Android app feature requests

[dave w]

Thanks for the update Sindre. I look forward to the next android release. I do want to note that I look at the ability to stop download/queue as a usability improvement more than a new feature. It is both significant battery drain and unnecessary filler on the sd card to continue to download music that isn't wanted, and going through android settings (or a taskiller) to shut down subsonic requires unnecessary steps.

[kapz]

My only gripe with Subsonic for Android is what other users posted about it continuing to download after you stop the music. Maybe a simple setting to not cache files would please all users.

I also would love to be able to select the Music Folder. I have a ton of artists and the one large list is very difficult to navigate.

I would like to stay on Subsonic v3.9 for a while (pretty stable for my needs). Will a new Android version require an update to 4.0?

Again, thank you Sindre for the continued support on this project

[deftdrummer]

+1 for an exit button, and also I get constant download failed errors after exiting the app or going in bad service areas.

One last thing, any plans for implementing WOL for subsonic? That would be the icing on the cake. I will definitely be donating either way. Thanks so much !

[makkonen]

Quick update to my earlier complaint about the playlist sometimes disappearing:

I was wrong. When the app shuts down (I assume this is what happens -- memory issues on my phone or something), and then you go back to it, and reopen the playlist, it looks like it's gone, but that's just because nothing's playing and it's displaying the album art pane, but with no album art.

Which just looks like you've got a blank, empty playlist. but if you tap the non-album art, it flips over to playlist view, and everything's still there.

So, simpler suggestion -- have the now playing view default to playlist rather than album art when you open the app.

Unless I've misdiagnosed something.

Can't wait to see the new version. Thanks.

[Quickdood]

I love this app. 5 days of using it, and it's already my favorite thing about Android. It's amazing. Fills a need perfectly. Here's a few feature requests, at least one of which should be super easy to implement.

1) Add an option in the settings to swap the Play and Queue buttons in the file view. Personally, I'm much more interested generally in queueing up more songs than playing them directly, so having Queue as a button and Play as an option in the "More..." submenu would be an improvement. I don't imagine everyone uses the app like I do, though. (That's the one that's easy. I might try to look at the source code and do it myself; it'd be a good learning experience. I'm also quite likely the only person who cares, so I'll probably have to do it myself. )

2) Add the ability to reorder tracks in the Now Playing list. My preferred implementation: long press on a track -> Remove / Remove All / Move Up / Move Down.

3) (Unless it's in there, and I've missed it,) Add playlist-saving. Specifically, the ability to save the now playing list as a playlist. Seems like the easiest way to add playlist-saving functionality to the Android app.

I think I had a few more, but I can't recall right now. Thanks again. Seriously, my favorite thing about Android. It's made my mp3 player obsolete.

Plus one for requests 2 & 3 from above post. Reordering songs is a great feature for impulsive people like me who on the spur of the moment have to listen to a specific song next and don't like loosing the whole cue to put it next. Thanks for your hard work!

[ccandreva]

There is no way to please everyone, but I figured I would throw in my two cents.

I for one would request a BIGGER cache. In fact, I would happily delete all the files I copied to my phone, and let Subsonic use my whole 8gig SD card as a giant cache, deleting the oldest / least listened to files when it needed more space. Anything I listen to often would stay on the device, anything else would go away when the space was needed. Maybe a static directory for my ring tone, but that's it !

In fact, it was a post on the MythTV mailing list looking for just such a beast that led me to discover Subsonic. My original idea was for a modified version of the standard Android music app that supported a hacked-up version of UPNP with authentication and Internet capability. Little did I know Subsonic already did most of this ! (My post on this is here: http://mythtv.org/pipermail/mythtv-user ... 89678.html )

All in all I prefer the directory-centric sorting of Subsonic. Some integration with the standard play would be nice though. I made the mistake of pushing the button on my G1 headset to stop the music, and instead the standard player started up, playing a different song OVER the Subsonic player !

[Quickdood]

There is no way to please everyone, but I figured I would throw in my two cents.

I for one would request a BIGGER cache. In fact, I would happily delete all the files I copied to my phone, and let Subsonic use my whole 8gig SD card as a giant cache, deleting the oldest / least listened to files when it needed more space. Anything I listen to often would stay on the device, anything else would go away when the space was needed. Maybe a static directory for my ring tone, but that's it !

In fact, it was a post on the MythTV mailing list looking for just such a beast that led me to discover Subsonic. My original idea was for a modified version of the standard Android music app that supported a hacked-up version of UPNP with authentication and Internet capability. Little did I know Subsonic already did most of this ! (My post on this is here: http://mythtv.org/pipermail/mythtv-user ... 89678.html )

All in all I prefer the directory-centric sorting of Subsonic. Some integration with the standard play would be nice though. I made the mistake of pushing the button on my G1 headset to stop the music, and instead the standard player started up, playing a different song OVER the Subsonic player !

Maybe a user defined cache size would be good. For example a user could choose 1gb, 2gb....entire sd card. Also it would be nice if one can use internal memory like on the HTC incredible with its 8gb internal memory.

Anyway, I understand only so much can get done in a release. Maybe you can implement this a couple releases down the line. Looking forward to the new version. Keep up the good work, I am letting all my friends know about this!

[grad20_09]

is there a way to search for songs themselves instead of just albums, or have I overlooked something in the app?

[twiffy]

Hi guys,

With the new android app (that I think was just released today), anyone else dislike the fact that the "play" / "add to queue" / etc. buttons are only at the bottom of the music folders? It makes it more of a pain to play a few songs in a large music folder. In this respect I preferred the old version.

I should echo a previous poster -- this app is definitely my favorite thing about android.

[barretta]

Agree with Tiffy. It should be easier to get to the 'play/addtoqueue' buttons than to have to scroll to the bottom of the folder.

[faring]

Agreed on the control placement. Also, not a big fan of the change to a black-on-white scheme. Would it be possible to get an option for white-on-black? I find it much easier on the eyes, and less distracting when using it in the car at night.

[sindre_mehus]

I'll consider making the Play and Queue buttons show all the time, as well as making the dark/light theme configurable.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Quickdood]

Thanks for the update. I agree with the above posts about button placements and a theme option. Maybe in the future you could even allow user created themes to install via the market place.

Also in the next release please consider on the fly play list creation and the ability to re-order the Que. Long press on a song in the Que should bring up a move up and down option.

Thanks for the hard work.

[sindre_mehus]

I'll consider making the Play and Queue buttons show all the time, as well as making the dark/light theme configurable.

This has now been implemented and will be included in the next release

[dcastellani]

Whats it take to get into the subsonic android app beta test group?