A number of our most active users requested that we make it easier to return to the service without having to sign in each time. This turned out to be more difficult than we expected, but we've done it.
Now when you click SIGN IN at the upper right corner of our home page
instead of launching a pop-up window you'll see a new "sign in bar" with fields for your email address and password, and a new ENTER button.
To complete the process, you can either click the ENTER >> button, or just hit "Enter" or "Return" on your keyboard.
Now here's the cool part:
From now on, users who don't SIGN OUT will be signed in automatically when they return to HOS.com on the same computer.
Users on shared or public computers should Sign Out to protect their accounts. When you Sign Out, you'll have to Sign In when you return. If you are on the same computer, your email address will be entered into the proper field, and you will only have to enter your password.
If your session "times out" (you stream for more than 12 hours), you will have to sign in again, but we make it easier: both fields will be filled in, and you can Sign In with one keystroke on the Enter or Return key, or one click on the ENTER>> button.
IN SHORT...
To minimize Sign Ins, don't Sign Out.
To protect your account on shared computers,
When you come back you'll be signed in automatically.
Sign Out —then Sign in each time.
UPDATE: Duh...seems we forgot the "I forgot my password" feature. How ironic is that?
We've fixed this with a new link that opens our old pop up log in with a "forgot password" field.
:: SH
GREAT! I just quit the browser, started it again, and I'm automatically signed in again.
HoS is an indispensible treasure.
Posted by: Andrew Main | 15 October 2009 at 01:54 AM
Thanks very much. The website has gone from great to simply amazing over the past year. On the subject of 'simply amazing', I haven't heard much about the iPhone app which was to release this fall. Is that still in the works, please?
Posted by: George Pond | 15 October 2009 at 05:24 AM
What a useful feature! Being a daily(and sometimes multi-daily) listener, I really appreciate this new automatic sign-in, and especially the option to stay signed-in between sessions. Thanks!! As an earlier post put it so aptly, HoS is "an indispensable treasure".
Posted by: Tom Cummings | 15 October 2009 at 07:47 AM
Neat! Thanks!!!
Posted by: Richard Rawson | 15 October 2009 at 08:29 AM
Process seems to have been streamlined to an appreciable degree. Thanks.
Posted by: Dan Borders | 15 October 2009 at 10:03 AM
Wonderful! All good things in due time.
Posted by: Frank Marafiote | 15 October 2009 at 10:22 AM
to Tom Cummings: iPhone app is being programmed right now. Programming should take 35-40 days. Then the real waiting starts: Apple has to review, approve, and install it in the App Store. Unfortunately, it's impossible to know how long that will take. We are dancing as fast as we can, though!
Posted by: Leyla Hill, [email protected] | 15 October 2009 at 11:49 AM
Where there is a will there is a way...to make something better and you have again succeeded. Bravo!!
Posted by: Chalmer | 15 October 2009 at 11:51 AM
I tried it, it worked very well.
>>RSM
Posted by: Richard Mitnick | 15 October 2009 at 06:02 PM
Works for me, too. And, yes it was very annoying to have to sign in each time. Thank You, HOS.
Your Very Loyal Fan from Chicago,
Petra
Posted by: Petra | 15 October 2009 at 07:15 PM
Fabulous!!! Being a nightly user, it is GREAT to be able to come to the website and not have to sign in each time!! Thanks for your thoughtful considerations to the daily users!!! Can't say how impressed I am with how the site just keeps getting better!!!
Thanks again :)
Posted by: Lindsay | 15 October 2009 at 10:04 PM
Terrific!
Any plans for a BlackBerry(r) app?
Posted by: Gideon | 16 October 2009 at 12:26 AM
Thanks Stephen!! I agree with previous comments that the HOS evolution over the past year has been good to great to fantastic! We listeners are very grateful--we understand this has not been an easy transition. But your dedication to the listener, first and foremost, is exemplary...which is why I''m an HOS-lifer....
Posted by: Perren | 16 October 2009 at 07:32 AM
I love it. Cheers to HOS for making it easy to listen and for the wonderful music.
Posted by: Joetta Harris | 16 October 2009 at 01:51 PM
Brilliant! Thank you! Getting rid of the sign-in window was a huge improvement. In fact, I noticed that change before I saw the announcement beneath this week's art work. Not having to sign back in again? Priceless!
Posted by: Greg | 16 October 2009 at 03:28 PM
I know how much trouble making these changes can be. Thanks so much for the great effort! I, for one, really appreciate the new feature.
Posted by: Susie Webb | 16 October 2009 at 05:38 PM
can't get to it, it's hidden at the top... please fix for me... I'm on Mozilla...
Posted by: e uprichard | 17 October 2009 at 08:36 AM
somehow I got to it, so I'll just stay logged in as long as possible!!!
Posted by: e uprichard | 17 October 2009 at 08:40 AM
Thank you for simplifying the sign in! I usually have to sign in twice a day but now I have more time for lying about on the floor and drifing away with HOS.
Posted by: Telesma | 17 October 2009 at 12:35 PM
Liked the auto sign-in feature. Rather than try to find a station with HOS, I finally signed up for a subscription - and got a separate broadband account to handle it since HOS has become my "home station". Look forward to HOS at end of the work day!
A very loyal fan in Washington DC.
Posted by: Alex | 17 October 2009 at 07:19 PM
Works great! Now, what about an iPhone app?
Posted by: Joseph Gushanas | 18 October 2009 at 04:15 AM
Much much easier and faster.Thanx HOS esp Steve and the rest of company that make this treasure possible. I have listened since inception and now have an access pack and cannot live without it! Peace-Hope and inspiration to all who dare!
Posted by: Keith Wells | 18 October 2009 at 07:13 AM
once these tired old eyes adjusted, i figured it out. change is not is not anticipated when listening to timeless music.
Posted by: harry krishna | 18 October 2009 at 08:00 AM
I love this music. Genius at finding it and putting it together. Will I ever be able to down load this music on my ipod?
Posted by: Lillian Dee Davenport | 18 October 2009 at 08:01 AM
hello can not get in
you have no option for forgotten password
YOU ARE NOW BEING DELETED FROM BOOKMARKS
Posted by: karl koski | 18 October 2009 at 08:36 AM
This is great, thanks for the continually making HOS.com a better and more user friendly website!
Posted by: Jeff | 18 October 2009 at 10:49 AM
Karl K: we have a fix coming for the "forgot password" problem on Monday. Apologies for the inconvenience. We've "reset" yours manually and emailed you.
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 18 October 2009 at 11:47 AM
Joseph G: We are actively working on an iPhone app for HOS and (pending Apple approval) will release it later this year. Watch our blog for progress reports!
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 18 October 2009 at 11:53 AM
Seems like we really scratched a common itch by making the sign in easier! Thanks to all for your enthusiasm and positive comments.
Like any web developer who 'gets it' these days, we are commited to continuous improvement of the site, and access on as many mobile devices as we can possibly support.
:: SH
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 18 October 2009 at 12:03 PM
What a great enhancement. RoboForm (password manager) easily works with the new functionality. Now, I'm one click away from peace.
Posted by: Jerry Starbuck | 19 October 2009 at 11:14 AM