Firmware update request to ease strain on resources

[Dave1972]

Hi

I always use my Touch with a hard drive directly connected as I hate having my noisy PC on whilst listening to music. I have found that each time I connect the hard drive it scans the whole drive, which can take a very long time. Of course, the time can be reduced by removing all non-music-related files from the hard drive, but still it's a long time for massive collections. The larger the music collection, the more unstable the Touch becomes under the strain.

So I humbly have two requests.

1. Would it be possible to allow the Touch to play files WITHOUT scanning the hard drive first? In other words, just allow the user to navigate through the music folders to his desired album, and then make the Touch scan only the relevant folder after the user has selected a file to play? This would allow truly massive music collections to be connected without putting a huge strain on resources, and would save a lot of scanning time too, and increase stability.

2. Additionally, would it be possible to be able to nominate a folder to scan on start-up. At the moment, as I mentioned earlier, the Touch automatically scans the whole hard drive (which might contain lots of irrelevant folders and files). I would love it to display the following message: "USB Device detected. Choose one of the following options: 1. Scan the whole drive. 2. Scan a nominated folder

Any chance? I look forward to some replies.

[Phil Leigh]

1) don't have anything but music files on the disk
2) stop removing the disk

Simples :-)

[Mnyb]

3. keep Touch and disc powered all the time.
4. Use Touch's network share function to add new music over your Lan, no need to remove the drive .

5. get another drive for you backupps.

[JJZolx]

Would it be possible to allow the Touch to play files WITHOUT scanning the hard drive first?

I have an 8 GB SanDisk Fuze Mp3 player with a 32 GB microSDHC card. A total of 40 GB of storage, full. I've installed Rockbox on the player and can boot into either OS.

With the SanDisk firmware when the player is booted up it scans all 40 GB for changes and makes you wait before you can use the player. But Rockbox boots straight into the OS. If you need to re-index the music library you do so manually by going through Settings. And it indexes the library in the background and you can use the player in the meantime.

Needless to say, the Rockbox approach is greatly preferred. Why the same wasn't done on the Touch is a mystery.

Additionally, would it be possible to be able to nominate a folder to scan on start-up.

The overriding theme during the development of the Touch's server was to keep it as mind-numbingly simple as possible. With as few user options as they could possibly get away with. Even if it means that many people will be unable to use the server because it's too inflexible. Since its release, very little has changed. The rote advice: If you want more, run a separate server and pretend the internal server doesn't exist.

[Dave1972]

@ JJZolx:

Snap! Me too - I have Sansa Fuze + Rockbox, and I love it!
I take your point about the intention to keep the server incredibly simple - but I'm sure an "Advanced" option could be made available that simpletons could ignore!


@ Phil Leigh and Mnyb:

Sorry, I should have clarified the following:

* Scanning and indexing large collections makes the Touch unstable, so at the moment the only solution (for those not using a LAN or PC to stream) is to have smaller collections split between separate hard drives. This requires occasionally disconnecting and re-connecting drives. I also don't like to leave drives switched on 24/7.

* I don't like to leave my PC switched on whilst using the Touch because it is in the same room, and it's noisy, hence I connect drives to the Touch's USB direct. I actually really love the ability to do this, but feel the experience could possibly be even better with my suggestions.

Would my firmware suggestions be feasible in a future update, do you think?

[Mnyb]

Hmm can the server be installed on a PC *not* in the same room ? that would be the best, or is simply a shortage of rooms to :-/

With a large collection you deserve to run the real server imho

[Phil Leigh]

@ JJZolx:

Snap! Me too - I have Sansa Fuze + Rockbox, and I love it!
I take your point about the intention to keep the server incredibly simple - but I'm sure an "Advanced" option could be made available that simpletons could ignore!


@ Phil Leigh and Mnyb:

Sorry, I should have clarified the following:

* Scanning and indexing large collections makes the Touch unstable, so at the moment the only solution (for those not using a LAN or PC to stream) is to have smaller collections split between separate hard drives. This requires occasionally disconnecting and re-connecting drives. I also don't like to leave drives switched on 24/7.

* I don't like to leave my PC switched on whilst using the Touch because it is in the same room, and it's noisy, hence I connect drives to the Touch's USB direct. I actually really love the ability to do this, but feel the experience could possibly be even better with my suggestions.

Would my firmware suggestions be feasible in a future update, do you think?

Just how large is this collection? - there are folks running 65k+ libraries with no stability issues...

I have no idea why you don't want to leave the disk on 24/7... it should sleep when not serving up data. Disk life is shortened by cold booting... anyway disk drives cost peanuts these days - 2Tb is £75!!

[Dave1972]

Just how large is this collection? - there are folks running 65k+ libraries with no stability issues...

I have no idea why you don't want to leave the disk on 24/7... it should sleep when not serving up data. Disk life is shortened by cold booting... anyway disk drives cost peanuts these days - 2Tb is £75!!

65K?! My own library is about 500GB (lossless 16/44.1 FLAC mainly, but also some 24/96 FLACs - which sound fantastic on the Touch, by the way). Many people have reported stability issues with large libraries (just check some reviews on Amazon). I have had such issues too, which are much reduced by splitting my collection into separate drives. But this is a "workaround" rather than a real solution.

My Freecom drives don't sleep when left connected to the Touch, but maybe that's just those ones. That's just a side issue though. I have to disconnect the drives periodically to change collections, because large collections make the Touch unstable.

[Dave1972]

Hmm can the server be installed on a PC *not* in the same room ?

No.

[Phil Leigh]

65K?! My own library is about 500GB (lossless 16/44.1 FLAC mainly, but also some 24/96 FLACs - which sound fantastic on the Touch, by the way). Many people have reported stability issues with large libraries (just check some reviews on Amazon). I have had such issues too, which are much reduced by splitting my collection into separate drives. But this is a "workaround" rather than a real solution.

My Freecom drives don't sleep when left connected to the Touch, but maybe that's just those ones. That's just a side issue though. I have to disconnect the drives periodically to change collections, because large collections make the Touch unstable.

65,000 tracks... not bytes

I don't read Amazon reviews, the gene pool is too low.


The number of bytes is irrelevant. The number of tracks is what counts...