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.
=|=
Hi - are there any updates on the progress or timelines for the non-flash player? Thanks!
Posted by: LVE | 15 December 2017 at 12:18 PM
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
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 15 December 2017 at 01:28 PM
Sounds GREAT! Will I be able to use iHeart or Tunein so I can stream with Amazon Alexa?
Ed
Posted by: Ed FitzGerald | 13 February 2018 at 06:03 PM
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?
Posted by: Mark Stapleton | 15 February 2018 at 01:16 PM
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
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 15 February 2018 at 01:56 PM
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.
Posted by: Greg Smith | 24 March 2018 at 07:56 AM
ASAP, Greg. We’re seeing good progress now after some slow issues.
:: SH
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 26 March 2018 at 03:07 AM
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.
Posted by: Tom Nyquist | 08 April 2018 at 07:32 PM
Thanks Tom. We are definitely excited about the new setup and trying to be patient while we get it perfect!
:: SH
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 08 April 2018 at 07:43 PM
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.
Posted by: John R. Troy | 26 March 2019 at 04:45 AM
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
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 26 March 2019 at 12:54 PM
No love for Android? Strange...
Posted by: Ed | 31 March 2019 at 02:42 PM
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).
Posted by: Chris Bellevie | 11 April 2019 at 12:50 PM
Chris, I’ve forwarded your comment to our help email address for response.
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 11 April 2019 at 02:24 PM
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
Posted by: Bonnie Jacobson | 01 July 2019 at 09:04 AM
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
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 01 July 2019 at 11:08 AM
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.
Posted by: Shane Hartman | 01 October 2019 at 06:30 PM
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
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 01 October 2019 at 07:39 PM
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.
Posted by: Shane Hartman | 13 October 2019 at 12:15 PM
Passing your email address on for our crack squad of beta testers.
:: SH
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 13 October 2019 at 01:56 PM
Kinda the definition of Vaporware.
Posted by: Timothy Reaves | 26 October 2019 at 06:29 PM
@TimothyReaves—We are sorry this has taken so long, but we are just finishing beta testing and now have a hard release date of December 1. We want this out more than anyone!
Posted by: Stephen Hill | 02 November 2019 at 11:05 AM
The beta test looked great. Can't wait.
Posted by: Shane Hartman | 08 November 2019 at 12:19 PM
As of today, 3 Dec 2019, I am listening to the new HOS web stream on my laptop and I am anxiously awaiting release of the V4 iPhone app. Like my buddy in the South would say, y'all do good work1
Posted by: James Wilkinson | 03 December 2019 at 11:11 AM