ARCHIVED FORUM -- March 2012 to February 2022READ ONLY FORUM
This is the second Archived Forum which was active between 1st March 2012 and 23rd February 2022
Hi guys
First of all sorry about the translations. The agency that we use changed their tooling and nothing worked as it used to and nothing was translated, I'm working with them to solve the issue.
Regarding the split view. We have two use cases that we are designing for currently, one is for using the app for content, Deezer and TuneIn. The other is setup and configuration only, here the split view makes sense. I can see you point that it doesn't work well for your use and I will talk with the team Monday too see what we can do. The later group is, however, the larger part of our user base right now and will weigh in on our design priorities.
It is not that we do not listen, I read everything you write in here and bring it to the team. There are a lot of your suggestions and wishes on our backlog and our road map, but they have been pushed. The last 6-9 months we have been working on something big and this has consumed all our time. I can't disclose it yet, but it will be official soon. We really appreciate all the feedback we get from you guys, and I hope you will continue to do so even if it takes us a (too!) long time to actually act on it.
I will keep a tap on your posts in here and try to answer as many questions as I can.
Many thanks and a good weekend to you all
Thomas Andersen
Hi Thomas,
Thanks for the latest beta-update (1.9.5.13905).
Today I have tested the status of the problems that I have reported earlier on:
I like the new home screen layout on my iPad mini. Especially when playing on my Beoplay M5 it is very convenient with the new ability to change ToneTouch settings with the Party, Clear, Ambient .. buttons from the split screen view.
Have a nice well deserved weekend.
Best regards - Dyssegaard
Living room: Beovision Eclipse 55, Beolab 3 / R1 (back), Beolab 2 / R1 (sub), AppleTV 4K. Bedroom: Beovision 11-40, AppleTV 4. Home office: Beoplay M5. Kitchen: Beoplay M5. Travel: Beoplay H8, Beoplay A1. NAS: WD My Cloud Home / Plex DLNA Server.
Thomas A.,
I used the app today for the first time as it is live and updated on my multitude of idevices. No issues at my end.
Regards
Michael.
Sandyb:My only point would be that adding a few small changes to the Product page can make it more useful,
200% agree, the app must not be a "Where is Wally?" type of app and we should find "vital" function from the home page, e.g.
When I start the app I would like that the device I have selected 1st in my list of product is the one selected by the app when it starts because I consider it to be my master product and I don't want to navigate out of another selection, otherwise, what is the purpose of have the choice to re-order?
When I am on my preferred product pane I would like to be able to play music straight away by pressing a play now button which would resume my play queue where I stopped, instead of going through to the black bar.
When I select a product in the list, I would like that the volume control at the smartphone applies to it, or like Sandyb suggests, that at least a volume control bar exists where the black bar is or like in Mbee design in the product pane
When I want to move forward/backward in the music stream by a given product, I would like to do it from the product pane directly not through the now playing screen
When I want to put a single product at sleep, I would like to be able to do it from the product pane, not through 4 steps .....
When I use the application after a long pause, that I open the black bar for a given product, I would like to be able to access the play queue of the product to resume it a the point of my choice while currently the play queue is unavailable to the app unless you press the play now button which starts the latest track played or if I start playing something else.
I would not say they are minor changes as I'm not a dev myself, but these controls are seen in many different other applications and are simply a shortuct of what is achieved today through the app in two or more clicks.
Et voilà :-)
BS Moment, BS Core, BG 4002, BC 4500, BS1, BL18, BL19, BL8000 + RCV1, A6, M5, M3, A1, P6 (tks Botty), H5, TR1
Why add a lot of the functions that already are in the now playing screen to the product screen.
(That said, I still miss a direct access to a turn off button for the current product in the now playing screen)
So - overall, I’d rather see the now playing screen of my latest played device/product, when I start the app.
Changing to another product from there is no problem - just tap the product icon at the buttom left.
If the product screen would stay as in the latest beta (with all the settings parameters), it should rather be a screen that you can slide up (or down), when you need it.
MM
There is a tv - and there is a BV
MrAndersen: The last 6-9 months we have been working on something big and this has consumed all our time. I can't disclose it yet, but it will be official soon. Thomas Andersen
The last 6-9 months we have been working on something big and this has consumed all our time. I can't disclose it yet, but it will be official soon.
I wonder what that might be ;-)))
mbolo01: I would not say they are minor changes as I'm not a dev myself, but these controls are seen in many different other applications
I would not say they are minor changes as I'm not a dev myself, but these controls are seen in many different other applications
That does not necessarily mean that a Bang & Olufsen app should be made like that.
I don't like the iPad landscape mode right now. I have build in the iPad Mini in the wall, to control my smart home and music system. It is build in in landscape mode.
And I don't need the control of Alarms, Sound, etc. on the home screen. A Split Screen with now playing would be more useful.
Installed official version 1.9.1 and I like the design on the iPhone. I would say it is another bit more elegant and minimalistic compared to the previous version. All in all now it looks really good visually.
As for the iPad version obviously more regular app users on the iPad should be vocal. I don't like using iPad to operate the B&O app so not much opinion here.
Follow up thoughts Thomas.
The app by default opens to the Product page. I have no problem with this per se. I view it as a selector page, which makes sense, and it seems sensible that the app should present that as the first choice when opened.
But given that the app opens to this page, i wouldn't focus its use on setup / configuration alone as you mention. Seeing setup / config options there is fine, but primarily there should be a few control options that i and others mentioned (MM's suggestion of speaker group selector for BV's is an excellent idea)
A deeper level of control and experience in the Now Playing screen is a separate thing of course. Again, not talking about merging the Product (selector/setup/config) page and the Now Playing page - but minor concessions / control replication on the Product page makes the app better and more efficient. It doesnt compromise either use case use describe above.
I think adding a bit of control to the Product page would make the app so much more efficient, though would need to be applied differently to iPhone and iPad apps, given the split screen iPad version now.
And thanks for the general status update, i appreciate both the engagement, feedback and challenges involved.
Beovision Elclipse 55”, Beolab 8000, Beoplay A6 and M5
And one question for Mr.Andersen: is there any way to integrate/enable Deezer Flow function?
Current Music content within the app is limited to playlists and albums - but very often I do not want to make specific choices, just listen to something that I might like... ...any technical reason we don’t have Flow already within the B&O app?
I am only a regular version user of the app. After months of hoohah about Essence 1 and Tune In, let me tell you, it works again!! All I had to do is upgrade. Thanks to the app dudes for taking care of this and backing the Essence 1.
AnalogPlanet:And one question for Mr.Andersen: is there any way to integrate/enable Deezer Flow function? Current Music content within the app is limited to playlists and albums - but very often I do not want to make specific choices, just listen to something that I might like... ...any technical reason we don’t have Flow already within the B&O app?
Livingroom: BL3, BL11, BV11-46 Kitchen: Beosound 1 GVA, Beocom 2 Bathroom: M3 Homeoffice: M3, Beocom 2 Library: Beosound Emerge, Beocom 6000 Bedroom: M5, Essence remote Travel: Beoplay E8 2.0, Beoplay EQ, Beoplay Earset
@Sandyb; We will add functions to the page for better control, a beolink control card if you will. I talked to the designers today and we're going to explore how this should look. The challenge (as usual) is consistency across product types, our products behave differently since our approach to creating consistent interfaces across product ranges has not always been successful. I also imagine that some of this will surface in the phone version on the cards as discussed earlier.
@Dyssegaard: Good to hear! We are currently looking at the artwork issue. So far we can only reproduce it when the app has been in the background. Is that also your experience?
@mbolo01: Volume in the black bar has been tried, it was very hard to fit in the bottom control. Perhaps the split screen can help us here and we can put it there for iPad. Regarding playing the current source it should work with play in the bottom black control. Unfortunately the products behave differently when given this command to great frustration for us. We have case with the product team on this. Seeking or scrubbing, is something that isn't widely used, also this behavior changes based on source. This probably will not make it to the controls. Standby is an obvious addition. The play queue is another source of frustration for us, we cannot get the queue without waking the product, we cannot wake the product without asking it to play, poor api design. We can't do it as it is structured today. I hope this answers most of your queries.
@Roy: The multiroom design is complicated and hard to use. The lists we show on that page comes from the products and it is hard to understand why it changes based on the point of origin. We will explore how to expose "tap to join" better in the new design. This function is easier to use and easier to understand.
@poodleboy: We actually had to update the product software on the EZ MKI because of changes in tunein. That meant giving CPR to an ancient software system (ancient in software timescale, similar to giant breed dog years ;) ), it was hard. No one left in the company who knew it.
@AnalogPlanet: Deezer flow has been on our roadmap since we started. The products still does not support it. I keep asking and will continue to do so.
Hi Mr Andersen,
I have several Beosounds that start with the timer.
Unfortunately, they do not start synchronized.
Do you think a kind of "join" functionality in the timer choice could be possible in the (near) future?
Thanks
@ Mr Anderson: Please, fix the album art issue on DLNA playback.
Once done, I'll be happy.
On french iDevices, the menu code appears instead of the caption (see screenshot in previous message from Mbolo01 on page 4).
Kind regards,
Yann
Living Room BV Eclipse - BS Core - BL5 - BL8000 - LC2 x2 - Beo6
Lounge Beolink Passive - Cabasse Clipper - Beo4 Kitchen BL3500 - Beolink 1000
Bedroom BV9 - BL6000 (Thks Botty) - Beotime - LC2 - Beo5
Garden Lounge BC9000 - BG 6006 - BL4500 (Thks Botty) - Playmaker - Beolink 1000
Study BS1 - ML/NL Converter - BL2500 - Beo4 - Form 2 (Tks Botty) - Beoplay P2
@ Mr Anderson,
Ok for Deezer, is Qobuz in your roadmap?
Yann.
@YannChris: Is DLNA cover art always missing? The only thing we have reprod is when it has been in the background. Regarding Qobuz we do not plan any more integrations at the moment I'm afraid
MrAndersen:Is DLNA cover art always missing?
YannChris:On french iDevices, the menu code appears instead of the caption (see screenshot in previous message from Mbolo01 on page 4).
MrAndersen:
I am pleased with the functionality of the App, my wife and I love that our two iPhones both – in sync - can be used as remotes for our BL20 (via Core) and the M3.
I have one wish: Implementation of Active ROOM COMPENSATION.
Your sound engineers have made a huge effort to develop ARC. (Ref. Geoff Martin’s blog B&O Tech articles #40 and #50). And the advanced ARC is now part of BL50 and BL90 SW and can be controlled via the app.
So, I want: Implementation of ARC for products like BL20 connected to the Core in the App. It should to possible to add the feature in parallel with e.g. loudness. ARC need sound measurement via microphone, perhaps the build in mic in iPhone is ok?
/PS
MrAndersen: Regarding Qobuz we do not plan any more integrations at the moment I'm afraid.
Regarding Qobuz we do not plan any more integrations at the moment I'm afraid.
Dear Mr. Andersen,
that's a pity for sure.
Something to consider:
Qobuz will come to America too this fall:
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/qobuz-coming-america
Me, I never would consider to subscribe to Spotify, Deezer or Tidal because of Qobuz' so much better sound quality and also so much better remasterings with additional informations available only from Qobuz.
Subscribing for Hi Res streaming up to 192 kHz is pricey, 350 € a year, but for me no doubt about the fact that it's worth it.
I never would switch to Deezer or whatever for being able to play B&O integrated music.
But I surely would buy more B&O devices if Qobuz would be integrated and I would not need to play Qobuz via Chromecast only, which is unreliable sometimes.
Ulrike
I noticed that after a few moment, the elapsed time counter freezes, then the artwork disappears a few seconds later.
Yes, had some app freezes - though i'm on iOS12 beta, so wasn't sure where the issue lay.
I do also like the idea of using a slide over approach - over what, and containing what i dont know, but there are many options i guess.
jans: Or maybe reverse the logic. The ‘now playing’ screen becomes the main screen, and the left-side pane can slide in and out when you want to select a device or go to the support/config pages
Or maybe reverse the logic. The ‘now playing’ screen becomes the main screen, and the left-side pane can slide in and out when you want to select a device or go to the support/config pages
Exactly what I suggested a couple of days ago.
jans:Strange.... when I try to switch to another device by pushing the device symbol in the bottom left of the ‘Now Playing’ screen, nothing happens. The app freezes and I have to restart the app. I am pretty sure this use case was working in the previous version. Any else had a similar problem.
Hiort:Exactly the same problem here
I have created a bug on it and we are looking into it
To Mr Andersen,
well Done with DLNA cover art. It works perfect now wit latest beta version.
best Regards
Martin Ström
Sweden
NEW! Beovision Eclipse 65 2nd generation (G1) with floorstand (from STB Brackets), Beolab 50 front, Beolab 3 rear, 2 x Beoplay A6 linkrooms, 2xBeoremote one BT, Beosound 9000 Mark III (sw 3.4), Beosound 5 (for DLNA only), Philips Hue (all lights in the home), Oppo UDP-203, Apple TV 4K (2021 model). Beoremote HALO, 3xBeoplay Charging pad, Beoplay M5
Martin: To Mr Andersen, well Done with DLNA cover art. It works perfect now wit latest beta version. best Regards Martin Ström Sweden
Same for me on Core.
Thanks Mr Andersen !