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Idea for USB Mass Storage Device management
I've got this, completely ripped from Winamp, idea about external devices that support the MSD/USD (Mass Storage Device/Universal Storage Device) "protocol".
I'm talking about external harddrives you move between different computers, cell-phones (no phone I've used so far has heard of MTP, and i've used a few), cheap/simple MP3-players, multi-media devices (portable movie-players, PSP, MP4-players) and similar.
The idea is pretty much as simple as it gets. When I am running winamp/starting winamp with a storage-device it does not recognize (probably by serial number) it asks me if it is a portable media device that I want to manage using winamp.
If I choose to do that, Winamp plants an xml-file containing my settings for that device (relative path to Music folder, naming conventions, file-types accepted, synchronisation settings et.c.) in the root path. The next time I plug the device in and Winamp "senses" it, the XML-file is read and any auto-sync is performed, library updated et.c et.c.
Most of these mechanisms already exist in Songbird through core features and add-ons and should be pretty easy (if you know programming, I'm just a high-level .NET player) to implement.
I'm talking about external harddrives you move between different computers, cell-phones (no phone I've used so far has heard of MTP, and i've used a few), cheap/simple MP3-players, multi-media devices (portable movie-players, PSP, MP4-players) and similar.
The idea is pretty much as simple as it gets. When I am running winamp/starting winamp with a storage-device it does not recognize (probably by serial number) it asks me if it is a portable media device that I want to manage using winamp.
If I choose to do that, Winamp plants an xml-file containing my settings for that device (relative path to Music folder, naming conventions, file-types accepted, synchronisation settings et.c.) in the root path. The next time I plug the device in and Winamp "senses" it, the XML-file is read and any auto-sync is performed, library updated et.c et.c.
Most of these mechanisms already exist in Songbird through core features and add-ons and should be pretty easy (if you know programming, I'm just a high-level .NET player) to implement.
I’m frustrated
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Inappropriate?Some additional thoughts.
How about planting a "portable" library on the device? So that when I move the device to another computer, or reboot to Linux, I get to keep all my ratings and stuff. Optional setting of course (we should be able to choose whether we want to use device disk space for a mini-library or not) contained in the above mentioned XML-file.
I also noticed a complete lack of upcoming USB-support in the Roadmap. Pity.
http://wiki.songbirdnest.com/Roadmap
I really do hope the Songbird team will re prioritize this issue and at least put it on the roadmap for future releases. I'ts a good player otherwise and I'm sure someone will come up with an add-on, but this type of basic device support should be considered a core feature.
I’m still frustrated
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Inappropriate?I would like to add to this idea. My player of choice at the moment is WinAmp, but as soon as I find a player where I can add settings per device, I will change player.
Here is the functionality I want:
As suggested, when the portable device is first detected by Songbird, I want Songbird to ask about it. If I choose to add it, Songbird should give me a new section in the settings where I can decide a few things like what format that should be transferred to it.
I like to rip my CD collection to FLAC. Seriously, I consider this the ONLY sensible thing to do. Lossless and open. But this gives me a problem with my player that only accepts MP3. So I need Songbird to automatically convert songs that I choose to put on the player. Totally transparent.
The portable player should have it's own "playlist" that I can update even if it is not connected. Then, when I connect it, Songbird does a sync to make sure the songs I want are there and those I deleted are gone.
This sync should be restricted to the music folder. If I record a memo using the built-in mic, I do not want it to get deleted on the next sync. Podcasts are a separate issue that I want to address in another topic.
I’m still looking, but hopeful.
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This is one of the best points
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I totally agree that the sync should be the specified device' "Media Library" folder.
I wonder if your "playlist" is somewhat the same idea I have about the device-specific library? I'm thinking that when Songbird get acquainted with a new device and have the XML(?) library added to the assigned Media Folder that it (Songbird) remembers all the playlists and media added to the device' library and sync settings and you can view the contents on the device when last connected. If the device is disconnected, the media files should be "offline" but the syncable playlists should remain editable.
IMO, the autoconversion is a nice feature if you need it and although FLAC is a nice format it's still arguable if it is "the ONLY sensible thing to do" for more than archiving and computer playback if you look at how "people" expect their devices to work (plug-in, sync, unplug) and how the speed of doing so outweighs sound-quality. Especially considering that most people I know of still use the bundled headphones for their devices.
Personally I use FLAC for archiving, but keep my music library in MP3 to keep it simple for the entire family when administering our various music players.
But please do add your voice to these topics aswell:
http://getsatisfaction.com/songbird/t...
http://getsatisfaction.com/songbird/t... -
Inappropriate?Sorry. I should have specified that it is the only sensible thing to do - for me. I really do not want to keep a double set of files and I need something that is lossless. And the best way to ensure that I can use these files in the future is that the format is open source. And I really do not want to rip my CD collection more than once.... Waaaaay too much work! :-)
This is also why I would like transparent conversion. A few minutes longer in "sync" is not a problem for me or my family. And this wil be less and less of a problem as the speed of the computers increases. I think it is good to have a long time view of the work that is being done as well as immediate functionality. I also think that conversion libraries will get faster and faster and it will not be too long until the speed of conversion is so fast that you will not notice it too much.
Anyway - I do not see any problem starting to implement this now. You can still keep your library as MP3 if you want while I can keep mine as FLAC only and it will be converted on sync.
Network players like Slimdevices already support Flac and the same does all computer programs we use for playback in this house.
I’m still hopeful!
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Inappropriate?I think the lacking of a simple synchronizing tool for every USB-based Device within Songbird, should be a much bigger issue on the roadmap and within the idea-lists.
I know nothing about programming, but for iTunes on windows there is this tool called iTunes Agent. You have to install .NET Framework, but it works easy and great. I synchronize my Nokia 3110 Classic phone with the tool. Never a problem at all. Should be possible to create something for Songbird as add-on too i think?
I did already mentioned the idea towards the iTunes Agent developers, maybe they com up with something.....
I’m confident
