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[cncb]

I am pleased to announce the iOS version of MO 4Media, a remote control and player for MC.  It is the same as the Android version with the exceptions noted below.

Now available in the Apple Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mo-4media/id1446924921

Features:
- Control MC playback over Wifi with your device
- Control separate zones and link/unlink playback between zones
- Play audio/music files to your device with gapless playback, optional volume leveling/replay gain adjustment, and optional file conversion
- Play video files to your device with optional file conversion
- View images on your device with optional file conversion
- Run macros (list of network commands) when zones are selected or unselected. These can be MCC (control MC) or TCP (control networked A/V equipment).
- On-screen volume buttons can control MC or networked A/V equipment volumes
- Create playlists and add files to playlists
- Theater View remote control
- Wake-On-LAN
- Download files with offline playback
- Seeking during playback
- Custom UI colors
- Option for Video playback in external player
- Casting support
- AirPlay support

The free version has the following limitations which can be removed with a $7/year subscription (includes one 7-day unlimited free trial sub):
- Can only play first 3 files in Playing Now
- Can test but not save zone macro and volume commands
- Only 30 seconds of video playback
- External video playback is disabled

Notes:
- To customize the library items that you can browse edit the MC options: "Tools | Options | Media Network | Advanced | Custom views for JRemote, Gizmo & Panel..."
- Seeking when playing converted video is not currently possible.  Enabling external playback, disabling conversion, and installing VLC for external playback makes seeking possible for some file types.
- Casting audio will stop between tracks if the app moves to the background or the device goes to sleep.  You can prevent this by enabling "Keep screen on during playback" in the Settings for the casting zone. 
- The Android features of untrusted https/SSL connections and external/MC volume control with device buttons are currently not supported.

Custom Library Fields:
The following custom fields will be used if added manually by the user.
- MO_Title, first line in file display
- MO_Details, second line in file display
- MO_Caption, caption when displaying full screen image

CarPlay:
- This intial implementation should work on all devices.  You can select what to play from CarPlay but it still uses the same Now Playing screen as before.  iOS 14 supports some customization of the screens but is not supported yet in the app.
- On startup it switches to a special "Car" device zone that only allows you to play music. The main MO app needs to be running and connected to the server before you plug in.
- CarPlay limits browsing to 5 menu levels deep, so this is why you may not be able to browse to the "Files" of some Library items in complicated views.
- The home menu displays Playlists and the views under Audio by default.  You can customize this by adding a Top Level item named "Auto" in Customize views for JRemote, Gizmo, & Panel in the Media Network settings in MC.  Then, the views under Auto will be displayed as home items.
- The app limits lists to 400 items to try to avoid timeouts and memory issues. You may want to add custom views (described above) that group items by letters (or edit the existing Gizmo views under Audio).

[cncb]

Screenshots:

Code: [Select]

v1.5.8
- Add single touch option for seeking and setting rating.
- Add button to show/hide calculated tags in Tags page.
- Add option to hide audio info (file type, sample rate) in Playing Now.
- Add Play To URL feature.

v1.5.7
- Add Divert option in Zones menu.
- Add swipe left/right to change tabs and option to hide tabs.
- Add Spotlight (MC) access to file context menu.

v1.5.6
- Add new age and media sub type options for audio bookmarks and always write Date Last Opened to support this
- Add option to show DVR recording schedule

v1.5.5
- Add option to Download Settings to remove 150 file download limit

v1.5.4
- Recall last search type in Library tab
- Independent text size setting

v1.5.3
- Add Reshuffle actions in Playing Now 3-dot menu
- Fix server playback stopping when exiting app

v1.5.2
- Add option to use Audio bookmarks
- Add bookmarks for offline/downloaded files (local to device only)
- Fix progress indicator not working after track change
- CarPlay: Add Queue item to home screen
- CarPlay: Limit lists to 100 items to speed up browsing

v1.5.1
- Fix play/pause from bluetooth and when a call is received
- Fix Connect from servers screen

v1.5.0
- Add initial CarPlay support
- Recognize subscription when offline

v1.4.0
- Update features to v1.10.1 of other platform
- Enable gapless playback for unconverted audio

v1.3.0
- Add option to add all files in displayed list to new or existing playlist - access in file tap menu from Playing Now, Library, or Search
- Add playlist editing - access with new playlist button at top left of Library browser (MC 25 or later required)
- Add sort option for search results
- Fix remote connections not working

v1.2.0
- Add field selection for search
- Add new search options in Interface Settings: max results, custom field groups, enable/disable tap of field name in results
- Add "Search in web browser" action in file tap menu which allows searches for song, album, movie, etc. in web browser
- Add downloads and deletion from device for individual files
- "Internal search for artist" now just displays Album and Artist results
- Add "Show album" action in file tap menu
- Fix name and artist display when playing web radio in MC
- Fix Jump To in library browser now ignores articles when set in MC
- Add pinch to zoom in device Image viewer
- Add Streaming Audio playback: Radio JRiver and Radio Paradise (RP to MC zones only). Can be hidden from library in settings.

v1.1.0
- Fix playing multiple files from search results
- Fix crash when network not available
- Add setting for default zone to control when connecting to server (see Zone three-dot menu)
- Fix crash due to mismatched locale settings on device and server
- Add interface option for Playing Now tracks list location
- Disable volume leveling when casting

v1.0
- Initial release based on Android v1.5.2

[Awesome Donkey]

Congratulations! I'm sure a lot of potential users will be happy to hear about the app's release on iOS.

[cncb]

v1.1.0 is now available which contains the recent fixes and additions to the Android version.

[cncb]

v1.2.0 is now available which contains the recent fixes and additions to the Android version including Radio JRiver playback.

[glynor]

I can’t get it to work at all on my iPad Pro 10.5. I get no Views at all under Library.

[cncb]

I can’t get it to work at all on my iPad Pro 10.5. I get no Views at all under Library.

Sorry that it is not working for you.  Does it appear to be connecting to your server properly (does it show your server name at the top middle)?  Does it list the available zones when you tap the top right?

[Cinelder]

I can’t get it to work at all on my iPad Pro 10.5. I get no Views at all under Library.

Mine doesn't work over 3G on my iPhone, but works over Wi-Fi.   On 3G, the Server name is loaded but there's nothing under "Library" - no  "Audio", no "Playlists", no "Streaming Audio".  If I switch to Wi-Fi, Server name, Audio, Playlists and Streaming Audio appear as normal. I'm using JRemote/Panel with the same settings and having no problem.

[cncb]

Sorry, I see this too when connecting remotely.  Something may have changed in a recent iOS update that is causing this.  I will try to track it down.

[Cinelder]

Sorry, I see this too when connecting remotely.  Something may have changed in a recent iOS update that is causing this.  I will try to track it down.

Thanks!

[cncb]

v1.3.0 is now available which fixes remote connections and adds playlist editing.

[Cinelder]

v1.3.0 is now available which fixes remote connections and adds playlist editing.

Much appreciated - thanks!

[Cinelder]

v1.3.0 is now available which fixes remote connections and adds playlist editing.

With the new version, now I seem to keep losing access to offline downloaded files every time I go offline.  The app also shows as the free version until it is reconnected online and it recognizes my subscription. 

For example, if after being connected online to the server I go offline, (e.g. put the iPhone in airplane mode), power off the iPhone, and turn it back on, (pretty common scenario when traveling by air), when I open the app, it reappears in the form of the  initial free version with the one time free 7 day etc...   No downloaded files/folders/playlists visible.

To have the app recognize my paid subscription and see my downloaded music I have to close the app in IOS, first make sure there's online access (e.g., it's not set to "Airplane Mode"), reopen it, reconnect to the server, and it again displays my downloaded files.

Another problem I've noticed is that I also seem to have to leave the general IOS /Content & Privacy Restrictions/ Itunes & App Store Purchases/In-App purchases/  setting ticked to "allow in-app purchases" to then be able to reauthenticate my subscription to this app.  I would prefer not to have to leave this setting on by default.

I'm not familiar with subscription apps in IOS, but offline access and authentication for this one sure seems to me to be making it hard for me to access or listen to my downloaded music offline.

[cncb]

Another problem I've noticed is that I also seem to have to leave the general IOS /Content & Privacy Restrictions/ Itunes & App Store Purchases/In-App purchases/  setting ticked to "allow in-app purchases" to then be able to reauthenticate my subscription to this app.

If you leave this setting enabled does it successfully recognize the subscription in airplane mode?  That is have this setting enabled, open the app, confirm that it recognizes your sub, close the app, put the phone in airplane mode with this setting still enabled, and then open the app to see if the sub is recognized.  Also, does leaving the phone on instead of turning it off lead to different behavior? By the way, I can't seem to find this setting (running 12.4.1)?

[Cinelder]

The IOS setting (IOS 12.4.1) to allow in-App purchases is under Screen Time/Content & Privacy Restrictions (I know, why there, but that's Apple). 

I did as you suggested (opened app, setting enabled, confirmed recoginized sub, put in airplane mode, setting still enabled).  The app immediately forgot my subscription and opened it as the free version.  It gave me the error message "Could not connect to JRiver server to verify access key".  I did not turn the phone off.  If I then take the phone off airplane mode, it connects to the server, the error message disappears, but it still is in the free version.  I now get an error message saying "Sorry, only the first 3 files in Playing Now can be played..."   Even worse, I've noticed it will no longer re-authenticate my sub even if I close the program and reopen it - it's as if I never paid for my subscription.

[cncb]

Sorry, the App Store is supposed to have a local cache of purchases but that doesn't seem to be the case.  Send me a PM if you want a refund while I look into this.

[Cinelder]

Yes, thanks for refunding.  I just sent you a PM

[Cinelder]

Yes, thanks for refunding.  I just sent you a PM.

Done - Thanks!

[cncb]

My post copied from the Android thread:

You have a great app.  I expect to use it for many years.

Thanks for saying this.  I appreciate your support for the iOS version.  Unfortunately, you are one of the very few.  Given the ongoing development costs, I probably will not renew my Apple developer account in early December which means the app will not be in the store and you will not be able to renew your subscription next year.  I'm sorry about that.  (*Note that this does not apply to the Android version.)

[Cinelder]

I'm sorry to hear that you're not going to continue your IOS app; I also liked it and had hoped for a fix of the authentication issue that "lost" my subscription when I went offline. 

[cncb]

I know.  I apologize but there just has not been enough interest to continue.

[TheShoe]

I know.  I apologize but there just has not been enough interest to continue.

It's amazing how many people use JRemote for IOS but haven't tried this app.  I've used it and it's ok. 

What are you doing with the source code?  Is it Objective-C or Swift?

And would you consider open-sourcing it on git hub and/or selling it?

Not that I have a lot of time (I don't), but code like this would be a great way to get something up quickly and then with my network of devs (myself included) we might be able to do something with it.

[cncb]

Sorry, I don't plan on open-sourcing it.  I would just leave it in the store if it weren't for Apple's annual developer fee (that is the same for individuals and companies) just for the "benefit" of them taking 30% of all sales.

[JimH]

Sorry, I don't plan on open-sourcing it.  I would just leave it in the store if it weren't for Apple's annual developer fee (that is the same for individuals and companies) just for the "benefit" of them taking 30% of all sales.

How much is the fee?

[cncb]

How much is the fee?

It is $100 which would not be a big deal if there was a lot of interest/sales but it is not currently worth the cost and effort.

[TheShoe]

Sorry, I don't plan on open-sourcing it.  I would just leave it in the store if it weren't for Apple's annual developer fee (that is the same for individuals and companies) just for the "benefit" of them taking 30% of all sales.

understood.

still curious - did you code in Swift or Objective-C?

[JimH]

Craig,
Would it help if we paid the $100?  I'd understand if not.

I appreciate your work. 

Jim

[steve102]

I'd be sorry to lose the IOS MO 4Media app as it overcomes a major issue with JRemote that will only show names and not artists for music videos.
MO 4Media displays both names and artists perfectly and I'd be happy to continue paying the annual subscription fee.

[cncb]

still curious - did you code in Swift or Objective-C?

Sent you a PM.

[cncb]

Jim, I don't think so at this time but thanks for your generous offer.

[cncb]

I'd be happy to continue paying the annual subscription fee.

Thanks for saying that.  I'm not sure how it works, you might still be able to subscribe if you already have it.

[toomanybarts]

So clearly late to the party.

I came here after checking on my old post asking for offline listening for JRiver...

Maybe I need to find my old android phone!

[cncb]

MO 4Media is back in the app store, v1.4.0 is available:

- Update features to v1.10.1 for Android
- Enable gapless playback for unconverted audio


No promises, but I have started looking into adding CarPlay support.

[TheShoe]

Thanks for this!

I have been using it on my iPhone Xs running iOS 14.7.1 without issue.  With the HLS streaming addressed in Media Center as well, I can play back video without issue including from Media Center particles referencing MPLS files.

It's also a nice bonus being able to use Airplay to Apple TV

Hope more iOS/iPadOS folks give this a try, and Carplay if possible will be very nice too.

[Cinelder]

MO 4Media is back in the app store, v1.4.0 is available:

- Update features to v1.10.1 for Android
- Enable gapless playback for unconverted audio


No promises, but I have started looking into adding CarPlay support.

I've just downloaded  free trial IOS version.   If I decide not to continue with the subscription before the trial period ends, how can I cancel before being charged for an annual subscription?  MO 4Media doesn't appear in "Subscriptions" or in "Media & Purchases" under my Apple ID account on my iPhone, and I can't see any option under M0 4MEDIA app  "Settings", or any "auto-renew" switch to turn off or on, either. 

Also there appears to be an option for a one-time payment instead of an annual subscription under the Android version, but I don't see one for the IOS version.  Is there such an option under the IOS version? 

Could you please advise?

[cncb]

I just responded to your email. You turn off auto-renew in the App Store.  Sorry, there is only the subscription for the iOS version.

[marko]

Bearing in mind that, once having kicked off a playlist (of a thousand or so files, for example) using JRemote in the car, I don't need to touch it again. It just plays, track, after track, after track. When I arrive and turn the car off, music pauses, and when I get back in the car with my phone, turn the car on, playback begins again automatically from where it left off, there's not much left to need when driving.

Car Play could be a great incentive, but other than that, in this use case scenario, is there anything that MO 4Media can offer that JRemote does not? I'm thinking (hoping?) the only thing I really miss from my Gizmo for Android days, is the abiility to download, say, 10 tracks ahead in the playlist. This means that, when driving through an area with no cell coverage, there is 10 tracks worth of breathing space there, which was mostly, always plenty.

Does MO 4Media make that possible on IOS, or is that yet another thing that Apple prohibits?

[cncb]

I have never tried JRemote, so maybe someone else can answer that question.

MO allows you to download playlists to play them offline but not in a mixed scenario.  This means that you're either playing all online or offline so it won't substitute a downloaded track if you are having streaming problems.

[TheShoe]

I've been testing the CarPlay integration with mo4Media.

It's very nice!  The ability to start the app from the CarPlay dashboard, browse all music (artists, albums, etc...)/playlists, and playback easily using CarPlay is great.  All the expected playback info is there as well including artwork.

There's still things to work out, but all in all a great start and a welcome integration.

If Siri can also be added at some point to select music that'll be the icing on the cake - but I'm very happy with the integration and lack of need to pick up the phone to select other music while driving (or asking my passenger to do it - which involves still unlocking the phone).

Starting to feel more like an Apple eco-system now for Media Center; let me know if you ever want an Apple TV to develop on tvOS.  Happy to support.

[cncb]

v1.5.0 supporting CarPlay is now available in the app store.

- This intial implementation should work on all devices.  You can select what to play from CarPlay but it still uses the same Now Playing screen as before.  iOS 14 supports some customization of the screens but is not supported yet in the app.
- On startup it switches to a special "Car" device zone that only allows you to play music. The main MO app needs to be running and connected to the server before you plug in.
- CarPlay limits browsing to 5 menu levels deep, so this is why you may not be able to browse to the "Files" of some Library items in complicated views.
- The home menu displays Playlists and the views under Audio by default.  You can customize this by adding a Top Level item named "Auto" in Customize views for JRemote, Gizmo, & Panel in the Media Network settings in MC.  Then, the views under Auto will be displayed as home items.
- The app limits lists to 400 items to try to avoid timeouts and memory issues. You may want to add custom views (described above) that group items by letters (or edit the existing Gizmo views under Audio).

[Mike Foran]

So I am trying the app out for the first time now. For downloading content, it says "Set the conversion options for downloads in the Device Settings page." I'm not sure where you are referring to. There doesn't seem to be a Device Settings page in the app. Do you mean the "Audio Conversion" options on the Media Network MC server? Thanks.

[cncb]

Tap the Settings icon at the top left in the app.  Then tap Playback/Conversions, scroll down to Conversions, tap the Context selection, and choose Downloads Audio.  Set the conversion settings you want and then tap SAVE at the top.

[Mike Foran]

Excellent thanks!

[Bertje]

If I am listening with my bluetooth headphones (Sony WH-1000XM4) the play/pause controls don't work. Also the music should pause when I take off the headphones and resume when I put it back on. Also after a phone call the music doesn't resume.

On the other hand the forward and back controls do work.

[cncb]

If I am listening with my bluetooth headphones (Sony WH-1000XM4) the play/pause controls don't work. Also the music should pause when I take off the headphones and resume when I put it back on. Also after a phone call the music doesn't resume.

I will try to provide a fix for this soon.  Thanks for the report.

[cncb]

v.1.5.1 is available which fixes the play/pause issues noted above.

[eltigre15]

How do I access the theater view in MO 4Media?  If it works like JRemote the only way to activate subtitles via the remote is through theater view that I could find. Thank you.

[cncb]

How do I access the theater view in MO 4Media?  If it works like JRemote the only way to activate subtitles via the remote is through theater view that I could find. Thank you.

In Playing Now, tap the 3 dots next to the Playback control buttons and there will be an entry to toggle subtitles in that menu.

[cncb]

v1.5.2 is now available which supports Audio Bookmarks (for resuming audio tracks) and a Queue display for CarPlay.

[cncb]

v1.5.3 is now available which adds reshuffle actions for Playing Now and fixes the server playback stopping on exit.