A number of repeat visitors have asked us this question. It was working fine for them, why change it?
We started our web service in 2001 with 100 programs and Real Audio as the streaming format and the media player. Today this format is all but abandoned online.
We launched our Windows Media Audio service in 2004 when WMA was the leading format, because it was compatible with the vast majority of Windows machines out there and many Windows users had, umm, issues with Real Audio. But by 2007 we were spending hours every day trying to support Mac and Linux users as well as many Windows users who had serious technical problems with Windows Media — an unsustainable burden for a small company like HOS and an imposition on our users.
Today, Windows Media Player has been abandoned even by Microsoft, in favor of their new Silverlight format, which is largely a response to the enormous popularity of Flash on sites like MySpace and YouTube, and the fact that — after you download a tiny browser plug-in — Flash just works on all the major operating system and browser combinations.
This is what has driven us to move to Flash, not a perverse desire to keep up with technical fads and fashions. Not only that, it allows us to deliver a far better sounding and more feature-rich and fun-to-use experience to listeners (see the full list of new features below) a fact that weighs in our favor when users decide whether it is worth paying our modest fees for the full service.
The web is not a static environment. It changes in small and large ways all the time, and like it or not, we are all obliged to move along with it. I guarantee that you will not be using the same computer and software five years from now that you are using today. In fact, you may be using your 'smart' cell phone for many of the things you use your computer for today, including listening to Hearts of Space.
So please take your time getting used to the new service — you'll find it's a big step forward. If you're having any difficulties during the transition, please contact us at help@hos.com and give us the details of the problem. We're here to make the change as smooth and effortless as possible for you.
:: Stephen Hill and the small, progressive, compassionate, HOS Staff
11 Responses
The new site is just fabulous. To be able to see what I have listened to and when, to see what is playing at the moment, the graphics, all of it, just exceptional in design and execution.
And, the new Flash player has a much brighter sound when compared to the WMP player using the computer at home and at work.
Kudos kudos kudos.
>>RSM
Have been out of town and went to fire up HOS this evening while I checked the mail, started laundry and fixed dinner… boom!.. New Look!
Being of the mindset “if it isn’t broke, why fix it…”, I must say that in this case, it was not so much a fix… but a great “improvement”. The quality of the new site using FLASH is, in a word, awesome! I’m cancelling my quarterly subscription… and signing up for the yearly plan!
Patrick
This is just wonderful. Once Apple gets it together with Adobe to provide a Flash Player for my iPod Touch, I will be in heaven. Thank you guys for all you do!
Making the transition from WMA to Flash was not without it’s moments.By all indications my account had been purloined. However repairing permissions and clearing the cashe files seems to have resolved my issues.
Any chance for a Hearts of Space iPhone application, a la Pandora?
Best feature of the new site is the option to remove the boring monotone play list voice over.
We can now enjoy the music even more !
i just wanted to post a thank you to Dr.Space. You are doing an amazing job with your hosting. I love these sounds.
Hi Stephen
This more of a question, and I’m sure it has been raised, but I was wondering if any thought or if there are any plans to develop a Hearts of Space application for the iPhone? I listen to HoS often, but on my iphone I listen to an AOL Ambient radio station. I much rather listen to HoS. You can post an answer on the HoS Facebook site if you like . . . or to my email address.
Howard
Thanks for asking, Howard. Many of our users have suggested this, and we have begun working on the project with a developer/HOS fan.
There are still some open questions about technical limitations of the iPhone platform (it does not support Flash audio) and it will probably take several months to work them out.
The thought is to keep it simple and begin by offering one or more versions of the Radio Channel. If you have any other suggestions, please don’t hesitate to send them to us at help@hos.com.
:: SH
Please come out with an Iphone app!!!!!!!!! I’m dying!!!!!!!
We’re working on it, Rusty!
This week we signed the contract with the developer. The project will be active in the next few weeks. I can’t give you a completion date yet, but we’ll be blogging about the progress as we go. I just got an iPhone myself, and I can’t wait either…
:: SH