An Updated Version of Our iOS App, and a Peek at Version 4 of Hearts of Space

 

On Friday, Feb. 10th an updated Version 3.0 of our iPhone app was approved by Apple and showed up in the iOS App Store. See the description there for the full details.

https:://iTunes.apple.com/us/app/hearts-of-space/id391429572?mt=8

One small bug emerged after release affecting the sign in box on iPads. We pushed an update that fixed that to Apple on Sunday and it is now (2/15/2017) available in the app store as Version 3.1.

IN BRIEF

This version is 64 bit, so no more misleading message from Apple about slowing down your phone (it never did — it was exactly as fast as previous versions). A new approach to the player provides much more reliable streaming in difficult network situations, along with many bug fixes and minor improvements. It looks pretty much the same on screen, but there are big differences under the hood. The music should be far less subject to buffering interruptions. 

FREE AT LAST

iOS upgrades have always been free, but with this version we are making the iOS app free for new users as well.

VERSION 4 COMING

Why no major changes or new features? Because this version of the app will be in service only until <FANFARE!> We introduce a completely redesigned, full-featured, super-slick "Version 4" iOS app with all the features of our main web site and more. 

At the same time, we'll be launching a brand new version of our website at www.HOS.com.

We've been silent about this until now, for two reasons. First, when we started the Version 4 rewrite/upgrade project over 3 years ago, we had no reliable idea how long it would take. Second, we didn't want to create hopes and expectations for our users until we could actually deliver them.  

VERSION 3 UPDATE

As the months passed, we realized that before launching Version 4 we would have to update the existing iOS app to fix problems that had emerged due to new versions of the iOS operating system and Apple’s insistence on 64-bit compatibility. That is the Version 3 iOS app mentioned above, now in the App Store.

FLASH SUNSET

If you've been streaming from HOS.com using our web application, you know the service has been very reliable. Most problems are due to mixed-up email addresses, forgotten passwords, credit card issues and...Flash updates. 

Yes, we know. Like many major video sites, we are still using Flash. Despite what you may have heard, it has been an excellent streaming solution for us for the last seven years.  But technology never sleeps. Our old "backend" was difficult to update and administer, and Flash was slowly but surely being replaced by newer streaming technologies. So as part of this major rewrite and redesign we decided to rebuild our backend completely using newer streaming protocols and state of the art cloud technology from Amazon Web Services (AWS). This means that going forward the service should be even faster and more reliable. 

VERSION 3 TO VERSION 4

The current version of our web site has some geriatric elements and limitations due to the site architecture we chose in 2007. For Version 4 we commissioned first-class professional developer BAY INTERACTIVE and our longtime programmer STEPHEN BROSSEAU to start from scratch and rewrite the entire setup based on up-to-date web and mobile standards. We spent almost a year working on technical specifications,  "wireframes,” and detailed design for the new user interfaces and new apps — before starting to write code. 

WEA CULPA

We realize that some of  you have had frustrating problems with the previous generation mobile apps, and for that we apologize sincerely. We expect that the Version 3 iOS update will end those issues on the iOS side and provide reliable, though still somewhat limited access to the service for the next few months. We will follow up with a similar update for Android as soon as possible. 

VERSION 4

When Version 4 of the HOS web and iOS app goes into beta testing (please email service(at)hos.com if you want to be a beta tester)  the situation will be completely different: there will be many improvements and new features on the web site, and aside from the necessary differences in screen design and graphic layout, the feature set of the iPhone and iPad apps will be identical to the website. Many users will only know the phone version of Hearts of Space, and never need to see the full size website.

We know many of you have been waiting patiently for this, and we're truly sorry it's taking so long. We have learned that software development is a difficult and demanding craft, and we want to make sure we deliver a beautiful and reliable suite of apps so you can lose yourself, or find yourself, in the music.

:: SH

TECH NOTE: For the technically inclined among you—we are finally decommissioning our trusty Flash media servers and companion web player. The new web app will use an an HTTPS server and open source JavaScript player, with the now-standard HLS "adaptive bit rate" streaming protocol, at five data rates from 256kbps to 32kbps. We also developed a new and comprehensive  API from scratch as the functional core of the service. This will give us the ability to integrate Hearts of Space music with other web sites and services in the future.

iOS and (later) Android apps will use native audio players and the same HLS streaming protocol. As before the audio codec is AAC-LC above 48kbps and HE-AACv2 below 48kbps. The use of native players on iOS and Android means that the app will play nice like other audio apps when in the background or streaming to Bluetooth devices. When the proverbial smoke clears the music should sound better than ever and be far less subject to buffering interruptions in changing network conditions.

=|= 

Comments

[Bonnie Jacobson]

Thank you for this very informative review of the changes you are making in the HOS.com website. I am one of your subscribers to the full service, and I stream the music to my Windows 10 iOS on my PC. I also spend time daily on your website "shopping" for HOS programs to listen to that I haven't heard (many of them). I'm not a programmer, but I'm pretty "computer savvy", so I'm happy you are upgrading HOS.com. I don't use iTunes (not an Apple user). Looking forward to the new and wonderful changes in my favorite music website (and the only one I am willing to pay for to enjoy the music).

[Carl Kruse]

Congrats on the ever-beautiful programming at HOS. Any idea when we could expect the Version 4 release? (Out of curiosity)

Carl Kruse

[Stephen Hill]

Thanks for asking, Carl. If everything goes according to schedule, we will be doing beta-testing over the summer. Depending on what comes out of that, we expect to release Version 4 in fall 2017.
:: SH

[Jim Taylor]

Such great news! Looking forward to the update.

[Trixie Fontaine]

Congratulations - that is a huge ton of work and I am so glad the phase-out of flash (and constant updates for new OS) hasn't taken the wind out of the sails and you're able to keep it up for us. I don't know how much your audience knows what huge challenges and undertakings these things are, but I would be so lost without HOS. I love knowing you are here.

[Stephen Hill]

Thanks, Trixie. The project is on schedule and we are really looking forward to rolling it out when it's done!

[Tanya Caligiuri]

I've been trying for a week to hear you, but nothing happens after the home page. I see here that you are undergoing exciting changes. Are we able to play old programs now? Please let me know when things are up and running - I can't live for long without you!

[Bob Bane]

As we approach the one-year anniversary of this post, I hope things have not stalled. The current web site mostly behaves itself on my work desktop (Linux/Firefox with FlashBlock).

I would love to completely kick Flash to the curb, but can't do that as long as hos.com needs it.

[Stephen Hill]

Bob, thanks for your comment. Clearly this project is taking longer than we would have liked, but the work is proceeding and we are making steady progress. We are currently testing alpha level builds of the new website and mobile apps. We had one technical setback with our API performance which means some additional delay, but if all goes well we expect to go into beta testing In a few months. Rest assured though, the Flash player will be history, replaced with an up to date HTML5 player on all platforms!
:: SH

[Trixie]

What matters is your voice, the programs and the music. Thank you for being here. The technology still works AND it is promising that you're making the transition away from Flash.

[Stephen Hill]

Thank you for your generous understanding, Trixie.