Playback uPnP Issues

A vortexbox ... no windows required 

> Everyone needs to get over the PC vs Mac thing.  It is just silly.

Agreed lets all switch to Mac OS X and Linux and be done with it 

If a system requires me to use a Microsoft product then it is not for me .... 

Will J-River for OS X mean the end of any need for Windows ... if so I'm in. 

Thank you. I'm tired of people telling me I should buy a Windows computer or an expensive UnitiServe. I hope the release of Asset, J-River, whatever for Mac makes things better (although I may not have a Naim streamer by then). I'd rather stab myself in the eye than reintroduce all the headaches of Windows back into my home. I especially don't want Windows 7.  I (and my cubicle mates) hate Windows 7. 

Asset for Windows seems to work fine. However, I have no intention of running Windows as a permanent solution on either a dedicated machine or running in a VM on my Mac. I'll just have to hope the Mac version works as well when it is released as a production version, if I haven't dumped my ND5 by then.

The free version doesn't support folder browsing, which is what I need. I need to read through that thread to see if the pay features are enabled yet, via license purchase.

Stravinsky to Supertramp ... that is quite a small range ... what about composers or groups beginning with letters other than S? 

Sorry but it is your best option.  You can run a server in a closet and NEVER even look at it.  It can boot directly into JRiver and you will LOVE it.

I really cant understand the aversion.  It seems very childish and short-sighted.

What you are wanting to do is something skin to asking for the Naim sound without Naim gear.  It is impossible.

Good luck to you.

Patrick

That's pretty asinine to call me childish because I don't want to go buy a PC, just because you say so. Maybe you're the one who needs to grow up, and learn to respect other people's perspectives.

I'll spell it out for you: I'm not getting a Windows box.

RaceTripper I can understand you not liking a particular OS for usability reasons/GUI aesthetics etc.. But I genuinely can't see why you are tired about people advising/suggesting   to you a particular tool/solution that meets your functional requirements. In the case of Asset running on micro WHS  you rarely need to see it or very rarely have to do anything with it, let alone fiddle, view a screen or play with the OS. It just works and can sit in your closet, cupboard or under your bed if need be.

I guess the perspective Patrick is coming from  is more about being the best tool for the job as opposed to apparent quassi religious views on personal computer operating systems? But as you say we are all different.

> I'll spell it out for you: I'm not getting a Windows box.

+1,000,000

You can use a Vortexbox or you can run Minim Server under OSX (Minim Server will transcode FLAC to WAV if that is something you want to do) ....  there are many options ... J River and Asset will be available on OS X soon (it is great to see these guys responding). You can use a Synology NAS as well.... the Vortexbox or you can use a Linn DS with full OS X support ...

the list goes on ... but one thing is for sure: I'm not getting a Windows box. 

I'm more likely to buy AQ snake oil cables than that .... 

There are lots of Windows free options ... I'm afraid if using Naim meant using Windows then it would be a goodbye from me ... fortunately we can still use the Naim DAC, amplifiers and speakers without it ... 

Well, it is just plain arrogance to state someone else is childish for declining to use a Windows-based solution. I'm not alone in my opinion, and it has nothing to do with quassi [sic] religious views about operating systems. What and old and tired assertion that is.

I use both (and develop software on both) and know the strengths and weaknesses of each. I have very valid reasons for not wanting to introduce a Windows box into my environment. I'm not alone in this. Does that make us all babies then?

I bought into the Naim digital streaming products assuming the same level of excellence in integration as the analog products. Apparently I was wrong. I won't make that mistake again.

apple snobs

Here, let me correct that for you.

Not another PC vs Mac debate. 

Worth remembering that Macs became PC's when Apple switched to the Intel chipset years ago. None of this matters to the end user but worth considering by those avowed to one or the other.

Please guys - can we pick this conversation up?

Also - I'm not quite sure why the issue here is being levelled at our UPnP client player - the issue that you have is with how your UPnP server is presenting your music collection so please can you refrain from tarring our kit with your chosen UPnP servers shortcomings.

I understand that you will not use a Windows based system in your network - whether or not it would be able to resolve your specific need or not - and although I find the complete refusal to consider a tool that may provide the solution (and the inability to see if the Mac version of that tool would resolve your issue) confusing to say the least I do admire your resolve.

I myself tend to pick the appropriate solution that fits the task and not try to do the equivalent of my dad fixing things when I was a kid and see every "problem" as fixable with one of the three possible permutations of a hammer and a screwdriver.

Now, to make everything very very clear, a UPnP client does little more than browse lists that are generated by a UPnP server - it is down to the UPnP server to support the sequencing, sorting and searching that you want to have - if none of the UPnP servers that are out there (or at least that are available to you for whatever reasons you have) support the operation that you want then that's *NOT* an issue with the UPnP client device.

In your case and for your usage then perhaps the simple answer is that the Logitech software provides the indexing and access that you require rather than that provided by your UPnP server software. I have some old SliMP3's in every room at home that are no longer used to play music but are simply used as clocks and so I run run Logitech Media Server on my ReadyNAS NV+ v2 ... I've just checked and the Logitech Media Server software does set itself up as a UPnP server so perhaps that might give you the browsing functionality that you wish for?

Cheers

Phil

Please lets avoid name calling...

Everyone is entitled to have their own opinions ... it's just down to everyone else to consider those opinions and decide whether they are valid and whether they can be applied to your own situation.

Phil

Hey, why call me out? I didn't start the personal insults. They were started against me. I never said anything against Windows. Only that I did not want to use that. For that I'm accused of being childish and an Apple snob. I said nothing to deserve that.

I'll guess I'll wait childishly for the release of Asset or JRiver on Snob OS. Maybe that will solve my problem.  

Not singling anyone out here RT - both you and rich46 had made very similar comments and I quoted both of you to try to be fair leaving out all the previous varied comments.

I also very carefully tried to avoid making any implication about any one persons opinions being more valid than anyone else - I have Windows machines and Macs at home (and a Macbook Pro that only ever runs windows) so I'm agnostic and just use whatever is appropriate for the job.

I'm just trying to keep the peace here and provide everyone with an appropriate solution without the sword of moderation being applied.

Phil

OK.

Like I said. I want a Mac solution. Not because I'm a Apple snob (I'm not), but because that's what I have and I don't want the hassle and expense of buying, installing and supporting more hardware that I don't enjoy using in the first place. I also don't have room for it where I can integrate it with my system, in a closet or otherwise. I also have a workflow for ripping, tagging and storing that I like.

If Asset for Mac truly works like the Windows version, that should take care of me. Twonky has acknowledged the issues I discovered with their product and escalated the issue. The issue with Playback for Mac wasn't one until n-Stream 3 came out. Next time I will make sure I can revert changes before I upgrade the n-Stream app. 

If you select "UPnP Compatibility" mode on the n-Stream settings page that should revert it back to the previous operating mode...

...and have you tried Logitech Media Server as a UPnP server to see whether that gives you the facilities that you want?

Phil

Lets summarise - the options on the Mac are pretty rubbish. Therefore a significant proportion of the market are stuck with a) rubbish options b) using PC options or c) paying for Naim's expensive serve options. 

What I find interesting is that Naim have obsessively controlled the hardware side but left a good proportion of the software side with rubbish options for Mac users and then blamed the standard. If they really wanted a good experience then they could have developed their own software like Sonos or their own server like Linn. What makes it worse for Naim is that is it probably more likely to be Mac type owners who pay extra for Macs that would pay extra for Naim as a luxury owner.

The answer is obvious - Naim should work closely with ethier Minimserver or Asset teams to ensure there is a good option for Macs. I don't think they can be ignored or asked to go for options b) or c) 

Wayne

The LMS UPnP plugin doesn't work all that well. It ignores my 24/192 files and it unnecessarily (in terms of ND5 compatibility) transcoders other files. I messed around with the setting a bit to reconfigure but never got it working to satisfaction.

Thanks, I know about the UPnP compatibility mode on n-Stream. But if Naim is going down a certain path for that app, and I have no other good options for remote control, I would rather find a solution that supports the way it is meant to work.

All this new-fangled digital stuff is hard. Vinyl is a walk in the park by comparison. 

+1

although I got yelled at for making that suggestion in the past

I find the whole Naim software thing pretty bizarre and disjointed anyway. iOS for remote control, PC for desktop apps and servers, and ancient PCs with serial ports for firmware updates. Software is clearly not Naim's strong suit.