Subsonic 3.0 released

[sindre_mehus]

Hi,

Subsonic 3.0 is now available for download.

See the change log for details.

Happy listening,
Sindre

[zedug]

Hi Sindre,

great job ! Just one question though, looking at the change log :

New: Added Google ads.

can you please elaborate ? If the new version introduces ads, I'm not sure a lot of people will want to upgrade...

[sindre_mehus]

Hi,

There is some info regarding the Google ads on the download page, and I'll repeat it here for simplicity:

Please note that Subsonic will display Google ads from time to time. The ads are non-obtrusive in terms of placement, colors and design (see example). Hopefully, you will find the ads both relevant and interesting.

Hope this was clarifying,
Sindre

[Ittie]

Funny, but if I “donate” money this, Google ads, can be switched off??
I don’t think this is a good thing, and no , I don’t want any non-obtrusive ads.
No 3.0 for me.
For the rest I really like Subsonic!!

Sry

[nexea]

The sole intention of adding Google ads is not a 'feature'. It is not for the end user and doesn't enhance the functionality of Subsonic itself. No, it is explicitly for the author to make money off the people that host the product and bandwidth for its usage.

If subsonic was hosted on the author's server, one could attempt to rationalize it. After all.. 'his site, his banners' applies. However, it is not. We do not like running advertisements for someone else on our internet & intranet streams consuming our bandwidth to make money for someone else. No offense.

One could argue that if I didn't like it, I can stop using it. Fair enough. There are several alternatives. The problem is that subsonic is a great program that was, up until this point, done as a product for open source's sake. It was to offer a great product for free so that anyone can tweak, modify, and see how it works. That is the open source philosophy, as they say. Yes, I realize that I am free to remove the ads myself.. but that's not the point.

Subsonic is an incredible platform for streaming music. I am listening to it now. Sadly, I can not see myself ever upgrading to 3.0.

[sindre_mehus]

Hi guys,

First of all, thanks for your honest and good-mannered feedback. I was of course expecting some strong opinions when I decided to try out the Google ads stuff.

Let me just make it clear that this is on a trial basis. I'm trying it out in the 3.0 version; whether it will be a permanent part of Subsonic depends on its success and on feedback from you guys.

Subsonic has been a one-man project since 2004, and I've spend quite a lot of time and resources on it. The prime motivator has always been, and will continue to be, to have fun making a free streaming platform that people enjoy and are enthusiatic about. It has never been the intention to make a lot of money on it. However, I believe the project would benefit from having some funding. (For instance, one of the things I really would like to do is implement a new interface for PDA's and mobile phones - but I can't spend my own private money buying the necessary terminals for development and testing).

What about donations, you may ask. Yes, if people had been more willing to donate, the ads wouldn't have been necessary, but so far the project has only received around US$60 in donations.

Anyway, I would hate to loose users over this, so I'm suggesting the following. Either you can use the 3.0.beta2 release, which is almost identical to the final release (except from the Google ads), or upgrade to 3.0 and try it out. If you think the ads are a nuisance let me know, and I'll post a message on how to disable it (it's easy).

Best regards,
Sindre

[matthew]

Hi guys,

If you think the ads are a nuisance let me know, and I'll post a message on how to disable it (it's easy).

Best regards,
Sindre

Your right there. It is super easy to remove

[Tekzel]

I personally understand the inclusion of the ads. I am sure Sindre has spent a LOT of time bringing this wonderful program to us. He deserves to make something off his hard work. I also understand some people's reactions to the ads though, we are bombarded with the darn things constantly everywhere we turn and for that reason people have this allergic reaction to ads in just about any form.

For this reason, I have decided to download and install version 3.0 with the ads hoping that it will help Sindre make some cash off his hard work. After looking at the example I don't think it will be too horrible. At least it isn't huge monster flash ads.

[Abner]

Although I understand how it would be nice for you to receive some money for your effort, I do not want to see ads. I ran a web site for years and lost thousands of dollars doing it, so I know where your coming from!

I am will to pay for a version which does not contain ads. I think you should have two versions, a free version which has ads and a paid version which does not.

I will go back to using the beta version until I can get one which doesn't contain ads. I'm the main user of it and I will never click on the ads, they are just annoying to see and take up valuable real estate on the screen.

I figured out one way to removed the ads, but the space was still taken up and no album covers or song titles will display in the place holder for the ads, which is just as annoying.

So I will certainly go back to the beta version.

Thanks for your effort creating this great software and I hope that someday you can sell it and make some money! I certainly will pay for and ad free version.

[sindre_mehus]

Hi,

I hear what you're saying, and I'll consider implementing a solution where people who give donations receive an unlock code which disables the ads.

Thanks,
Sindre

[mistaox]

amazing...its free and yet they still find something to complain about...