Subsonic Radio

Because I’ve been listening to Subsonic for some time now, I’ve adopted a "take what comes" attitude. I usually just listen, taking a glance every so often at the Now Playing list to see what is coming up. Every so often I hear an unfamiliar track and go to the Now Playing list to see what it is. Unfortunately, if the track was not very long, Now Playing is already showing the next track, and I have to go to the history page to see the name of the track that is currently playing. I have no idea if this “lag time” problem happens to anyone else, or if it because of a quirk in my computer. I do know that in the past you could see a selection of past tracks in the Now Playing section. Is this no longer an option with the updated software, or was the change the result of feedback from people who found it irritating to see what they just missed? (I can certainly relate to that!)

This isn’t a complaint. I LOVE SubsonicRadio! However, I know you are always “tweaking” the site, and thought I’d toss that in the hat for possible consideration in the future.

Thanks for all you do!

this was broken up with the release of Subsonic 2.0 (the current version of the site you're now viewing. I believe this was brought up in another thread somewhere. I'll see if I can find it, cause Sub said why he separated the pages.

There's not much that can be done about the "lag". The Now Playing and History pages are based on server time. Because the stream gets sent from my place, to the relay, then buffers in your player that's why there's the delay.

What player are you using? Titles do show up in Winamp. You can always check the current title there.

As far as splitting the pages, two reasons: People felt the Now Playing / History page was a little too long. Second, people found the way it worked confusing. How the tracks moved down the list. People couldn't figure out what was coming up next.

If anybody has a suggestion of how to combine the two to work better I'm all for it.

Actually I think the current configuration works well, i don't see any need for changes

keep up the good work sub!

I agree with Dearly Deaparted. I frequently have to toggle between the Now Playing and History pages to find the name of a track that has caught my ear. I understand that the lag can't be helped. Perhaps a Previous Track, greyed out, just above the Now Playing track would add this functionality without being too confusing.

I like the current setup, I think it is pretty self explanitory. I mean when something says history it means what has already happened. When it says next up, its pretty simple what is going to come. Not to be mean but I just took this for common sense. I like the longer list on next up when someone requests and a longer history so you can look back farther.

Breton,

You're not being mean, and I'm not an idiot. My only point is that because of the time lag, what shows as "Now Playing" is not always what is currently playing. If a track is short, or I want to see what it is when it is a ways into the song, the "Now Playing" track will actually be showing the next track that will be playing. So in order to find out what I am actually hearing, I have to navigate to the history page to see it. For me, it was easier when it was all on one page. That's all I'm saying.

Best regards,

Inkydog

don't forget, you can always check your player to see what's currently playing, if it's a track over like 30 seconds, that is. If it's a smaller tracks (like some of the "Pal Mickey" tracks, for instance), it'll show in your player, but very briefly.

inkydog wrote:My only point is that because of the time lag, what shows as "Now Playing" is not always what is currently playing.

This isn't entirely correct. It depends on how you look at it.

The Now Playing IS what is playing on the server. The Lag is how long it takes the information to get to you and buffering.

Of course you are correct, Sub. I guess it's like the Theory of Relativity. From my viewpoint, they don't sync. I understand the reasons for it and am fine with it. All I am saying is that I have to sometimes navigate to the history page to find out what I am listening to. I liked it better when upcoming, current, and historical tracks were all on one page, but I am obviously in the minority here. Oh well!

inkydog wrote:Of course you are correct, Sub. I guess it's like the Theory of Relativity. From my viewpoint, they don't sync. I understand the reasons for it and am fine with it. All I am saying is that I have to sometimes navigate to the history page to find out what I am listening to. I liked it better when upcoming, current, and historical tracks were all on one page, but I am obviously in the minority here. Oh well!

You're maybe in the minority but not alone. I preferred having the recent history on the same page as Now Playing and didn't find it confusing at all. Now, I seldom navigate to the History list; it's just not very often that I'm in a position to stop and navigate to a new page, and then go back to Now Playing. Call me lazy, but I just don't do it very often, unless I'm really curious about a track.

Anyway, it's a very, very minor quibble in the whole scheme of things. 99 percent of the time, I'm a very happy SR listener!

Any ideas how I can have both on a page yet not have it confusing? Perhaps both lists side by side as opposed to flowing down? Perhaps a preference for users to choose what they want to see and how they want to see it?

How about having the upcoming and current track in color and the history tracks in greytons fading away to nothing?

subsonic wrote:Any ideas how I can have both on a page yet not have it confusing? Perhaps both lists side by side as opposed to flowing down? Perhaps a preference for users to choose what they want to see and how they want to see it?

If it is possible to let people choose their preference, that would be the best route, as there are differing opinions on what people want to see.

As to your previous question, Sub: I listen with RealPlayer these days. My Windows Media Player stopped working on the site some time ago. I think there was some upgrade to the company firewall. I would think that the firewall is adding to the lag time issue, too... Alas.

Thanks for all you do, Sub! You do an awesome job!

Sometimes in the "Now Playing" a song will be stuck on 0:01 unless you refresh the screen. I dunno if that will help your problem.