Jamcast

Jamcast for Android Beta
Version 0.9.2



Requirements
Android 2.1+ Device
Jamcast Media Server for Windows 1.6+

What's New?
- app crash when recalling Now Playing activity (shuffle mode bug)
- various display optimizations when resuming Now Playing activity
- added USN field to debug reports
- fixed repeat all mode
- extra error handling for protected streams
- audio engine logging enhancements
- added handling for playback init interrupt

Features

- native formats supported: FLAC, WAV, AIFF, ALAC, AAC, SHN, OGG, MP3
- gapless playback
- seek tracks forwards and back (native playback only)
- Internet Discovery Service
- remote access security
- smart connect / reconnect
- album art display
- automatic pause/resume when phone in use
- fullscreen mode
- can be used with multiple servers
- configurable browse page size
- action bar
- automatic audio compression when on 3G connection
- configurable playback bitrate
- shuffle playback mode
- repeat / repeat one
- Keyword search entire database
- Voice search
- Android Voice Actions support aka "Listen To"
- car dock support

Overview
Jamcast for Android lets you browse, search, and play your media collection from any 2.1+ Android device from anywhere you can get an internet connection. This requires the Jamcast server to be running and configured for remote access (see information on Port Forwarding/NAT below).

Using your Jamcast login, the Jamcast Internet Discover Service helps your device find home from anywhere in the world. Advanced users can of course choose to bypass this service and connect via a static IP or hostname.

When connected via LAN, Jamcast offers native playback of a wide variety of audio formats unmatched by competing solutions. Over the internet/3G/4G connections you can specify of the amount of audio compression used, giving you total control over streaming audio quality and mobile network data usage.

Your media collection can be searched quickly, by either touch or voice input. Jamcast for Android also supports Voice Actions (http://www.google.com/mobile/voice-actions/, Android 2.2+) -- hold the Search button down and say "Listen to <your favorite artist>", or "Listen to Rock" and see what happens!

Known Issues

- out of memory issues on browse track list
- limited local playlist support
- some missing / vague error notifications from audio engine
- SHN seek causes segfault
- playback queue album art not available when not on originating network
- no documentation
- rendering issue on Now Playing seekbar / Samsung devices
- "repeat one" not working

Getting Started

Server Configuration (Network Tab):



It is recommended you use the internet discovery service if you plan on accessing Jamcast remotely over a 3G network (or from a remote LAN). This service utilizes your Jamcast login. If you prefer to use DNS or will not be accessing your library remotely, you can disable internet discovery services.

Enable Android authorization when remote access is enabled, this ensures that only devices that only authorized devices can connect to Jamcast. Security does not apply to LAN-connected devices.

- enable auto-authorization and establish a LAN connection from the Android device to the Jamcast server to authorize it automatically

- from the Devices tab, right-click to allow/disallow remote access for a particular device

Port Forwarding (NAT):



Your router must be configured to pass internet traffic on TCP 58642 to the computer where Jamcast is running. For your convenience, a simple remote access test is available on the Network/Remote Access tab. If this test fails, no device will be able to access Jamcast over the internet.

If you need help configuring your router visit http://portforward.com/e...amcast/Jamcastindex.htm and choose your make/model router for detailed instructions.

NOTE: Skip the advertisement on portforward.com! You don't have to buy anything to your router's setup guide!

Device Setup:

A simple setup wizard guides you thru the process of getting connected for the first time. At the end of the setup wizard you'll be connected to your music collection. Or, if no connection can be established or your device is lacking proper authorization, or more than 2 server instances were found, you will be forwarded to the Server List activity.

Crash Reports:

When Jamcast for Android crashes, a crash report will automatically be transmitted to us. This report contains some basic configuration data, a portion of the logfile, and a call stack trace. These reports will be constantly monitored and will given their due attention. Furthermore, should technical support ever request it you can manually send a diagnostic report via Menu/Settings. Crash reports will be optional in the non-beta release of the app.

Thanks & enjoy!

Hey lonea, thanks for the feedback.

So, the Windows 2003 box where the Virtual Soundcard doesn't work, can you get it to work with other devices over a LAN connection. In other words, is it only problematic in the context of Jamcast for Android?

Also, what is the behavior -- no sound?

This might just be an issue of getting Stereo Mix configured: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tiW4lj5ZUNc

Try that and see if it helps.

Also, can you give some feedback on the tablet experience with the Jamcast app running? I've not seen it running on a tablet yet, does it look good etc.? Any issues you can mention?

Thanks!

Thanks foxkat for your invaluable feedback!

I'll have to go thru the crash logs again for those browse-related FC's, I don't believe I saw those. I got a few others though!

Regarding playback buffers on the device, I'm still looking into that and therefore into what the options are for bigger/more configurable buffers. It's relatively cheap to prebuffer 4-5 minutes of 256kbps audio, especially when you look at buffering to SD card, etc.

Regarding swapping a new list of tracks into the playback queue, what do other people think about this? One thing I was considering is having a workspace of say 5 playback queues that can be flipped between, allowing you to play/clear/(save?) any of the queues individually without affecting another...

There are probably 100 ways to satisfy such a requirement. Now to figure out which is best...

Thanks!

Hi Scott,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm traveling in Chicago, far from home, and have been really enjoying listening to selections from my music library 1000 miles away. The software has been working flawlessly for me this week. Very cool!

One usability suggestion: When browsing albums, I sometimes tap an album to display a list of songs on that album. The album art and title are displayed at the top of the list, and it would be nice if I could tap t
he album to add the entire list of songs on the album to the playback queue, instead of having to return up the folder hierachy to select the album for addition to the queue.

-Jambo

Hey everyone, version 0.9.3 is posted!

As always, you can download it from your Android device at http://getjamcast/Android

Conversation continues here: http://www.sdstechnologi...a-0-9-3-Discussion.aspx

Thanks!