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[Vincent Kars]

[Split by JimH from the thread on WMC vs MC ]

We've been thinking about this question ourselves, with respects to website messaging.

It is good to reflect now and then on how to position the product.
But what about keeping your website up to date? (sorry for the caustic)

http://www.jrmediacenter.com/tivo.html
MC12?
This is a “How to”, should be in the Wiki

http://www.jrmediacenter.com/UPnP.html
What about DLNA?
This is a “How to”, should be in the Wiki
To much outdated tech talk.

You probably have more pages last updated in 2008.

http://www.jrmediacenter.com/featurelist.html
Structure it. Expand it.

Supports over 80 media file formats

List them all

The comparison with WMP is a good one.
Why spend money if you can get it for free?
More emphasizes on the things WMP/WMC can’t
-   sound quality
-   configurability, working the way you want
-   recording (is it in the website?)
-   iPod sync

At the moment there is a move towards MC in the computer audio community
Where is the MC for audiophiles page?

[JimH]

http://www.jrmediacenter.com/UPnP.html
What about DLNA?

The home page links to DLNA.  Where do you see a UPnP link?

[Vincent Kars]

http://www.jrmediacenter.com/features.html
Lower left: add UPnP device

[JimH]

Thanks.  Fixed.

[chriswatson]

I echo the comments about the web site. Trying to find things is not easy. On the other hand updating content as fast as you do updates is probably not feasible.

For me the #1 issue that outweighs everything is is sound quality, followed by ease of use.

I can get the rest of the stuff elsewhere but the most compelling feature for me is the sound.

Having used the product for a few months now, I can say that I could see using multi media functions for watching video and streaming media. That's not that unique, it's nice but it's not the killer app IMHO. (Especially not until you get zone linking working correctly with DLNA and the various possible combinations   )

At this point J river seems to be the best media player that cares about true audiophile sound. that's why I bought it and how I use it.

My two cents, your mileage may vary

~Chris

[JimH]

The comparison with WMP is a good one.
Why spend money if you can get it for free?
More emphasizes on the things WMP/WMC can’t
-   sound quality
-   configurability, working the way you want
-   recording (is it in the website?)
-   iPod sync

At the moment there is a move towards MC in the computer audio community
Where is the MC for audiophiles page?

How about this page:
http://www.jriver.com

[Vincent Kars]

DLNA?
HTPC?
DirectShow?
Nah, far to much tech.

flexible, customizable GUI for tweakers
Obsessive taggers

You need something like this: http://www.sonos.com/experience/Default.aspx?rdr=true&LangType=1033
Presenting all the functionality without a single word of tech
http://www.sonos.com/music/default.aspx?rdr=true&LangType=1033
Still no tech
http://www.sonos.com/music/collection/default.aspx?rdr=true&LangType=1033
A little bit of tech

Now I detest websites not talking tech but lifestyle instead  but to position MC as a Media Center this is probably the way to go.

[JimH]

You're an audiophile.  Apparently, you don't care about DLNA or HTPC.  Some of our customers do.  I do.

[Vincent Kars]

Storing your audio on a NAS.
Let the NAS do the conversion to raw PCM
Have a low powered device pulling the audio from the NAS (using DLNA or a proprietary protocol like Squeeze) is a perfect audiophile setup.
In fact all the Linn streamers or SB’s work this way.

BTW: You can even find a couple of postings by me on this forum complaining about MC15 not able to talk to Twonky (a very popular DNLA server in the NAS world)….

What I was trying to get across is don’t start talking tech (DLNA, DirectShow, etc)
This makes no sense to a lot of potential users.
That’s why I mentioned Sonos as a example, they talk functionality without a single word of tech.

As far as I know, Sonos connects to a NAS using file sharing, not DLNA

[JimH]

Storing your audio on a NAS.
Let the NAS do the conversion to raw PCM
Have a low powered device pulling the audio from the NAS (using DLNA or a proprietary protocol like Squeeze) is a perfect audiophile setup.
In fact all the Linn streamers or SB’s work this way.

Sounds a lot like tech talk.  NAS, PCM, Squeeze, Streamer, SB.

BTW: You can even find a couple of postings by me on this forum complaining about MC15 not able to talk to Twonky (a very popular DNLA server in the NAS world)….

What I was trying to get across is don’t start talking tech (DLNA, DirectShow, etc)
This makes no sense to a lot of potential users.
That’s why I mentioned Sonos as a example, they talk functionality without a single word of tech.

As far as I know, Sonos connects to a NAS using file sharing, not DLNA

Latest builds should work with Twonky on a NAS drive.

[rick.ca]

You're an audiophile.  Apparently, you don't care about DLNA or HTPC.  Some of our customers do.  I do.

I think the Sonos site is a very good illustration of the essential quality that's largely absent from JRiver's existing and proposed web pages. They appeal directly to what really matters to virtually all potential customs, and encourage them to export further.

Claiming to be for audiophiles at the point if introduction, for example, is a huge mistake. What's an "audiophile"? If I don't think I'm one, I'm gone. If I do think I'm one, I'm instantly sceptical and demanding proof. I'm likely to settle on some "proof" that doesn't involve a full, fair trial of the program. Maybe the fact my audiophile friends haven't recommended it to me is proof enough.

Now look at how Sonos does it: "If you love music, you'll love Sonos." Well, who doesn't love music?! The entire target audience is effectively being told this is something for them, and being invited to look further.

I suppose a site like that requires a professional designer. As well as strong marketing and design skills, it probably takes some distance from the product. It's difficult for those deep in the trees to sell the forest. (How's that for a mangled metaphor?)