iSub iPhone Client - Version 2.0 Released

[einsteinx2]

I have had a few crashes but not all the time, I am having buffer issues were the track starts and plays about 10 seconds then just skips to the next one. I just figure these will be ironed out in the next version. I used to be a huge simplify media user but I appreciate the work and open environment of subsonic so much more!

Yep, my major focus for version 2.2 (and the reason it's taking a little longer to put out that I was expecting) is completely rewriting the song streaming code. I'm about 90% done with that, just mopping up issues with song resuming and skipping within tracks. In 2.2, all tracks will be downloaded to the device as you play, and will play from the local copy, eliminating all buffer underruns on all but the slowest connections. Also, there will be a full local playback mode, and the ablility to sync tracks (over wifi only due to app store restrictions) from your Subsonic server to your phone. Synced tracks will automatically play from the local copy even when in normal streaming mode, which will dramatically lower bandwidth usage (by only having to stream a track once ever until it's deleted from the cache) as well as provide smoother playback.

Since 2.2 will be a major feature release, expect a few bugs to slip in, but after I get this version out I'm going to focus all energy on bug reduction and better memory management, then it's on to full iPad support


I just want to thank everyone for your patience with any issues you've found. iSub is still in it's infancy, only a little over a month old, and I'm doing all the development work by myself, so I don't have the luxury of a full testing team or even a second developer to double check my code. I'm working my hardest to turn iSub into the rock solid application I know that it can be, so rest assured that every reported bug is put on my to-do list and will eventually be fixed and new features are always in the works.

[GregF]

I guess this is a feature request, but are there any plans to deal with album titles which are too long? Like perhaps having them scroll over and then back like some other streaming applications, or maybe use a smaller font size? In my library I have a fair amount of albums where the information at the front of the album name doesn't help me, like many items in classical music, and especially multiple albums by the same artist where I've organized my library by making the "artist" the composer and the album "musician - composition-name". And similarly in some multi-volume sets. Anyway, having the title scroll over and back or be hand-scrollable side-to-side would be great. Anyway, thanks!

[einsteinx2]

I guess this is a feature request, but are there any plans to deal with album titles which are too long? Like perhaps having them scroll over and then back like some other streaming applications, or maybe use a smaller font size? In my library I have a fair amount of albums where the information at the front of the album name doesn't help me, like many items in classical music, and especially multiple albums by the same artist where I've organized my library by making the "artist" the composer and the album "musician - composition-name". And similarly in some multi-volume sets. Anyway, having the title scroll over and back or be hand-scrollable side-to-side would be great. Anyway, thanks!

Thanks for the suggestion, I think that's a great idea. Here's how I'll implement it: right now in 2.2, sliding to the right over an album/artist/song displays an overlay over the cell with download and queue buttons, I'll assign the left slide over a cell to scroll the text (which makes sense mentally to scroll text because you want it to move to the left).

[einsteinx2]

Just wanted to update on the status of 2.2. The first betas will be going out to a few volunteer testers this weekend, hopefully it'll be ready to release about a week later depending one what bugs are found.

[arogan]

Just wondering if Bookmarks made it into 2.2. Anyways, keep up the great work. iSub is probably my most used app right now.

[einsteinx2]

Just wondering if Bookmarks made it into 2.2. Anyways, keep up the great work. iSub is probably my most used app right now.

As of right now it still needs to be implemented. If it turns out to be relatively simple, it will be in 2.2. Otherwise, it will definitely make it into the next version. Just too many things on the plate for 2.2 to be sure if I'll be able to make it in time as 2.2 has already taken longer than expected to finish because of some non programming related personal issues I've been dealing with this past 2 weeks, however it is on the to-do list.

[einsteinx2]

edit/
I just noticed this bug has been reported already. If you need a test account for further investigation, let me know.

Found a bug in v2.0

I have my MP3s and FLACs separated, so
Music\MP3\<artist>\<album>
and
Music\FLAC\<artist>\<album>

I have some artists with albums in each format / folder. In the Subsonic webapp the albums are merged under the artist name. In iSub, there are two artist entries, one for each format / folder. However after clicking one of the artist names (doesn't seem to matter which one), backing out and clicking the other will yield the same album results. Whereas what should happen is clicking the first will list the MP3 (or FLAC) albums, then backing out and clicking the other should list the other format albums. I have a feeling this has to do with your caching of Artists / Albums / Songs.

This bug is squashed as of this morning, so this will no longer be a problem as of 2.2

Also, local playlist support is now fully implemented (slide to the right on an artist/album/song and tap the queue button to add to the playlist) as well as text scrolling for long artist/album/song names by sliding to the left on the cell. As soon as I clean up the rest of this interface stuff, the first beta will go out to testers, then I'll finish up the rest of the song caching code (already about 80% done) while they iron out anything I missed in the rest of the app.

On a personal note, I'm moving this week and then working on a cruise next weekend, so while my time will be short I will do my best to get 2.2 submitted to the app store by the end of next week.

[einsteinx2]

Just wondering if Bookmarks made it into 2.2. Anyways, keep up the great work. iSub is probably my most used app right now.

Putting the finishing touches on the bookmarking code right now, so it will definitely be in 2.2

[tenblack]

This has probably been asked before and answered, so forgive me. When OS 4.0 is released in June, will iSub be able to play in the background while working in other Apps?

Thanks for all of your work. Definitely my favorite app on my IPhone/IPad

[arogan]

Just wondering if Bookmarks made it into 2.2. Anyways, keep up the great work. iSub is probably my most used app right now.

Putting the finishing touches on the bookmarking code right now, so it will definitely be in 2.2

OMG!!!! You are my hero! Most responsive developer ever!!!!

[wakajazz]

...iSub be able to play in the background...

A big +1 on this.

[crichardso]

does isub have the ability do do song rating? rating/smart playlists is one of the only features i like from itunes/ipod/phone and i would love to have the same abilities

Thanks
-Chris

[bencjedi]

Hi Ben.. I bought your app several weeks ago and am having a really difficult time streaming songs to my iPhone 3G at the office (over 3G, no wifi). It's like I might get lucky and position the iPhone in awkwardly the right spot for one song to not break up, but then the next song has extreme breakup and I have to spend many minutes looking for another 'hot spot' for the 3G signal to not break up (usually with frustration I give up). It's annoying I might get one song to fill the buffer to 383 and the next I can't get it above 0-16. I am migrating away from SimplifyMedia and don't have any of this breakup with their product at the same location. I suspect it's how the buffer is created (as you're working on). I am VERY interested in your 2.2 beta. I am jailbroken on 3.1.2 OS. Any chance I might be able to get the ipa for your beta to give it a whirl in my known iSub-crippled office environment and see how she does?

Oh one last thing.. the breakups happen for MP3s with bitrates 128kbps and up, but the 16kbps mono AM radio recordings I create for a Saturday morning talk show steam PERFECT over 3G in iSub in the same office no mater where I place my phone. My Subsonic server is on Time Warner and I have their max package in my area (10mbps down/1mbps up). I don't think it is so much a problem with my ISP (though I think they are a stingy monopoly in my area charging me $63/month for ONLY broadband Internet service - no TV\phone either).

I know you're working on the buffer and would be happy to test for you if you want.

[crichardso]

bencjedi

By the sounds of it its more likely your att/data connection being spotty if that is of any surprise. the reason the am broadcast works is it doesn't require nearly the amount of bandwidth so it can cache faster and take drops better. better quality stuff my work a little here and there but if the signal is cutting out to much then it wont be able to replenish the buffer in time evently hitting an empty buffer and then causing it to cut out

[jeankalud]

bencjedi,

I am also migrating from Simplify Media. I know Ben is working on the buffering and song caching for next release. Its being tested currently (I do betatest for it) and I am pretty sure you won't be disappointed with 2.2 once its released

I do beleive that iSub 2.2 will be a great replacement for Simplify Media, with in fact better features and more customizations (thanks to Subsonic too).

For betatest request you should email Ben directly.