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Ok, here is what I want to be able to do:
Setup:
-Have a Revue googletv connected to my Denon receiver which is connected to the TV. Wife and me have a Samsung Galaxy Nexus
Denon is not networked, but am open to replacing the receiver (it is old, no HDMI switching etc.) with a networked one.
Question:
I want to be able to listen to pandora or Google Music app triggered from either of our SGN's playing through the living room speakers connected to my Denon receiver. I want to make it as simple as possible, so I don't want to power on my TV and then use Revue's Pandora or Google Music app. I want to be able to use the SGN phone's app. I know I can control the Revue with the Android app on my SGN, but without the TV being on, you can't see what's going on...
It would be great if google had airplay like functionality, so I wouldn't need to switch on TV, I can just goto the Pandora app (or Google Music) and select the Receiver to send it to and it would play it on the speakers connected to my receiver.
Any ideas?
So this is not possible then I guess?
Install Bubbleupnp on your phone's and the Revue. You will need the paid version. Set the Revue up as a renderer. Set your phones to use the Revue as a renderer. You won't need to turn the TV on, just pick the music on your phone and play through the Revue and Denon. You can even use your PC as your media server...
Hi all,
I'm thinking about buying a cheap Bluetooth audio receiver to hook up to my home stereo. I'd like to be able to play music files on my Nexus and have them play on my stereo via Bluetooth but I'm concerned about range.
Is the Nexus Bluetooth class 1, 2, or 3? I'd like to be able to queue up music from anywhere in my house, but typically Bluetooth range is pathetic.
Wifi would be a great option for good range, but I know of no Wifi audio receivers except Apple Airport, and that only works with specific apps. (I'd like all Android OS audio to be transmitted to the receiver).
Another option I suppose would to be to buy a media player box running something like XBMC, and just use the Nexus as an XBMC remote control. but this seems like an expensive option just to play music.
Bluetooth range is good, but not the best I have seen.
I use mine as a telemetry display for a Quadcopter.
(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ezio.multiwii)
If I fly down the street, I loose connection sooner than I did with my Archos 80 9G (Which was a pretty lousy tablet in most other ways), but the N7 (2013) has better range than other devices I have tried.
The play store states that it has Bluetooth 4.0:
https://play.google.com/store/devices/details?id=nexus_7_16gb_2013
scroll to Technical specifications
Thanks for the reply. Does your telemetry app only receive telemetry from the copter? Or can it also transmit to copter (control). I'm concerned with the transmit power, not it's receive sensitivity.
Bluetooth 4.0 indicates the version number but not the class. It's the class number that details the forward power of the transmitter. I can't find that spec anywhere.
Obveron said:
Thanks for the reply. Does your telemetry app only receive telemetry from the copter? Or can it also transmit to copter (control). I'm concerned with the transmit power, not it's receive sensitivity.
Bluetooth 4.0 indicates the version number but not the class. It's the class number that details the forward power of the transmitter. I can't find that spec anywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Nexus 7 is a Bluetooth class 2 device. Class 2 Bluetooth, as I'm sure you know, has a range of ~10 meters, or ~30 feet.
EDIT:
Hold on, don't quote me on the class. I'm pretty sure, but can't find a reliable source.
Johmama said:
The Nexus 7 is a Bluetooth class 2 device. Class 2 Bluetooth, as I'm sure you know, has a range of ~10 meters, or ~30 feet.
EDIT:
Hold on, don't quote me on the class. I'm pretty sure, but can't find a reliable source.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply Johmama. I also can't find on a source on that, but I agree Class 2 is good bet. Alas, that's not enough range for my purposes. Looks like I'll be looking for another solution.
Does anyone have any suggestions?
If the Nexus is generating the audio and streaming it to a receiver, the only thing I know that can do that over Wifi is Apple Airport or Google Chromecast, both are limited to working on specific apps (unlike bluetooth audio that is intergrated into the system audio driver).
If the nexus is merely acting as a Wifi remote control to a set top box playing music, I'd need the nexus to be able to view and manage the library, and playlist. I think XBMC remote can do this.
I also think there are tablet remotes for WDTV live. Although I don't think you can manage the library from the tablet.
BTW my music library is on my NAS, accessible through SMB shares.
There are a bazillion plugins for android for most media players/suites from VLC to Windows Media centre to XBMC to spotify etc. just check whether there's one that works with whatever software you're running.
I've also done the bluetooth streaming to PC trick before but found it an inferior solution as I can hold a much larger music library on the PC, and for some reason I couldn't get it to auto pair, had to manually connect each time. Since I can run any choice of media player + spotify on the loungeroom PC it was a no brainer, I much prefer the nexus as a remote control than actually the one doing the streaming (also saves battery). Finally using it as a remote means you can setup the same solution from your phone, partner's devices etc.
Just get a cheap bluetooth dongle and enjoy. I destroyed the headphone jack in my razr maxx hd and use bluetooth exclusively for any audio connections.
yeah, you're limited to about 30ft, but so what? If ya gotta be 30+ft from the stereo, you're likely doing something that won't have you interacting with the tablet anyway.
if worse comes to worse, use a cat-5 audio extender balun and add jacks in your house for the bluetooth dongle.
either that or buy an old WDTV box, use its optical digital audio output and remotely control it from the web interface (after installing WDlxTV firmware)
that stupid little $79 box is the greatest piece of home entertainment hardware I've ever purchased. not only can it stream 1080p over my network, but it also downloads and seeds torrents, runs a fileserver and SSH remote access so I can tap into it anywhere on the freakin planet (provided I have a decent internet connection at the other end)
You've got a problem? there is ALWAYS some hackable embedded linux device that can provide a cheap solution.
Thanks for the replies. 30ft bluetooth range is not enough. I have my audio system powering speakers all over the house and backyard.
wintermute000 said:
There are a bazillion plugins for android for most media players/suites from VLC to Windows Media centre to XBMC to spotify etc. just check whether there's one that works with whatever software you're running.
I've also done the bluetooth streaming to PC trick before but found it an inferior solution as I can hold a much larger music library on the PC, and for some reason I couldn't get it to auto pair, had to manually connect each time. Since I can run any choice of media player + spotify on the loungeroom PC it was a no brainer, I much prefer the nexus as a remote control than actually the one doing the streaming (also saves battery). Finally using it as a remote means you can setup the same solution from your phone, partner's devices etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi wintermute000, thanks for the suggestion. I currently don't have a HTPC hooked up to my home stereo, but that might be my best option. Do any music players for PC allow complete library browsing completely from their associated apps, or do the remotes only control playback?
I was hoping to attach a cheap box like wdtv or something that could access my music on the SMB shares on my NAS, While using an Android remote control for that device that can browse and queue songs from the library on the NAS. I've read that the XBMC remote app has the ability to browse the library, but I've heard its library browsing is buggy and I don't know if the app will see my SMB shares on the NAS.
Cheapxj said:
either that or buy an old WDTV box, use its optical digital audio output and remotely control it from the web interface (after installing WDlxTV firmware)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheapxj, I did some digging and discovered that the smartphone app for WDTV cannot navigate through my music library (stored on my NAS). It can control playback but I can't browse and queue songs and albums directly from the app (needs the help of the TV).
Is this also the case with the WDLxTV firmware. and the web interface?
Obveron said:
Thanks for the replies. 30ft bluetooth range is not enough. I have my audio system powering speakers all over the house and backyard.
Hi wintermute000, thanks for the suggestion. I currently don't have a HTPC hooked up to my home stereo, but that might be my best option. Do any music players for PC allow complete library browsing completely from their associated apps, or do the remotes only control playback?
I was hoping to attach a cheap box like wdtv or something that could access my music on the SMB shares on my NAS, While using an Android remote control for that device that can browse and queue songs from the library on the NAS. I've read that the XBMC remote app has the ability to browse the library, but I've heard its library browsing is buggy and I don't know if the app will see my SMB shares on the NAS.
Cheapxj, I did some digging and discovered that the smartphone app for WDTV cannot navigate through my music library (stored on my NAS). It can control playback but I can't browse and queue songs and albums directly from the app (needs the help of the TV).
Is this also the case with the WDLxTV firmware. and the web interface?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've run the itunes plugin for mediamonkey and it behaves exactly like itunes including library.
Spotimote lets me browse my spotify playlists normally too.
finally there is always itunes
After the porting of Bluetooth in Mobile Phones, data transferring has become really easy; just turn on the Bluetooth, Pair with other device and share the data while doing other stuff. You can even connect a Headset to listen to music using Bluetooth and in these hours of technology, Bluetooth is even available in all of the devices and with fast transferring speed too. However, when it comes to an Apple device, simply an iPhone, things are a lot more different.
Apple devices have Bluetooth ported in them, but it can only be used for connecting Bluetooth devices, not for ‘Transferring data’. So, if you have an Android device and you want to transfer data to an iPhone, you can’t just except to transfer data using Bluetooth. However, Wi-Fi can be used to do such a thing, all you need is to download an Application and start transferring.
iPhone-android
How To Transfer Media Between Android and iPhone
Open App stores on both the devices, and Downlaod Photo Sync.
Android version is free with Ads, while on iOS you need to pay $2.99.
Make Sure both the devices are connected to the same Network.
Open the app and Select the Photos and Videos.
Once you have selected them all, Tap the Red Sync Button on the Top.
After that Choose the Transfer mode, in this case it is Phone/Tablet.
The app will then search for the nearby devices with Photo Sync installed on them.
Now all that left is to tap the device to which you want to share with and Transfer the files.
If by any chance App does not search for devices automatically, you can configure the IP manually.
The Files will be transfered via Wi-Fi connectivity, hence noticeably faster than Bluetooth.
Mohamed Nagy said:
After the porting of Bluetooth in Mobile Phones, data transferring has become really easy; just turn on the Bluetooth, Pair with other device and share the data while doing other stuff. You can even connect a Headset to listen to music using Bluetooth and in these hours of technology, Bluetooth is even available in all of the devices and with fast transferring speed too. However, when it comes to an Apple device, simply an iPhone, things are a lot more different.
Apple devices have Bluetooth ported in them, but it can only be used for connecting Bluetooth devices, not for ‘Transferring data’. So, if you have an Android device and you want to transfer data to an iPhone, you can’t just except to transfer data using Bluetooth. However, Wi-Fi can be used to do such a thing, all you need is to download an Application and start transferring.
iPhone-android
How To Transfer Media Between Android and iPhone
Open App stores on both the devices, and Downlaod Photo Sync.
Android version is free with Ads, while on iOS you need to pay $2.99.
Make Sure both the devices are connected to the same Network.
Open the app and Select the Photos and Videos.
Once you have selected them all, Tap the Red Sync Button on the Top.
After that Choose the Transfer mode, in this case it is Phone/Tablet.
The app will then search for the nearby devices with Photo Sync installed on them.
Now all that left is to tap the device to which you want to share with and Transfer the files.
If by any chance App does not search for devices automatically, you can configure the IP manually.
The Files will be transfered via Wi-Fi connectivity, hence noticeably faster than Bluetooth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bump is an easier way to transfer
Maybe ShareIT is the best.
I'm using SHAREIt and it works very fine with me
Also I have another app name Software Data Cable and I'm using this one to transfer from & TO PC efficiently
You can also use Picxer. It works similar to a messenger but sends the pictures in full quality. And they are automatically saved in gallery. Works well for me
iPhone: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.jhdev.picxer
Android: https://apps.apple.com/app/id1618995920
I tried looking up this device on xda, but nothing yet, so i thought i'd post here first.
since it uses an audio jack, do you guys think you could plug this into your cars aux port, and stream using your phone? or is it dependent on wifi only?
It is wifi, not bluetooth. Might work in guest mode. I'm very interested in the device, but want to use if for DLNA streaming from my home server if at all possible.
Hi,
It also has dual output connector: analog 3.5 jack and optical spdif... equal to Apple Airport Express.
Anybody see if it has native FLAC support? I haven't found an answer to that yet. This may be a device I just have to buy and try...
Note10.1Dude said:
Anybody see if it has native FLAC support? I haven't found an answer to that yet. This may be a device I just have to buy and try...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I'm still waiting for an answer as to if it supports 320kbps for high quality streaming from spotify. That would be the main advantage of it over a bluetooth receiver.
I'd love to know if it does support that if anyone can find out!
FLAC is listed as supported media for google cast, so it SHOULD work.
https://developers.google.com/cast/docs/media
does anybody have any idea if Chromecast Audio would work as a car audio solution? I tried using a 1st Gen Chromecast but ran into the issue of the device's requiring an actual internet connection (not simply a wifi connection). My guess is that Chromecast Audio will similarly require an internet connection, but am wondering if there is a workaround?
mcnoggin said:
does anybody have any idea if Chromecast Audio would work as a car audio solution? I tried using a 1st Gen Chromecast but ran into the issue of the device's requiring an actual internet connection (not simply a wifi connection). My guess is that Chromecast Audio will similarly require an internet connection, but am wondering if there is a workaround?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of talk, no conclusion about this yet. Some suggest tethering the phone should work. I've got one on order, should know next week.
cool, let us know! =]
I am working on getting mine to work in my car today. I bought it yesterday and didn't have much time to mess with it. I had it working as I tethered through my phone and using my gfs phone to play music but I'm going to see if I can get it to work without tether.
Got it working but not perfect
So the main thing is IT WORKS!!
Its just buggy getting it started but after that it plays fine for the whole ride. Here is what I did (notice: must have working tether on your phone to get it to work)
I am running a nexus 6 with Chroma ROM. Also I'm using Spotify to play my music.
Steps I did to try to get it working.
1. I first went through the setup process on my gf galaxy s5 and updated the chromecast through my tether.
2. I hooked everything up in my car.
3. Turned on my phones WiFi and press the button on the Chromecast first and then connect to the WiFi that my Chromecast gives out.
4. Then open the Chromecast app and make sure it sees it. (Mine still says it needs to be setup even though it already is. Don't worry about that)
5. Open Spotify and in the devices area it should say nearby cast or something like that. Try to connect and it will ask for a pin. Ignore that and hit cancel.
6. Then turn on your hotspot on your phone. It will then show your Chromecast name correctly in Spotify and you can connect and play music. (Must leave your tether on)
All in all I got it working without having a separate wireless connection to connect both of them and have audio playing through my car audio. I tried it twice now and it has worked.
Also the Chromecast app will not show its connected even though you're playing music through it. I have a screenshot of it at the bottom.
Nice - I have a ground-loop issue in my car and can't charge my phone the same time it is plugged into the stereo - this might solve that. I'm using mine to add streaming to a bedroom system, but if I like it, I may replace the streamer box on the home stereo, which cuts out on FLAC from time to time.
UPDATE: you do not have to go through all those steps everytime. I've tested further and found that it is much easier.
After you already have it setup in your car, to connect do these steps:
1. Turn on your phones WiFi and connect to your Chromecast audio.
2.After a few seconds turn your hotspot on(do not turn off the WiFi at any time).
3. After a few seconds Spotify will see your device and work perfectly.
OK,
I have had my Chromecast Audio working for the last day. I am using it with BubbleUpNP to stream audio of of my DLNA server on my home network. Working well, more reliable than the Soundmate that I was using. Going to order a micro-toslink SPDIF cable to use my on DAC. It isn't a DLNA renderer, so it won't work with software that is expecting UPNP/DLNA, but BubbleUpNP is working well.
I got one of these today, and the Hardware is really nice. It has a decent DAC, good WiFi, Dual (Analogue, Optical) output, so all good on that front. It also plays 24bit 192K FLAC from Qobuz without trouble. You should however make sure to turn the "High Dynamic Range" setting on in the CC app!
However, I don't like the way it's handled. I'm used to running Logitech Media Server with am Odroid U3 as Server and a couple of Raspberry Pi units with Hifiberry DAC/Digi/Amp addon boards, and with that setup starting music in the mornings is easy. I turn on the power, and that's it, after the Pi has booted, the music starts playing, choosing the last Playlist or Webradio Station I used when I turned it off. No need to even touch my phone.
With Chromecast I have to jump through a lot of hoops to actually get it playing any music, and that's it's biggest failure IMHO. It won't automatically reconnect, it won't resume playing where it left off, it's basically just a better kind of BT dongle (using Wifi instead of BT).
This is a huge waste of potential! Sadly, I cannot use this neat piece of Hardware with Logitech Media Server, because it doesn't work as a DLNA Renderer, and LMS can't cast to Chromecast (since that only works from Android/iOS/Chrome OS).
So, while this COULD be great, it's currently badly underachieving. Maybe someone will work out a way to fix this by rooting CC and installing Squeezelite on it, of by some other means. There is always hope!
CommanderROR said:
I got one of these today, and the Hardware is really nice. It has a decent DAC, good WiFi, Dual (Analogue, Optical) output, so all good on that front. It also plays 24bit 192K FLAC from Qobuz without trouble. You should however make sure to turn the "High Dynamic Range" setting on in the CC app!
However, I don't like the way it's handled. I'm used to running Logitech Media Server with am Odroid U3 as Server and a couple of Raspberry Pi units with Hifiberry DAC/Digi/Amp addon boards, and with that setup starting music in the mornings is easy. I turn on the power, and that's it, after the Pi has booted, the music starts playing, choosing the last Playlist or Webradio Station I used when I turned it off. No need to even touch my phone.
With Chromecast I have to jump through a lot of hoops to actually get it playing any music, and that's it's biggest failure IMHO. It won't automatically reconnect, it won't resume playing where it left off, it's basically just a better kind of BT dongle (using Wifi instead of BT).
This is a huge waste of potential! Sadly, I cannot use this neat piece of Hardware with Logitech Media Server, because it doesn't work as a DLNA Renderer, and LMS can't cast to Chromecast (since that only works from Android/iOS/Chrome OS).
So, while this COULD be great, it's currently badly underachieving. Maybe someone will work out a way to fix this by rooting CC and installing Squeezelite on it, of by some other means. There is always hope!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use it with your DLNA server, but you need to manage the Chromecast with BubbleUpNP on your phone. Not perfect, but more stable than the renderer that I was using.
I got mine yesterday and I must say that I am very happy with it. One thing though, when I play music via YouTube (via casting screen/audio in the CC app) the sound volume is really low. It is much higher when I play music via Spotify. Is there a way to boost the output from the phone? I tried the hardware buttons of course
Workaround for the Volume being too low: Use a cast-native app like Spotify to crank up the Volume.
CommanderROR said:
it's basically just a better kind of BT dongle (using Wifi instead of BT).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I see your point, but IMHO it's more than just a WiFi equivalent of a BT adaptor because, whilst you CAN stream from your device/locally with the right app, most "standard/consumer" use cases have the Chromecast streaming content direct from the Internet which is controlled by the app in your device. Your device doesn't do the streaming, saving power, you don't have to stay in range, etc. If I start steaming using Spotify as the app, for example, the Chromecast will continue playing my playlist even if I close Spotify on my device.
True. However, it still lacks a lot of features other multiroom systems offer. This little dingle has loads of potential, but Google will have to work hard to make it shine...
I've got a JY-UQ124 = RK3188 Quad Core, 16 GB Flash, 1024*600 Screen and have a rather odd problem. When on my home wifi, Google Play Music on my head unit behaves normally and allows me to see and play music via streaming (I have All Access) or playlists that I've downloaded. When I am tethered to my phone (Nexus 6P, T-Mobile), Google Play Music only allows me to play downloaded playlists and will no longer stream music. All radio stations/playlists that aren't downloaded are grayed out. Has anyone had that (really weird) issue? I'm in the USA with Google Play Music All Access.
I'm on a Nexus 6P w/ T-Mobile as well, and I don't have any problems streaming music via tethering.
Does your unit actually have an internet connection when tethered? IE, are you able to access websites via Chrome or Google play, etc? It sounds like for whatever reason your device isn't getting a web connection when tethered.
Update: I actually experienced this problem today. Head unit connected to the internet via tether (confirmed with web browser and other apps), but Google Play Music acting like it's in "Downloaded Only" mode and only allowing playback of cached songs. Reinstalling the Google Play Music app fixed the problem.
I had a similar issue on my head unit. Despite being connected via WiFi shared from my phone I had to turn off "Stream only on Wifi" for it to work.