New Squeezebox Radio

[mherger]

> What about mysqueezebox.com? Will that go?

"No", as in "there are no plans to shut it down" (and nobody will tell you
that eventually it will be, but that's hopefully a few years in the future)

> Will the be any LMS updates, for future OS's, NAS etc.

I don't know how far we'll be going, but as with mysb.com there are no
plans to kill it today. Which means we'll have to deal with Windows 8
(confirmed working) and whatever the next cat or two from Cupertino. I
just checked in a bunch of changes which adds PreventStandby for OSX, as
10.8 requires it.

--

Michael

[autopilot]

I read that as ongoing support for LMS, that's great to hear, thanks

Yes, but I think it will only be a case of fulfilling obligations to people who recently purchaced Squeezebox products, they maybe a legal precesdent to meet. I doubt it will be substantial or long lived. They probably have a date for when they cease all operations completely - 1, 2 years? Less? People may hold on to the bitter end, but personally I'm looking for my replacement systems ASAP (and maybe offload any gear will it still has some resale value).

I have lived hope for a while, denial even. But the time for optimism is over now, it's time to move on.

[bluegaspode]

- no more switching back and forth of the player between servers

[..]

OTOH this simplifies playing music from different servers: if you run
multiple UEML instances in your network, you would see all of them when
entering the My Music menu. Just browse one of them, add tracks. Go back
to the other server, add more tracks etc. Mixed playlists without
"switching" servers.

I like that. Reduces one big problem that new users typically have users.
- is playlist editing available in the iOS Controller?
- is the Controller a native App or based on the same technology you use now?
- is there still an option to sync devices?
- will firmware and the server code keep OpenSource or did you switch to closed source now?

While of course I don't like seeing Squeezeboxes to phase out, this product (if it supports syncing) would still be a viable alternative to me compared to Sonos.
- it has knobs (the main missing piece of a Sonos, which still is the #1 reason I don't buy into them)
- I'd still have hope, that Logitech (with reduced support and more happy users) is successfull with this new product and over the time adds a stereo device and a speakerless device.
Porting the firmware to the Touch would be a breeze - maybe just do a small case, where the USB port + SD-Card port is not visible anymore. Noone would ever ask again, if that little thing with a nice screen that can be connected to the receiver could act as a server.
- NAS manufacturers will keep providing packages with the new server software.

[bluegaspode]

and over the time adds a stereo device and a speakerless device.

Or are these UE Boomboxes there compatible already ?

[Grumpy Bob]

All very sad. I am a very satisfied owner of 2 x SBR, 1 x SB3 and just recently 1 x SBT. None of the other commercial systems out these seem to do just what I want.

I do suspect that in the great scheme of things, the SB range was just that bit too flexible to market to those who want to "just plug it in and play".

Robert

[toby10]

What about mysqueezebox.com? Will that go?

www.MyUEML.com? Ugh!

Seems like potentialy a new dawn for the online streaming aspect, which is my biggest interest in SB anyway.
But it also seems as though the clouds are gathering for the advanced server side of SB, heading more in the direction of WMP/iTunes "me too" blandness.
We wait, we see.

Michael H,
In all seriousness, thank you for any info you are allowed to divulge. I'm sure what you can actually say at this point is very limited, but anything to help better understand the change is truly appreciated by many.

[slartibartfast]

> If existing SB Radios get the same software update as the UERadio, does
> that mean they can no longer sync with Touch, Classic, Boom etc.

They won't get it automatically. It will be optional.

> Is the software update manatory for existing Radios?

No.

> Will the UERadio and software updated SB Radios be able to play local
> music files?

Yes, but the "UE Music Library" (UEML - get used to it :-)) comes with
some limitations compared to LMS: in the new world the Radio is _always_
connected to the new backend service provided by us. There's no control
functionality in UEML. UEML only allows the player to browse your music
collection, but once you select a track it will hand off the url to the
backend, which takes care of the player control. What does this mean?

- no more switching back and forth of the player between servers
- no support for saving playlists from the player
- no more Random Play, MusicIP... (iTunes is still supported though)
- many more limitations, I guess

OTOH this simplifies playing music from different servers: if you run
multiple UEML instances in your network, you would see all of them when
entering the My Music menu. Just browse one of them, add tracks. Go back
to the other server, add more tracks etc. Mixed playlists without
"switching" servers.

--

Michael

So these new units won't have Random Play (which I use frequently) and rely on a backend server to play a local music library. If that backend server goes down which is likely or ultimately is shut down at some future time then even access to local files would be lost!! You are not really selling the idea to me.

[Grumpy Bob]

From the UE Radio web page:

"FOR PLAYBACK OF MUSIC ON YOUR COMPUTER USE WITH ANY OF THE FOLLOWING OPERATING SYSTEMS:
Windows® XP, Windows 7 and later (32-bit and 64-bit)
Mac OS® X 10.5 and later"

Oh dear! I am a Linux user, and presently running LMS on a NAS...

Robert

[pippin]

I like that. Reduces one big problem that new users typically have users.
...

Actually I agree, this has been quite a support issue in the past. As you know I'd preferred a different solution but this one is workable.

However, it doesn't really help if you only have Radios around. Even syncing is not something that's a core feature for that little mono unit and since it looks like all other SBs wont be supported we'll have to wait for whatever other products are going to come to see whether there is really value in here.

- NAS manufacturers will keep providing packages with the new server software.

Now THAT would require Linux support, wouldn't it? Or was Linux just forgotten in the list because nobody in marketing had ever heard about it?

[Squeezemenicely]

Even syncing is not something that's a core feature for that little mono unit and since it looks like all other SBs wont be supported we'll have to wait for whatever other products are going to come to see whether there is really value in here.

Yes, but what would be the point if one cannot synch the old SB stuff with whatever new stuff comes along.

Obviously trust in this system is shaken and I will not invest more money in something that can go extinct this quickly. We all knew this was gonna happen, but now that it did, it is a bit of a shock. We can still run our hardware, but we all know it is a dead end.

My next system will definitely come from a company that actively promotes their system and concentrates on that system - instead of trying to do everything a bit.


BTW, what should make us believe that Logitech does not pull the plug on the UE devices also? Do they really believe that changing the name on a device that looks exatly the same will make that much of a difference in sales?
They have not been actively marketing SB, so why should they start with UE, I personally do not see that happening.