Who has Nuvo Music Port?

[forgets]

I see that the Nuvo MP software (a limited version of AC's MCS-EX) doesn't have Pandora or Rhapsody integration, but the MCS-EX does.

Can you share any insight, Autonomic? Will this integration be limited to the upcoming Nuvo MP Server, to boost sales? Or will the limited Nuvo software be upgraded?

You can tell us, we're good people here.

The AC MCS-EX licensing is limited to 'Professional Installers', per the brochure. How much will you sell individual licenses for, Autonomic? Need any 'free' healthcare?

Just to test things out, i installed Autonomic's media control software (not nuvo's version) and it works with pandora already.. the text shows up in the nuvo keypads and everything.. and it allows skipping songs and all, and selecting which stations you want to play.. You can thumbs up or down a station through the web interface (which looks a lot slicker) but not through the keypads, but still it's very nice being able to stream internet music on the nuvo with metadata to the keypads.. One caveat though before anyone tries to switch over.. you can't register the software.. i tried using my nuvo key and it'll take it as a valid license, however it'll strip out the ability to use pandora or sirius.. the tab where you input your username / password is removed.. so you have to unregister it to get it back.. Kind of a shame, i know autonomic says that the fuctionality will be added to the nuvo software this month, however it already works through their non nuvo branded software, it's also a lot less buggy since it seems the nuvo software is based off an older version of the media control software 2.04945 or something and autonomic's is at version 2.1XX, much quicker at loading the track / artist names.. and less prone to crash... (nuvo's software willl "lose" the serial port settings around 1 of every 4 times i reboot the computer, then i have to add them again. )

Seems like the nuvo key is a limited type of license to autonomic's software.. though, i don't see why autonomic doesn't just drop the nuvo branded versions and simply let our keys work with their current version of the software which already has pandora / sirius (which they've said will be included in the next nuvo upgrade).. maybe i'm getting ahead of myself, maybe that's what they'll do, (i'm hoping).. though i'm thinking maybe Nuvo is a reseller of the autonomic software, in which case, we're at nuvo's discretion as to when and if the updates come.. it kind of sucks to always be a few versions behind what the program is actually at just because it's got the nuvo branding.
Again I'm hoping if nuvo is just using a reseller's license with autonomic, then i'm hoping they intend on keeping up with the updates for a while, or let us pay a small 'fee' to upgrade to autonomic's version if we want, since that seems to get regular updates.


i hope autonomic or nuvo will chime in more often as to what's going to go on with this, so the rest of us will know.. right now running autonomic's software with the music port is working out really nice..though i've only got 12 days left on the trial license.

 

[royalj7]

Nice experiment forgets. I too wish Autonmic would interact more on the board here. Their own forum is a bit, shall we say, sparse. As much as I can't wait for Pandora, I don't think Nuvo will just let us use Autonomic's base software, just don't think that will ever happen. I really wished we could thumbs up/down through the keypad...

 

[Neurorad]

I suspect Autonomic keeps busy.

I'm afraid he doesn't have much say in what Nuvo decides to do. I think Nuvo realizes they shot themselves in the foot with the MP - who would buy the Nuvo MP Server, if you can do the same with the MP?

I'm concerned Nuvo will withhold Rhapsody and Pandora support with the MP, and reserve that functionality for the new MP server. I doubt few will buy the server, regardless.

 

[forgets]

I suspect Autonomic keeps busy.

I'm afraid he doesn't have much say in what Nuvo decides to do. I think Nuvo realizes they shot themselves in the foot with the MP - who would buy the Nuvo MP Server, if you can do the same with the MP?

I'm concerned Nuvo will withhold Rhapsody and Pandora support with the MP, and reserve that functionality for the new MP server. I doubt few will buy the server, regardless.

I think with the upcoming MP server nuvo's just trying to keep their bases covered, not everyone is going to want to have to put together a computer and configure it to work with the Music port, some people are just going to want a 'plug it in and it works' type product.. plus from what i've seen its neatly packed into a 1u space, not easy to do. From all the conversations i've had with folks over at nuvo they've all seemed really nice, and the music port is still a really new product, so i think they're more than likely going to support it with updates for a while..

I've seen plenty of companies make the wrong move and anger their base of customers, but nuvo's been top notch with their customer support so far, so i'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt here and hope they come through (with updates and support).. this is i think their first time dealing with an outside company as far as i know.. since autonomic is handling the software and nuvo is doing the actual hardware.. the music port..

Lets hope autonomic chimes in more in this thread so we can keep giving them suggestions as to things we'd like with the music port, hopefully they'll be able to implement them.. also anyone know if nuvo is active in any forums? i think i've seen someone before in a/v forums who works at nuvo.. maybe someone at cocoontech who's seen one of them around can give them a heads up to this thread so they know about our concerns.

 

[Neurorad]

Nuvo Tech has been active on remotecentral.com, and I think I've seen him on AVS too. He really seems to be someone in tech support, as opposed to Autonomic/Michael.

If you search CEPro New Releases for Nuvo, you can obtain the email addresses of Nuvo management.

Perhaps Autonomic Controls wishes to maintain some control over their own sales - if a customer/installer wants Rhapsody/Pandora, then a purchase of Autonomic Controls' software would be necessary - it's an easy enough workaround of this MP issue.

I'd like to know what Nuvo has planned.

 

[felixrosbergen]

forgets: what is autonomics own software's GUI like? The Nuvo version's Client software is pretty limited in my opinion. My main gripes are:

- No way to exit when using a touch screen..only way to exit appears to be right click and then select exit.
- From the keypads you can browse individual tracks, but not from the GUI
- No way to add/edit/delete playlist through the GUI
- When looking at the FM and XM sources the RDS text is shown. But no cover/track/album art. Within CQC there is a very simply little driver that goes online to XM and then through some other magic pull up more extensive track info and a cover/alum art picture with it...this is very slick. Seems like the infrastructure is available...don't understand why they don't do it. They just show a lame 'No Art Available' image.

 

[forgets]

forgets: what is autonomics own software's GUI like? The Nuvo version's Client software is pretty limited in my opinion. My main gripes are:

- No way to exit when using a touch screen..only way to exit appears to be right click and then select exit.
- From the keypads you can browse individual tracks, but not from the GUI
- No way to add/edit/delete playlist through the GUI
- When looking at the FM and XM sources the RDS text is shown. But no cover/track/album art. Within CQC there is a very simply little driver that goes online to XM and then through some other magic pull up more extensive track info and a cover/alum art picture with it...this is very slick. Seems like the infrastructure is available...don't understand why they don't do it. They just show a lame 'No Art Available' image.

i'm not in front of my system so i can't answer all the questions yet,
per their manual If you are running Mirage as a local client (not in a web browser), the Exit button will be available, and you can use it to close the Mirage application.

here's the manual for mirage, http://www.autonomiccontrols.com/documents...g%20Started.pdf

so you can get an idea of what else it can do, i just started messing around with different skins. I'm not sure about adding editing playlists, i'll check that later.. for the cover art for XM, can't answer that one, don't have XM.. I'll see if i can do it through FM stations though.. if anything something to suggest to autonomic next time they drop back in.

On a side note, i emailed two people at nuvo, customer service and the product manager (who handles future product enhancements) to see what they're going to do about pandora support, and if there was anything else in the works that we might not know about in terms of upgrades to the software..

Skins aren't really a dealbreaker to me though, i can understand nuvo would want their branding over the software, but i'd really like the internet radio functionality, as well as any bugfixes autonomic has made from the version nuvo is on to the version autonomic is at now.

FYI, i've seen autonomic's software going for $200 at one of their partners sites.. maybe they could give some people discounts on licenses for their software if people wanted skins or premiums that nuvo might not want to offer. Who knows, I'll await any info or comments from nuvo or autonomic on any of this.. if i get an email response from nuvo then i'll paste it into this thread

 

[pmaley]

We at NuVo have been made aware of this thread and want to respond to a few specific questions. First, we are hard at work developing our Music Port Server (MPS4), which will eliminate the need for a third-party PC in order to integrate Music Port functionality into the NuVo system. Internet streaming capabilities will be part of the initial release of the MPS4. When the MPS4 starts shipping in the fourth quarter, we intend to migrate many of the MPS4 features back into the existing Music Port. This software upgrade will be available free of charge. We originally provided a release date of July for the Music Port software upgrade, but it will now be available 4th quarter to match the shipping date of the MPS4. We want to iron out as many bugs as we can before the release and we feel that this is the most efficient way to get both of these products to market.

 

[royalj7]

NuVoPete,

Thanks for stopping in and for the update!

On a side note, this is a great example of not making decisions based on proposed features. I just recently installed the Music Port and had talked to Nuvo before purchasing and they indeed said July for the Pandora support. That influenced my buying decision pretty heavily, as I would have waited at lest two months if I know it was going to be 4th quarter. No one to blame but myself, but I roll my eyes when manufacturers state "Oh we are working on that and will be in a future release." Should have listened to my initial reaction.

Autonomic and Nuvo:

I had opened up a support ticket last week on the double songs in playlist problem and have not heard back from anyone. I sent the log file with the database attached and then responded to the canned email asking about my system and contact info.

 

[Autonomic]

I had opened up a support ticket last week on the double songs in playlist problem and have not heard back from anyone. I sent the log file with the database attached and then responded to the canned email asking about my system and contact info.

I looked up your ticket and it is being worked on. It was submitted on Wednesday and did get delayed due to the holiday weekend. Someone will get back to you by tomorrow.

 

[Neurorad]

Hey, thanks for the info, Pete. That's great news! Of course, what you state is 'the plan' - I understand things can change.

Michael, should we use AC's software, instead of Nuvo's? Let's see what you're made of. (sorry about the weird wink, it's all we have.)

 

[felixrosbergen]

NuvoPete:

Thanks for stopping in...I've bought an E6G, T2FXG and MP this january and have been playing with them since...Generally things work well, but i've had to call tech support a few times. Prof. Killowatt seem to be very knowledgeble and a nice guy, he's a great help.

I called with an issue where if the MP is connected via serial to the E6G the tuners in the T2FXG start power cyling every few minutes when they are not in use. This means that are essentially always on and thus not very energy efficient (one of the reason i got the E6G over the GC) and my other concern is that the power relays will get many mnay cycles on them (maybe like 100 a day) and may thus prematurely fail. If this happens to occur right outside the warrenty period i woudl be quite upset. Tech support said he would note the issue but no ticket number was given or anything like that. I have gone through extensive troubleshooting on this issue, isolating keypads, disconnecting anything that may have undue influence, even the MP is not connected via serail to the server during the test. In the end the only things connected are all Nuvo gear (not even autonomic software) connected through Nuvo NuvoNet patch cable (which I checked with a LAN tester) and this still occurs. Since it doesnt power cyle when the tuners are in use it doesnt hinder my actual usage, but i would think it's something that needs to get fixed.

Autonomics / Nuvo: How do i check if newer MP firmware or MCS software is available? The software doesnt seem to check itself and Nuvo's Prozone doesnt seem to have it.

In any case, thanks to both for checking in on this forums. There is several MP users here, and i think most of use are working on integrating the Nuvo equipment into a wider automated home. In my case I plan to use CQC to do this further integration.

 

[zavodny]

Thanks -- didn't mean to take the other thread off topic. For those of you that have an E6G and Music Port- other then the issues w/ trying to use Pandora are you happy / satisfied w/ your Nuvo system, Music Port and keypads? Do you have a large music collection and if so how cumbersome is scrolling through things on the keypads? Any issues w/ playing FLAC through the music port? Any insight would be appreciated. My remodel is all wired up for the E6G, key pads,etc... Hope I have made the right decision to go the Nuvo route...

 

[felixrosbergen]

Zavodny:

I think it depends on what your goals are...

I really like being able to scroll through the songs on the keypads....it is fairly smooth. If you don't care about the keypad control then maybe there is some other choices out there...but Music Port is a descent solution that works without too mcuh tinkering (at least my setup was smooth, but royalj's wasnt...).

I don't know about FLAC..I think i mentioned in another thread...if Windows Media Player can play it thats a good start, but i dont think it's a full gurantee that it will work...mainly getting the metadata into the MP woudl be the trouble part..but who knows..it may work..

Overall i like the solution..but think the GUI can use some more work and royalj and I have been trying to figure out how to get some control over the MP without the keypads...

Maybe NuvoPete or Autonomic can chime in... can an external automation program (we're primarilly interested in CQC here) send commands to the MP/MCS to go the next song, pause, etc. It's obviously possible since they have their flash GUI do it..but is there a documented protocol so we can have somebody write a CQC driver for it? At the moment i have good control through CQC over my T2FXG tuner (very good control actually) and the E6G itself, but none over the MP sources.

 

[Neurorad]

Talk to Dean R. to find out what 'partnering' entails. Maybe Michael will release the code, after a confidentiality agreement is signed. But it may be wishful thinking. There isn't much in it for ACS - look at the list of ACS 'partners' on their site - all pretty much high rollers. Although there are many CQC users who use Nuvo, I think many use the CQC engine to provide music files.

I wonder how many would migrate to MP/ACS if CQC supported it. Pandora and Rhapsody are pretty attractive carrots.

Michael, care to enlighten? Interested in 'free' partnerships? Lots of talented CQC programmers out there.

"Free? Yeah, I think I can swing that." - H. Simpson