iOS app update, and A PEEK AT VERSION 4 of Hearts of Space

GOOD NEWS!  

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 currently 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 IS COMING

Why no major changes or new features? Because this version of the app will be in service only for a few months, and then <FANFARE!> We will 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 18 months ago, we had no idea how long it would take. Second, we didn't want to create hopes and expectations for our users until we were certain 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 emerged due to new versions of the iOS operating system and Apple’s insistence on 64-bit compatibility. That update 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. 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 this summer (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 literate 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

[LVE]

Hi - are there any updates on the progress or timelines for the non-flash player? Thanks!

[Stephen Hill]

We've made good progress and we expect to be going into an early beta testing phase in the next few weeks. If all goes well with that, we expect to launch the new player and web site in spring 2018. As soon as we have more specific information, we will update the blog with all the details and a more accurate schedule.

Thanks for your patience! Nobody wants this to happen more than we do;-))

:: SHk

[Ed FitzGerald]

Sounds GREAT! Will I be able to use iHeart or Tunein so I can stream with Amazon Alexa?

Ed

[Mark Stapleton]

Echoing Ed's question: HoS can be used with Alexa and Sonos, but there is a very small list of options. I would love to say, "Alexa, play program 504 from Hearts of Space". Any possibility of this?

[Stephen Hill]

Mark—a more full featured Alexa and Sonos integration is definitely possible and on our “roadmap”’— as soon as we get Version 4 launched.

:: SH

[Greg Smith]

You can count me in for the beta, and that includes Sonos and Alexa when you’re ready. Really looking forward to a Sonos enhancement since that is how I listen most.

[Stephen Hill]

ASAP, Greg. We’re seeing good progress now after some slow issues.
:: SH

[Tom Nyquist]

Exciting stuff Stephen! Looking forward to all of the developments and improvements. From climbing up a ladder in windstorms to try and point my FM antenna towards a listenable signal to today's hi-fidelity computer streaming, the technology sure has come light years forward! Thank you and your team for all of your hard work and dedication.

[Stephen Hill]

Thanks Tom. We are definitely excited about the new setup and trying to be patient while we get it perfect!
:: SH

[John R. Troy]

Is there any news or update on this for us? It's been about a year since Stephen's last response in the comments.

I am particularly concerned about the web interface. I use the web player several times a week. But I don't see any updates or even a web site design refresh yet. Adobe ends Flash support in 2020 and we probably only have a year left until the music becomes unplayable, as I think by that time the browsers will stop supporting it as well.

Perhaps a new news post is needed to give us an update on all of this.

[Stephen Hill]

Thanks for asking about this, John. I have been remiss in keeping our listeners informed about what was happening with our update project, and I apologize for that.

The fact is that we’ve been working on it continuously for almost three years. Why so long? As we’ve discovered, software projects are inherently complex, and some (like ours) have a way of expanding in scope as you work on them. What started as a simple update to the player technology in the wake of Flash sunsetting turned into a from-the-ground-up rebuild of our website, our mobile apps, *and* the entire backend server and software infrastructure that they run on—a massive undertaking.

The good news is that the end is now in sight and we expect to launch the beta testing phase of the new set up within the next month. It will start with the website. We have already tested an alpha version with a new HTML5 player that feels like a sports car compared to ye olde Flash warhorse. The rest of the website is in the final stages of quality-control testing right now. So as a web application user you won’t have long to wait for the upgrade.

The next step will be a complete upgrade to the iOS app. Unlike the current generation mobile apps, it will have the full feature set of the website, a new native iOS player, and a much improved user interface. Once the iOS app is launched ( I can’t give you a time for this at the moment) we will introduce an interim upgrade for our Android users, so they don’t have to wait too long for a duplicate version of the iOS app. All of this will be running on the new backend server infrastructure on the Amazon cloud.

The main reason for the lack of information about the project has been the difficulty in setting accurate delivery dates and creating false expectations. As we have reliable information about the next steps, I will be posting all the details here. Thank you for your patience!

::SH

[Ed]

No love for Android? Strange...

[Chris Bellevie]

Any chance of fixing the Android app? It won't start on Pixel 2 with either Android 9 or 10. Despite my primary intention being to listen on my phone, I subbed before I actually tried the app on my phone (figured if it was going to work on anything, it would be straight Android on a Pixel).

[Stephen Hill]

Chris, I’ve forwarded your comment to our help email address for response.

[Bonnie Jacobson]

Hello, Stephen Hill :)
Long time fan here... just dropping in to say hello... and let you know that I am STILL listening to your wonderful weekly Hearts of Space programs on my Windows PC. :) I never did have an iPhone, so I've always listened on my PC.
I heard the 1219 program this morning, "Beyond the Cool". It was wonderful. I have to catch up ... there are a few programs I missed lately (forgot to "tune in". But I'll do that today. I hope you are having a good summer! Best regards... Bonnie

[Stephen Hill]

Thank you Bonnie! We’re almost finished testing a brand new web site that we’ve been working on for a long time. I think you’ll be pleased.
:: SH

[Shane Hartman]

Any updates on new website? New ios app? How about sonos integration improvements? I would dearly love to pick from my favorited shows in sonos interface.

[Stephen Hill]

Thanks for asking, Shane. We’re almost ready to start beta testing an all-new website. As soon as it launches we move into beta on an all-new iOS app. After that’s launched, a new native Android app is next, and then FINALLY we will work on a new app for Sonos.

Trust me—we hate that this is taking so long, but I think you’ll be very pleased with the results.
:: SH

[Shane Hartman]

Thats great news SH. Look forward to the new stuff. If you need beta testers or any kind of technical assistance let me know. I am a developer so my use cases are complex :}. I understand these things can take much longer than you expect.

[Stephen Hill]

Passing your email address on for our crack squad of beta testers.
:: SH