by Scott, 12. July 2014
Hey everyone! Welcome to the new Jamcast -- new software, new website, and a new blog that I hope to post on more often this time around. For my first post, I'd like to briefly go over some of the highlights in Jamcast 2.0.
Jamcast for Android
The Jamcast app for Android has been completely rebuilt to include multi-room playback control functionality and an updated user interface. For the ultimate Jamcast experience, you'll need the Jamcast app for Android as it enables some of the coolest features, including:
- True multi-room, multi-user playback control
- Channel search
- Local playback to device
- Access and control the Jamcast system from anywhere, even over 3G/4G!
- Light/dark app themes
- Optimized for tablet and phone
- works with Android 4.0+
For more information and to download and install Jamcast for Android, go here:
http://getjamcast.com/Android
Jamcast Server Manager
As you can see, Jamcast Server Manager has been rebuilt completely to take advantage of
modern user interface technologies. It also reorganizes configuration features into three tabs.
Use Server Manager to add, configure, and remove channels; see remote playback device status, and set the various available server options. Here's a screenshot of the new My Music channel configuration:
Jamcast Server can still be launched either from the Start Menu, or via the Jamcast icon in the Windows system tray.
Channel Store
In Jamcast 2.0, content providers (aka "channels") are in the spotlight and have been given a makeover as well. First, the API and channel frameworks have all been enhanced to take advantage of the new features in Jamcast, as well as optimized for run-time performance and rapid development alike. Channels are one-click installed via Jamcast Server Manager and can be published to the Channel Store independently of any Jamcast official software release. This means new content will be added to Jamcast all the time, and it's real easy to discover and add this content to your system.
Jamcast 2.0 ships with 12 channels out of the box, with many more planned. For example, an official
SHOUTcast channel is just around the corner. Furthermore, with a tighter API and larger audience (thanks to the free version of Jamcast), I hope more 3rd-party developers will take an interest in building channels for Jamcast as well.
Summary
Getting Jamcast 2.0 finished up was a challenge, but I'm happy with the results and look forward to building upon a new framework. Please let me know what you think -- preferably via
the forums, but you can reach me on
Facebook,
Twitter, and
Google+ as well. Until next time...
Enjoy!