SongBook Naim

Tried Songbook Mac - dreadful - told me I had another UPnP server present - searched found Uniti and then crashed - not a good advert for their Control Software and at £29 it better be bloody good.

UPnP still needs work.

Tog

I like chorus ds....do not know if it's working for other gear....

Ralf

I just tried Songbook on my iPad. It loads & installs, but won't open. I've removed it, downloaded the app again - same thing. Won't open.

"Songbook Mac not currently working with Uniti" would explain my problems....

Tog

Speak to the developer he is very helpful.

I had decent results with the 3.0 version with my qute on my macbook. I can browse the UPnP server and send files to the qute's queue, but the application is not stable. As for controlling qute it is very limited, but this is more on naim's side then on songbooks' - they can't contol a unit without its API - maybe that's the reason for the note about Uniti...

Here's the response from the developer:

We have investigated this and found the problem. What happened was that SongBook Naim had a dependency on iOS 4.0 or greater, and since your iPad is on iOS 3.2 this will cause a failure to start.

We test thoroughly before release, but in this case the testing failed to reveal this error. We tested on an iPad running iOS 4.2, the new release that will be available from Apple shortly. Once iOS 4.2 is installed you cannot revert back to iOS 3.2, so we couldn't test on that iPad with iOS 3.2. To work around this we also tested on the iPad simulator with iOS 3.2. The simulator is not always an exact replica of the real device, and in this case the simulator did not reveal the problem either. The code was then submitted to Apple for testing. For some reason their testing did not reveal the error either (maybe they used iOS 4.2 as well).

We submitted an update to Apple that fixed the error on Saturday, so this version should be reviewed and released by Apple shortly. There's nothing we can do to speed up the review, it has been relatively consistent at about 4 days for us recently.

Sorry for the problem that this has caused you. Once the update is released by Apple you will see it available in the Updates section in the App Store app.

In the publicity for SongBook Naim (see link in Martin's initial post) it is stated under the heading Internet Radio that "SongBook lets you browse the vTuner internet radio stations on your HDX. You can use the RadioTime directory on a Uniti." Does this mean that finally it will be possible to have internet radio on the HDX (new HDX software update?) .... or is it a mistake of Songbook or a feature that will only work on the HDX in combination with the SongBook Naim App (or a n-Serve / HDX App to be released for iPad soon?)?

My understanding is that Naim intend to incorporate this feature on the HDX. No idea when. Perhaps the next SW update? SongBook seem to be future proofing their copy.

Look forward to the feedback from Docmark once the update is released by Apple.

Please see below my email exchange with Bookshelf Apps Support regarding their SongBook Naim App. According to their website and the below feedback, it turns out that their App would enable internat radio on the HDX and volume control !
Surprisingly they mention that the HDX already has vTuner support but that it is just not made accessible by Naim from the front panel. Although it is nice to see that there now seems to be a way to get internet radio on the HDX, it is rather frustrating to read that the vTuner has been there all the time while I (and many others) have been waiting for two years fgor Naim to come up with the internet radio feature on the HDX.
By now I know Naim’s standards reply of how busy they are on other stuff and that they do not want to announce developments before they are ready, but I think the time has come for Naim to finally explain what their intentions are with internet radio on the HDX. Will they enable this feature (+ volume control) also in the iPad version of the n-Serve App and when will this be released? Or is their advice that this is not under development and that we should just buy the SongBook Naim App. If the SongBook Naim App is as good as the responsiveness of their Support desk, it seems very promising.
------------------
Question: “I own a Naim HDX and read on your site about the new SongBook Naim App. I have a couple of queries in this respect:
- It is mentioned that the App let's you control the volume (except for Uniti). Does this also work on the HDX ; does the HDX currently support volume control or is there a firmware update coming that will make this possible?
- it is mentioned under the Internet Radio heading that "SongBook lets you browse the vTuner internet radio stations on your HDX. You can use the RadioTime directory on a Uniti." Does this mean that SongBook Naim will bring internet radio to the HDX or is this a feature that is also subject to an upcoming HDX firmware update?
Thanks in advance for your reply. “

First reply Bookshelf Apps Support (Songbook): “Thanks for your interest in SongBook Naim. We had to withdraw the current release as it had a compatibility problem on the iPad, but the updated release should be available in a few days, just as soon as Apple has approved it.
I'm not certain that the volume control does work on the HDX. We have a Naim NSO3 that we use for testing, which is like an HDX but has four outputs, and the volume does work for that, so I think that it should work, but we have not tested it. I've sent of an email to confirm this and will let you know when I hear back.
The HDX does have vTuner support already, but it is not accessible from the front panel display, so SongBook simply gives you access to this capability.”

Second reply Bookshelf Apps Support (Songbook): “We have been told that the volume control does work on the HDX.
The new version should be approved today or soon after so it will be available in the App Store very shortly.”

That is seriously interesting. Thank you.

quote:

We have been told that the volume control does work on the HDX.

???

quote:

Originally posted by David Dever:

quote:

We have been told that the volume control does work on the HDX.

???

They have been told wrong. For arranging and playing music this app is crap. You can't stop or pause. Maybe such functionality is hidden somewhere but the user manual / help files are non existent. It's a pale shadow compared to the n-serve even although the graphics are nicer.

But.....

If you want internet radio now through your HDX this is your app. It works. For this reason alone it justifies the asking price. Given that this functionality is now working via a third party, unless you have twenty five quid burning a hole in your pocket, or you just want internet radio now, end of, it will be worth hanging back to see if the nserve app post the iOS upgrade brings this facility to life. If on the other hand the upgraded nserve app is months away and/or we are certain it will not activate internet radio, songbook will give you it today.

You'll also get a nice volume slider which does nothing. And no playback controls.

I agree that this app is of real crappy quality and buggy.

But it enable the vTuner radio, and once you manage to run the app without crashing long enough to set a radio station the HDX seem to play it just fine.

quote:

Originally posted by jlarsson:
I agree that this app is of real crappy quality and buggy.

But it enable the vTuner radio, and once you manage to run the app without crashing long enough to set a radio station the HDX seem to play it just fine.

What is a vTuner please. Will my HDX have one?

Crikey ... IMHO Songbook is pretty dreadful .. It crashes more times than Adrian Sutil, looks worse than the UK deficit and costs far too much.

Did I miss anything?

Tog

It seems the HDX has got one, so yours has. HDX software version 1.5 required. that's the omly thing you need to be sure of. As it stands songbook needs a bloody good overhaul of functionality and stability but it will unbox internet radio on the HDX. And it works. I've given up using it for file playback. the n-serve app, for all it's blocky appearance and limited functions does the basics right and is smooth and easy to use. In fact it's rather good. Roll on the update.

quote:

Originally posted by Tog:
Crikey ... IMHO Songbook is pretty dreadful .. It crashes more times than Adrian Sutil, looks worse than the UK deficit and costs far too much.

Did I miss anything?

Tog

The version I bought today hasn't crashed. I am underwhelmed but I've got internet radio playing off the HDX, which was my main priority. With the n-serve doing relatively little and songbook doing nearly everything rather badly, the time is right for the app we all need.

My dealer told me yesterday that the update to n-stream is due in Jan ( rewritten for iPad ) -free for current users. The cost is partly due to licensing from Apple and the overheads of creating something so specific to Naim. I have grown to like it given that it controls the Uniti's functions very well. The relatively poor UPnP performance is largely down to the rather flaky servers on my Macs not Naim. So for my previous moaning sorry Naim.

There is far far worse out there. Are you listening Songbook?

However, using a Mac, Halide Bridge or Optical with Remote means excellent fast control, good playback - Internet radio and .... Spotify.

Tog

Will there be an update to the n-serve as well??

Regards,
Michel

BTW: thank you guys for sharing your experiences with the Songbook Naim app.

I think I'll stick with the n-Serve app for the moment!

Regards,
Michel

quote:

Originally posted by Harry K:

quote:

Originally posted by Tog:
Crikey ... IMHO Songbook is pretty dreadful .. It crashes more times than Adrian Sutil, looks worse than the UK deficit and costs far too much.

Did I miss anything?

Tog

The version I bought today hasn't crashed. I am underwhelmed but I've got internet radio playing off the HDX, which was my main priority. With the n-serve doing relatively little and songbook doing nearly everything rather badly, the time is right for the app we all need.

Harry do you know how to save a radio station into the favourites folder? Can songbook access listen again radio or is it just live? Thanks

Nocker65, it would be interesting to also get your feedback on the Songbook Naim App. Do you experience the same difficulties as reported by Harry (no pause or stop fuction ; volume control not working ; stability issues ;...)?

I've got Songbook on my iPad. It's recognized my HDX and NAS. It also shows Radio Time, and lists dozens of stations. Problem is - I haven't got a clue how to use it. I touch on the name of a track or station, and the selection shakes from side to side, as though saying "No" and denying me access. Is there something I need to do to the settings of the HDX?