a wireless bridge, of course. But still annoying. Apropos UPnP server: which server is running on the uServe ? Is it possible to run Minim or minidlna or a UPnP server of my choice on the machine? It's fine if you are perfectly satisfied with the uServe as it it. It might have served you well for quite a time. But for new customers with a critical attitude the uServe is most likely a no go, I'm afraid.
Much if not all Development since 1.5 seems not to be part of netstreams. Backup to nas, internetradio, upnp streaming, support for rip to flac files.
Even though 1.7B is not documented there has been an update to the retreaval of metadata. After my update it seemed all my rips were cued for what seems to be a check of the metadata from a new or updated source.
On the tools tab under maintanence there is a new setting called AMG update monitor.
A total rewrite of the code will of course never happen. Why should Naim do that? OPn the other hand servers with current hardware of course will need new firmware. As long as we do not know the Naim streaming strategy and the number of servers sold, it is hard to have an informed opinion of what will happen in the future.
I still hope for a kind of reference dac that can be combined with a Naim or other digital streamer. Until that happens I have no problems with the servers, add a Sonos or bluesound unit to get all the streaming services you want.
Claus