Naim App Wish Llist
Posted by: Innocent Bystander on 24 January 2015
The only 'wish llist' posts for the Naim App are now old, so I thought I'd start one with the hope that Naim will read contributors' pleas, suggestions and ideas, and seek to put in place for the next release.
I suggest that to keep it easily readable and digestible by Naim, maybe with more chance of, it would be best for all entries to be short and sweet in 'bullet' form, with short explanation if not obvious what you mean or why. If anyone requests something already implemented please point out how to find, but I suggest that any lengthy discussions would be better in their own dedicated threads to minimise cluttering this. Repeat requests would seem a good way of showing popularity and maybe help prioritisation, but I suggest those be kept as short as possible
So these are mine for starters:
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
- As an alternative to the Rovi Database please allow viewing of any album information saved in the album folder (through the Naim App, while music playing): I'm sure I'm not the only one with scans of album images, sleeve notes etc, typically .jpg or .pdf, and in particular it would be nice to view while the music is playing. On an i-Pad this would start to get close to the age-old vinyl "album secperience". And with opera that includes being able to follow the libretto in electronic form.
- Could there be a 'reset streamer' button, because like all computer-based things it seems that somethimes things can get corrupted, and that would be a simple way of clearing anything that is teh fault of the streamer, as opposed to the server.
There is already a reset streamer button. It's a big black rocker switch on the back of the streamer, next to the mains socket.
W I N D OW S
There is already a reset streamer button. It's a big black rocker switch on the back of the streamer, next to the mains socket.
Some people dont like to get up (which is why they like remote controls in first place), and anyhow the switchis at the back, not easy to reach in everyone's setup, and a reset button could clear app cache as well so all ready to go.
Chances are that if the streamer needs to be reset, which should be very rare the iPad won't be communicating with the streamer so HH's solution will be required anyway.
My NDX has been powered on since August from when I returned from holiday and hasn't needed to be rebooted once in that time. If regular restarts are required it sounds like there is another issue that needs to be addressed.
Richard
Definitely.
I have been a little surprised how much the choice of uPnP server software influences what I see and experience in the Naim App. Given that the App will be the preferred control option for many buyers of Naim kit costing £''000's I think this is a serious deficiency.
So what I'd like to see is quite fundamental and that's for Naim to take full control in the App (like Sonos do) so my user experience is not dependent on trial & error with uPnP servers until I find one that does what I like - and more importantly is stable.
Olly
I have been a little surprised how much the choice of uPnP server software influences what I see and experience in the Naim App. Given that the App will be the preferred control option for many buyers of Naim kit costing £''000's I think this is a serious deficiency.
So what I'd like to see is quite fundamental and that's for Naim to take full control in the App (like Sonos do) so my user experience is not dependent on trial & error with uPnP servers until I find one that does what I like - and more importantly is stable.
Olly
+1
I have been a little surprised how much the choice of uPnP server software influences what I see and experience in the Naim App. Given that the App will be the preferred control option for many buyers of Naim kit costing £''000's I think this is a serious deficiency.
So what I'd like to see is quite fundamental and that's for Naim to take full control in the App (like Sonos do) so my user experience is not dependent on trial & error with uPnP servers until I find one that does what I like - and more importantly is stable.
Olly
+1
Definitely + 1
I have been a little surprised how much the choice of uPnP server software influences what I see and experience in the Naim App. Given that the App will be the preferred control option for many buyers of Naim kit costing £''000's I think this is a serious deficiency.
So what I'd like to see is quite fundamental and that's for Naim to take full control in the App (like Sonos do) so my user experience is not dependent on trial & error with uPnP servers until I find one that does what I like - and more importantly is stable.
Olly
For this, Naim would have to move away from UPnP. It's simply how UPnP works; everything originates at the server. A bit like saying I wish Google Chrome would let me change the way I see that new CNN.com homepage. It can't; it's the client end and can only see what the server sends it. Very limited control. (Maybe a bad analogy; people will say if it is.)
I have been a little surprised how much the choice of uPnP server software influences what I see and experience in the Naim App. Given that the App will be the preferred control option for many buyers of Naim kit costing £''000's I think this is a serious deficiency.
So what I'd like to see is quite fundamental and that's for Naim to take full control in the App (like Sonos do) so my user experience is not dependent on trial & error with uPnP servers until I find one that does what I like - and more importantly is stable.
Olly
But Olly my Sonos can navigate my UPNP media server just like my Naim, so they are not completely decoupled
What is nice with the Snos is that it :
- Public network Stream, (nearly 40 services in the UK)
- locally stream via UPnP media servers ( with the features and navigation from each UPnP media server app)
- play back disk / NAS mounted music files
- play locally stored media on IPad, PC etc
and it searches through all at the same time when looking for titles, artists, composers, genres etc , and it allows you to create playlist mixing all these sources. Now that is what I call versatile ( although currently no hidef). Could we give Naim the gauntlet on this sort of source versatility?
Simon
Allen, indeed, I thought it useful to enumerate some of these features..I like lists 
I am afraid they simply never will release that ultimate app. Naim seems to me a "hardware" company, making great music playing devices. Streaming is a software based functionality primarily. Sonos got it right, because they are a software company mostly, selling no-hassle functionality and they happen to sell hardware also.
having said so, the Naim app is not perfect, but also not that bad. And they do something, or maybe nothing, which makes the streamed music sound perfect. Synology offers a control app as well (DS Audio) which you can use to stream music to the Naim. It offers superior usability, but it distinctly offers less audio quality. Why that is I don't know, no one seems to be able to tell me.
Well as an employed design engineer in 2015, I say in the cutting edge world of IT design, hardware and software have largely converged and genereally intrinsically linked.
The new horizon is quantum design and engineering .. And that is different again ... Here you are combining the quantum physics of matter, into physical hardware and software design ..
I can only widely speculate how this will touch our modest world of recorded music replay at some time in the future, but it will, and the goal post will move accordingly.
Simin
For the sake of non beta testers, I have re-printed my wish list and updated slightly, but please note this covers just the features of the current app, and not the 'want' for Sonos-like features / navigation. It was generally well received by other beta testers, and covers most of the requests. Being a wish list it also does not fall foul of any confidentiality on the beta testing.
Current Naim App Wish list:-
Contols / GUI
- Volume & Play controls everywhere (including 'seek to time' where available)
- More space between volume & play controls on Now Playing screens (for me, as seen on a Mini iPad)
- Artwork everywhere (replacing grey icons)
- Track times shown on Now Playing lists
- iRadio - show track/stream playing in the now playing / banner
- Browse any source while any other source is playing (especially if multiple source playlist is implemented)
- Restore history - devices etc
- More streaming sources (Spotify is here now)
- Current queue / playlist on front screen (perhaps use some of the screen real estate to have 3 columns (Presets, Playlists, Current Playlist)
Playlists / Sorting / Browsing
- Ability to re-order Playlists & Presets on the front page
- When adding a playlist, this should go to the top of the Playlists on the front page, i.e. newest playlist at the top.
- Smart playlists (compiled by user defined entries that pick up on the metadata), e.g. By year / decade, artist, genre etc.
- More ways to sort, especially Album By Artist, options for user as to which are used on the root browsing page (although we are told this is defined by the server)
- For (tagged as) compilation albums show Track & Track Artist (not default album artist, which commonly is 'Various Artists')
- ‘Find on Wiki’ alternative to ‘Find on Amazon’
- Being able to enter search criteria in Rovi would be great (not sure if this is even possible since it’s licensed from Rovi), even hitting ‘Not This Album’ more often than not throws up even more mis-hits
Bombing Out / Carousel
(I have separated this out because I think it is so fundamentally WRONG at the moment!!!) Edit: And still is IMO!
- As I have said on the main forum, the current queue or playlist is the all important master, nothing should have the ability to ‘bomb you out’ of that without a confirmation. (Or if it does, then the ability to return to that queue / playlist where you left it).
- Current queue / playlist, as the ‘master’, should be accessible at all times, added to the front screen as a ‘dynamic list’ that updates (as the first section above).
- The touching of any input allows you to browse that input (as the first section above) rather than switching instantly.
- The touching of any track whilst browsing throws up the dialogue: Play Now, Queue Next, Queue Last, etc.
- This leads onto the carousel, which will switch you to an unidentifiable track (unless you memorised the current playlist queue) without confirmation.
- To be useful, each artwork tile in the carousel should be annotated with the track / artist / time, then stop where you want, touch and play, or carry on ‘carouseling’.
- Rather than a drop down 'Play Now' etc, confirmation of any of the above could also be carried out by a second quick press of the touch (switchable in user settings). This would be a simple and effective way of avoiding accidental touches causing the loss of your carefully constructed current queue / playlist.
The 'double-touch' (above) could have a default action (user configurable - to drop down menu, or straight to Play Now, or Queue Next etc,) An alternative to the '3 dots' straight-jacket, which I am not against, but takes some getting used to as a 'guest' or 'newbie'. Needs some thought as to how to best implement, but anything that avoids the bombing out scenario.
If you want to add to it, support it, or comment on the most favoured features, well ..... blow your socks off!!!
A massive yes to all of this Allen. I find it bizarre that you are more in touch with customer needs with the Naim app Allen than Naim itself!!!
Naim, maybe employ Allen as a consultant..Allen as your agent don't forget my healthy percentage!!!!!
Dusty, Allen's list is comprehensive, it builds, optimises and enhances on what is already there. I would like to also suggest Naim have a complete rethink, rather than be constrained by the current way they are doing things..which I personally think will take them into a deadend or slow lane.
Dusty, Allen's list is comprehensive, it builds, optimises and enhances on what is already there. I would like to also suggest Naim have a complete rethink, rather than be constrained by the current way they are doing things..which I personally think will take them into a deadend or slow lane.
Good point Simon. I guess we have all been spoilt by other apps that inccorportate all of Allens points and mine as well. The updates seem to flow a lot quicker than Naim. Taking nothing away from Naim, they do well but have a lot more catching up to do, in an industry that you can't afford to be left behind.
If a comic and/or respected reviewer publishes criticism of the app, Naim will take notice. Basic functionality has been stripped out of the app so that Spotity, in all it's low quality glory, can be squeezed in. And it took years to get here. We're going backwards. Maybe a third party app will emerge. I think there's a big enough gap for one.
Harry, other than selecting the Spotify input 'channel' I don't beleive the current Naim app does much at all with the Spotify integration, it hands it all to Spotify's app that uses Spotify Connect to stream to the Naim player. So to my mind the real integration here was actually in the network player streaming stack so as to appear like a Spotify Connect 'speaker'.
I do feel, however, this route is contained, and your point of squeezing in functionality feels apt, as this route relies on modifying the firmware of the Network player for each service that Naim wishes to support assuming it has its own 'connect' type interface, and as somebody said recently on this forum there will be a 'zoo' of control apps.
Simon
For ************ your socks off!!!
I find it bizarre that you are more in touch with customer needs with the Naim app Allen than Naim itself!!!
Naim, maybe employ Allen as a consultant..
As AllenB is a member of the beta test group you might imagine that Naim is aware of his list of customer needs and he is, along with others, being consulted.
For ************ your socks off!!!
I find it bizarre that you are more in touch with customer needs with the Naim app Allen than Naim itself!!!
Naim, maybe employ Allen as a consultant..
As AllenB is a member of the beta test group you might imagine that Naim is aware of his list of customer needs and he is, along with others, being consulted.
Ah, so there is hope. Being consulted is one thing, implementing another.
It will be interesting to see the outcome.
For the sake of non beta testers, I have re-printed my wish list and updated slightly, but please note this covers just the features of the current app, and not the 'want' for Sonos-like features / navigation. It was generally well received by other beta testers, and covers most of the requests. Being a wish list it also does not fall foul of any confidentiality on the beta testing.
Current Naim App Wish list:-
Contols / GUI
- Volume & Play controls everywhere (including 'seek to time' where available)
- More space between volume & play controls on Now Playing screens (for me, as seen on a Mini iPad)
- Artwork everywhere (replacing grey icons)
- Track times shown on Now Playing lists
- iRadio - show track/stream playing in the now playing / banner
- Browse any source while any other source is playing (especially if multiple source playlist is implemented)
- Restore history - devices etc
- More streaming sources (Spotify is here now)
- Current queue / playlist on front screen (perhaps use some of the screen real estate to have 3 columns (Presets, Playlists, Current Playlist)
Playlists / Sorting / Browsing
- Ability to re-order Playlists & Presets on the front page
- When adding a playlist, this should go to the top of the Playlists on the front page, i.e. newest playlist at the top.
- Smart playlists (compiled by user defined entries that pick up on the metadata), e.g. By year / decade, artist, genre etc.
- More ways to sort, especially Album By Artist, options for user as to which are used on the root browsing page (although we are told this is defined by the server)
- For (tagged as) compilation albums show Track & Track Artist (not default album artist, which commonly is 'Various Artists')
- ‘Find on Wiki’ alternative to ‘Find on Amazon’
- Being able to enter search criteria in Rovi would be great (not sure if this is even possible since it’s licensed from Rovi), even hitting ‘Not This Album’ more often than not throws up even more mis-hits
Bombing Out / Carousel
(I have separated this out because I think it is so fundamentally WRONG at the moment!!!) Edit: And still is IMO!
- As I have said on the main forum, the current queue or playlist is the all important master, nothing should have the ability to ‘bomb you out’ of that without a confirmation. (Or if it does, then the ability to return to that queue / playlist where you left it).
- Current queue / playlist, as the ‘master’, should be accessible at all times, added to the front screen as a ‘dynamic list’ that updates (as the first section above).
- The touching of any input allows you to browse that input (as the first section above) rather than switching instantly.
- The touching of any track whilst browsing throws up the dialogue: Play Now, Queue Next, Queue Last, etc.
- This leads onto the carousel, which will switch you to an unidentifiable track (unless you memorised the current playlist queue) without confirmation.
- To be useful, each artwork tile in the carousel should be annotated with the track / artist / time, then stop where you want, touch and play, or carry on ‘carouseling’.
- Rather than a drop down 'Play Now' etc, confirmation of any of the above could also be carried out by a second quick press of the touch (switchable in user settings). This would be a simple and effective way of avoiding accidental touches causing the loss of your carefully constructed current queue / playlist.
The 'double-touch' (above) could have a default action (user configurable - to drop down menu, or straight to Play Now, or Queue Next etc,) An alternative to the '3 dots' straight-jacket, which I am not against, but takes some getting used to as a 'guest' or 'newbie'. Needs some thought as to how to best implement, but anything that avoids the bombing out scenario.
If you want to add to it, support it, or comment on the most favoured features, well ..... blow your socks off!!!
+1
And of course, as I am sure Allen will agree, the support of some or any lossless streaming services.
Lyrics would also be nice
Lyrics would also be nice
Essential! A good app that brings all the album info (the actual album info, not 3rd party database info about the album) would go a long way to bringing back the "album experience" that I'm sure many others also miss - and if viewed on an I-pad or similar tablet the size allows better than CD, if not as magical as opening the gatefold sleeve of an LP...
Nothing ever will be, I suspect. But this kind of facility would be welcome. I run Orange music catalogue software and all my favourite albums and overall about half my collection are heavily annotated and have graphics included, because the software allows considerable listing augmentation. And it's information I know the providence of, as opposed to ROVI's best (and often totally inaccurate) guess. If only I could import it into "now playing". But the app still has basic bugs and basic functionality missing. So I guess we have a long way to go.