Auralic Lightning DS App (Software) - Impressions and Information

[jtwrace]

Nobody has artwork issues other than me?

[jtwrace]

I feel for you.

 

I don't recall if you have previously provided examples but I note from your sig that you have MinimServer installed on your NAS.

 

My apologies if you have already tried the following, but, if not, the results could be useful.

 

The MinimServer User guide/Your music library page Your music library describes how Album art is detected.

 

To confirm if Album art is detected by MinimServer, select the 'Show log' option within MinimWatch and save it to your desktop as a .txt file to make searching easier. (nb - you may also have to populate the log file by selecting the 'Rescan' option)

 

Embedded art should cause similar log entries to the following:-

22:32:41.004 main: ID3v2 frameID is APIC

22:32:41.004 main: ID3v2.3 frameSize is 9713

22:32:41.004 main: found APIC frame

22:32:41.004 main: JPEG image width=200 height=196

22:32:41.004 main: picture type is 3

22:32:41.004 main: picture MIME type is image/jpeg

 

Folder.jpg etc. should cause similar log entries to the following:-

22:32:41.020 main: found file Folder.jpg

22:32:41.051 main: ComponentClassLoader: using local class loader for class com.minimserver.Server$PictureFileInfo

22:32:41.051 main: Opening image file C:\Users\...\Janet Jackson\All for You\Folder.jpg

22:32:41.067 main: JPEG image width=200 height=196

 

Happy investigating.

 

Alan

 

Thanks. Yes, I seem to get them on some but not others. Very very odd. I can have a Folder.jpg in one album and it works fine with one album but not the other.

[jtwrace]

I think I discovered a bug with LDS. When I have LDS open on my ipad mini, the screen wouldn't shut down (go to sleep). this, of course, drains the battery very quickly. even if I have LDS running minimised, the screen sometimes would go to sleep but more times wouldn't. and it wouldn't lock (i have an automatic lock setup after 2 min). Is anyone else experiencing anything similar?

Yes.

[jtwrace]

Ok I have pondered further your issue, as an experiment can you open one of those albums with no cover art in XLD and see if it has cover art embedded in it? If you want to be super safe, turn off the network on that Mac as I don't recall if XLD automatically displays cover art if missing and it locates it online.

 

If I understand you, yes, it works fine.

[jtwrace]

It amazes me that with the issues that are obvious everyone seems more concerned about options. How about we work to improve the current function and then move onto options? I've been and still am part of software beta programs...that's how it works! Whether it's this forum or AURALiC has their own, lets fix the known issues.

[jtwrace]

Can anyone make movie and show us,how fast is app?

 

It's slow. Hopefully all of these issues will get fixed. JRiver constantly worked on their software and it was releasing daily versions to where it is today. It can be done but with the lack of communication I'm a bit worried at this point.

 

I find it funny that CA has completely left these threads other than to post the above.

[jtwrace]

This is how to upgrade firmware.

 

Here's the explanation from Xuanqian:

 

1) Firmware version below 1.4.3: Please allow machine to do update at background to the latest firmware and it will resolve most of the problem.

 

2) Connected using WIFI: Most of the times is caused by WiFi router, a simple power cycle of router usually fix the problem but if the problem appears again and again, the bet solution is to change the router to a better one.

 

3) Connected using Ethernet: Please remember even ARIES is running on wired connection, your iPad is still connected by WiFi so that still possible to be a router problem. If in this case, I would try to reboot the following device in sequence: 1, router; 2, iPad; 3, ARIES. Please remember to reboot 2, 3 after router reboot completely.

 

Additional message: Some of the WiFi router will block UDP multicast completely by default as they consider SSDP multicast message as a DDoS attack package. If customer is using this type of WiFi router, they need to make sure not active the 'firewall' function. or add an exception for SSDP multicast.

[jtwrace]

I have major artwork issues. And what is weird is that for some albums that do not show any art in the library view, when I play a track, the album art displays in the top left corner of the software (the "now playing" area?). So the artwork is there, but the library view simply does not access it.

Yes, it's really an issue. The app needs major work IMO to be useable. I spent hours here today and think I've figured some issues out but it's all programming at this point. Hopefully Mr. Wang will address these issues soon. Glad my Mac Mini is still setup and will be my primary for a while. The ARIES will be tested as things move along.

[jtwrace]

Patience.

 

Now you sound like a reviewer/salesman.

[jtwrace]

Mine should arrive early next week, so I should be able to make a Radio Shack run for a power cable in the meantime.

[jtwrace]

Huh? This product is like 1 month old, and Chris and I gave everyone feedback that patience with loading times, etc was necessary. Jason, please don't tell me you didn't lead the pack of pleading with Auralic to get this thing out!!!!! And for good reason, I might add...it breaks new ground in several areas. Now you are not willing to be patient, to test and give feedback as an early adopter?? Really?

Oh no, I'm more than willing. The question is where does the feedback go and when does it get fixed? The app has been out long enough there should be changes already. Now the hardware is out and there is nothing but crickets.

 

Also, I'm a paying customer unlike you and Chris who have review samples. Since the product actually came much later than expected I would have thought the product would actually be useable. It's not.

 

I'm stoked for this product. This is why I actually purchased one but it does need to work.

[jtwrace]

One more thing, it was shipped as a final product with ongoing development which is typical. There was NO mention that it was still in beta or anything. If that was the case, I'd assume that there would have been at least a half dozen or so beta testers. There was nothing so it's fair to expect the product (DS) be ready for use without too much trouble.

[jtwrace]

Do any of the other beta testers know how to make DS play through an entire album? It will play a track from the album that I pick but then goes back to a previous album/track that I played. Pretty sure I do not have random or shuffle checked on the top right of the counter. Well, they're not highlighted anyway.

 

I have a pretty decent list of items that need to be addressed but since there isn't an official forum I'll hang onto them so they do not get overlooked. The above is an item that I'm probably just missing the setting.

[jtwrace]

Ah yes, that's what it is. Not a fan of that. I want to play a whole album unless I want to add it to a playlist. At least make this an option.

 

And of course, some pictures for peeps.

 

 

 

[jtwrace]

When does the new version of DS Lightning come?

[jtwrace]

Inside App setting menu

 

Is it possible you can post it on your site somewhere? It would be nice to be able to view on on the computer.

[jtwrace]

Is it possible you can post it on your site somewhere? It would be nice to be able to view on on the computer.

 

Here is the link that DS Lightning uses. You can now use your computer, iOS device or other to view.

[jtwrace]

OK. Since I asked the question and Ted replied. There is even an easier way to just play an album.

 

See the above link that I posted but here is how to easily do it. The more and more I play the more I realize that it's there but not the most intuitive. It's just different and needs some development. If Mr. Wang and company can put the effort into it we'll have something serious.

 

How to play an album without going through menu's.

[jtwrace]

Mr. Wang-

 

Here are my current recommendations to improve software/hardware in no particular order.

 

1) Sorting order needs to be from # to Z and Z to #

 

2) App is slow to update artwork when scrolling

 

3) In album playing now view, the playing track needs to be highlighted

 

4) Auto sleep for the ARIES screen like the Vega

 

5) View on iPad in portrait view

 

6) Text font "bold" option. Some with weak eyes might struggle a little bit.

[jtwrace]

Jason,

Good recommendations (esp portrait mode), except I am confused about two of them.

3) now playing screen is when you touch album art in upper left corner. The currently playing track is highlighted in blue and a blue playing icon is to the left of it. What do you see? (see my picture)

4) you can turn off Aries screen with remote. What is "auto sleep"? Is it a mode where screen turns off after "x" amount of time?

 

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]13914[/ATTACH]

 

Thx

Ted

 

1) See my screen below. This is obviously not your screen...the playing track is not highlighted in bold or even a different color. Just click the album in album view and this is that screen.

 

2) Yes, with the AURALiC Vega the screen will auto shut off after 30 seconds or so.

 

[jtwrace]

Mr. Wang-

 

Here are my current recommendations to improve software/hardware in no particular order.

 

1) Sorting order needs to be from # to Z and Z to #

 

2) App is slow to update artwork when scrolling

 

3) In album playing now view, the playing track needs to be highlighted

 

4) Auto sleep for the ARIES screen like the Vega

 

5) View on iPad in portrait view

 

6) Text font "bold" option. Some with weak eyes might struggle a little bit.

 

7) Put the iPad to sleep after "X"amount of time. It stays on and kills the iPad battery.

[jtwrace]

Mr. Wang-

 

Here are my current recommendations to improve software/hardware in no particular order.

 

1) Sorting order needs to be from # to Z and Z to #

 

2) App is slow to update artwork when scrolling

 

3) In album playing now view, the playing track needs to be highlighted

 

4) Auto sleep for the ARIES screen like the Vega

 

5) View on iPad in portrait view

 

6) Text font "bold" option. Some with weak eyes might struggle a little bit.

 

 

 

7) Put the iPad to sleep after "X"amount of time. It stays on and kills the iPad battery.

 

8) The app locks up occasionally. It requires a press of the home button and then two quick double taps and then kill the app. After that it works.

 

For reference my iPad Air running 7.1.2

[jtwrace]

As a point of reference to kill off the process for any application on the iPad.

 

Click twice the home button, this will than show all running applications. Swipe up on an application to kill it.

 

Barr

Yes, your explanation is better than mine but you know what I meant. Maybe. :-)

[jtwrace]

That is not the now playing screen, but instead the library album screen (i.e a view of all tracks of any given album from the library view, not necessarily what is being played). Now Playing is in the very upper left corner.

Yes, I know that. If you can see the tracks and select them from this screen (which you can) the track should be highlighted IMO.

[jtwrace]

Jason, you asked about the now playing screen. I responded about the now playing screen.

 

Regarding the album tracks screen...Jremote does the same thing. When you are browsing albums and their track listings (even if its your current album) the screen does not show the highlighted song playing cuz it's theoretically a different request. You are selecting them to add to the queue (for playback in any of three times, now, next, later). It's just like jremote; if you look at a browsed album track list in jremote (that is NOT the now playing screen) the track is not highlighted either. It shows in the playing area (as does DS) and in the now playing window (as does DS), but not with the browsed album track view.

OK. I understand what you're saying. I consider JRiver/JRemote the standard as do you I'm sure. However, this isn't that obviously and I think with the product in it's infancy we the users have the opportunity to actually provide feedback for further product development. Everyone uses things different and has different expectations. I do believe that this function should be here with the way the app works and the way I use it.

 

There are a few other items that I'll add to my list too.