Nstream for Android

I've been using my wife's iPad to run the NaimUniti (1) for almost 2 years now. Waiting patiently for Naim to release an Android version. 

I just discovered this Namote app in the Google play store - anyone have experience using this?

Android's strength is also it's weakness.  It's more fragmented than iOS and Apple products and there's much more stability with Apple's approach. 

Who knows all the weird and wonderful ways android is going to go in the future from all sorts of shapes and sizes to each manufacturer having their own custom front end that perhaps makes it much more difficult to not only make an app for it but to support that app in the coming years ahead.

Nexus 4, 7 and 10 are the only 'vanilla' android devices out there, all the rest come with one kind of front end bolted on by the relevant manufacturer.

I have a Nexus 4 phone and my son has the 7 tablet and looking at the apps I download for my phone and his tablet, I always read the reviews, good and bad, and without fail the bad are all about this app not working on device X, Y or Z when it works on devices A, B and C.

Even within single manufacturers, Samsung for example.  App A works on some of their phones but not on others and this fragmentation must be a developers nightmare.

I'm sure Naim do not want to put their name to something that, through no fault of their own and due to a fragmented android market, often doesn't work.

The effort to provide the same app experience across all android devices must be greater than providing it across all Apple devices so for that reason I have some sympathy with Naim.

I ended up buying an iPad and it was N-Stream that swung it after previously considering the Nexus 10.  Best decision I've made to be honest as the difference in quality and battery life are night and day.

That will be Steve (Forum member Beeka) who has developed the app for Android and Windows. It works well but obviously doesn't give all the functionality of N-stream. It's great though for controlling the Uniti from my laptop and I'm full of praise for what Steve has given us. And that is why I'm disappointed in Naim in not developing N-Steam for Android, knowing that a forum member can knock out a decent app in his spare time.

https://forums.naimaudio.com/to...control-uniti-inputs

Last Friday I asked a quote for a NDX to complement my 282/250. And to replace my T+A streamer.

Even T+A has an Android app now, released at the same date as the I-thingy version. So I installed it. Works.

Now Naim may figure out if they are loosing sales by not introducing Android support.

Might be worth pointing out (though I am merely speculating) that forthcoming software updates might have something to do with the delay, or not.

Last year at the Montreal audio show, Doug told us thath at the end of the year (2013) there will be an app for android..... still waiting......

At the very least Naim should have the decency to explain why this did not happen.

Hi Guys,

As I have said numerous times on here - we *DO* intend to release an Android app however we have no time schedules for doing so.

The Android platform is a very "fluid" one to develop for and we are very aware that supporting the platform will be a far greater task that supporting iOS which is - in comparison - incredibly stable and ultimately we need to provide a reliable user interface to our product.

Commercial scale Android app development (as opposed to hobbyist coding) is well known to be a very different kettle of fish to iOS development where Apple (much as they are maligned as being draconian / expensive / elitist / whatever) do a very good job of making sure that apps that are released on their appstore do not break any coding guidelines and hence are - generally - reliable and stable. Apples hardware and software platform development is carefully managed so that generally there are no surprises when any updates are rolled out - this is not the case for the Android platform.

If any firm dates (as opposed to guesstimates then taken as firm dates) have been given by any of our dealers or sales guys then this has not been information that has been given to them by our software developers.

Can I please make our position on Android support clear - "We do plan to release an Android app for our streaming platform however at this time we have no schedules or timescales for release that I - or anyone else - can give you."

Cheers

Phil

I couldn't possibly speculate - however the best guideline I can give you is that until something is officially announced by our Marketing Department (and in that case it will appear on our website and in our email shots) then we have no firm announcement to make.

Cheers

Phil 

Why the positive reactions on Phil's post? There's nothing in there. All I see is excuses for not willing to make an Android app. There are 100s of thousands of Android apps already. With a huge number being high quality and stable. Some even available earlier than an iOS version. JRiver' Gizmo only just released for iOS, and available on Android for years already. And see my comments re: T+A. App released for both platforms at the same date.

"As said numerous times, we do plan...but no timescale", plus the stable and quality excuses equals "we're not working on an Android app, hoping that people stop requesting, they will buy our products anyway."

Got a mail from my dealer today, informing about the price hike of the NDX from April 1th. Trying to persuade me to decide for the NDX.

Phil Harris' post confirmed me that I made the right decision. 

Hi Streamz,

If we had absolutely no intention of producing an Android app then I would say so - after all it would end this discussion if I did so far more effectively than just saying it's planned and hoping that no-one remembers to ask, wouldn't it?

As it is, the information I can give you is exactly what I have done so far. You have of course stated your interpretation of that.

There are at this time several third party Android apps that can be used to control the Uniti and ND series products (however none of them officially endorsed / supported by Naim) and so the current lack of an official n-Stream for Android app should not be reason to reject the product in itself.

Cheers

Phil

Phil,

There's no need for me to interprete anything. I just look at the results. Or, the lack thereof.

And you do realize that pointing towards 3th party apps to a large extend confirms my view? 

Hi Streamz,

Pointing out that there are third party apps available simply informs people who may not be aware of them that there are other routes to that functionality available right now if they need that - nothing more.

I cannot obviously comment on specifics of product development, releases and schedules until they are announced by our Marketing team.

Cheers

Phil 

An iPod Touch 4th gen. can be had via "buy it now" on Ebee for $100.  If it does not run afoul of advice you get from your priest or rabbi (I realize that being pro or anti-Apple products becomes a religion for some), that is surely a possible, reasonable solution.

No it is not. I already have a mobile phone and a tablet. Both in perfect working order. And both not propriarty stuff either, both being in tha camp with by far the largest market share.

Absolutely no need to add another device just because Naim is unwilling to support Android.

It's not about the extra cost, it's not anti Apple religion (I do have an Ipod Touch somewhere lying around, GF has an older Touch or something, used to work on a Macbook etc).

Stating that an Android version is being developed, with the "no timescale disclamer" attached, and in the mean time luring in sales,hushing customers with obvious lame excuses is just plain deception. And disrespectful to customers. Luckely there are many options nowadays. 

Your ipod touch "lying around" will work just fine with N stream. It is what I use.

It depends on which generation and OS you have. Latest version of n stream will not work with 4.2.1.

So if you have an older ipod touch which is fine for playing music etc you will need to buy a new one to control a Naim sreamer if you haven't got an older version of n stream already installed.

It would be jolly useful to have a choice of which version to install then. My ipod is an old one, but I have not been tempted to update to the latest version of Nstream

Sorry, not a Touch, but a Nano. 

Can't be bothered, my phone and tablet are both Android, with native apps for JRiver, T+A and many more. Working just fine. Only N-stream is lacking, and I know now that there will never be an Android version.

...but their hifi products are rubbish!