Thread: Lumin Android app

Lumin Android app 5.0 adds playlist backup to Google Drive for Lumin streamers.

In response to a reviewer criticizing our Lumin Android app:

We have committed to greatly improving our Android app for the past few years. I use Lumin Android app daily on my Xiaomi Poco F2 Pro (2020) phone, and have been doing so for a very long time. I avoid using our iOS app these days unless I have to, because my iPad Air has become really slow and is due for a replacement. Stability and functionality wise the Android app is now completely on par with or exceeds iOS.

Our latest version Android app version is 5.1 dated Sept 14, 2022 for now. We have not experienced critical issues by our team - if we had, we would have fixed it a long time ago already.

We even purchased the absolute cheapest phone Samsung offers in 2022, to make sure it runs on a low spec phone.

We recognize no one single UI style pleases everybody. So our app strategy is to support the widest range of app as possible. We support alternative UI including Spotify app, Tidal app (Tidal Connect for our newer models), and Roon. Our hardware is even compatible with some competitor apps including those from Linn and mConnect. To a less extent even JRiver and Audirvana may work. If you don't like Lumin app for any reason, there are alternatives that can still work on Lumin hardware.

That is all I want to say about our apps.

I have tested Samsung Tab S8 which works normally as long as you use your finger instead of the S Pen (which actually makes things difficult in our use case due to the difficulty of keeping it touching the screen at all times when you need to perform a drag operation - I cannot even explain it so that my coworkers can truly understand so I won't try explaining further here). The only problem is at the S8 price you may be better of buying an iPad.

I have been looking for a low price Android tablet that we can procure, test, and recommend to users as an alternative to iPad. The Redmi Pad looks promising.

I don’t have many problems with either the iPad or the Android (on phone) apps. Most of the problems I’ve had were related to Qobuz integration. Otherwise, they seem to work reliably as intended.

I can’t say I love the interface - I find it a bit cluttered and not always intuitive - but I also don’t have any major criticisms. It does what it’s supposed to do, the feature set is comprehensive, and it’s at least as reliable as other apps I use on either platform.

If I had one choice to improve it, that would be more user interface personalization choices, regarding “what’s placed where”, size of the areas. Minor quibbles, really, not easily implemented, and probably would work against reliability.

Originally Posted by wklie

In response to a reviewer criticizing our Lumin Android app:

We have committed to greatly improving our Android app for the past few years.


That is all I want to say about our apps.

I hate using a grotty little phone that goes to sleep after 30 seconds to control my music. What's the Lumin Windows app like? Thanks. Peter

Didn’t realize Peter, that Linn App will work with Lumin. Pretty cool! Checking it out a bit now.

Some limitations of course, so far, mostly around managing the equipment itself. But managing music seems pretty nice, with the Roon-like ability to search across local libraries and streaming services. Will have to see if it’s something I prefer to use for the day-to-day, or not.

Originally Posted by Engelsione

Peter ,The reviewer was not criticizing the app, he was pointing out that 275 reviewers did in the Android marketplace giving and overall rating of 2.5

This information above should be shared to those 275 reviewers who left the positive, negative and neutral feedback in the Google marketplace.

LUMIN - Apps on Google Play

Updating this information to THEM will satisfy their concerns and a higher app rating will eventually increase

Sorry if I was asking a question not related to the intention of this thread. However I had not read the "review" - only the OP's posting here.

So, the Android app has been improved thanks to members here. That's progress. However for me, as a potential buyer of a Lumin (not Linn!) streamer, I'd like to know if a Windows control app is available for their streamers, for the reason already stated. Can anyone help here? Is there a Windows control app, and if so, is it up to scratch, or does one have to subscribe to Roon or use some third party software to control Lumin? Many thanks.. Peter

Originally Posted by Hear Here

I'd like to know if a Windows control app is available for their streamers, for the reason already stated. Can anyone help here? Is there a Windows control app, and if so, is it up to scratch, or does one have to subscribe to Roon or use some third party software to control Lumin? Many thanks.. Peter

There is no Windows version of Lumin app. However, you can use Android emulator (e.g. MEmu) to run Lumin Android app at your own risk, or use third party software such as Linn app for Windows, Roon or JRiver, etc.

I'll need to test Windows 11 to see if its Android support works or not, and report here.

Originally Posted by wklie

...
I'll need to test Windows 11 to see if its Android support works or not, and report here.

Hi Wklie, it works fine !

Originally Posted by wklie

Lumin Android app 5.0 adds playlist backup to Google Drive for Lumin streamers.

Hi Peter

Could you please provide step by step instructions on how to perform a playlist backup and restore to and from Google drive? I activated the backup option but not sure where the backup is stored in Google drive or whether the backup process has been completed.

Thanks for your help

Harry

Simply saving a playlist will upload to Google Drive. To test the restore function, you'll need another Android device, install Lumin app, login to Google Drive. Wait for a few minutes, then you'd see the saved playlists.

Hi Peter

Unfortunately still can't see the playlist in my google drive. Should i see a progress in the app, when playlist being saved to google drive?

No, there is no backup progress display. It is done in the background.

You will not actually see them from Google Drive as it behaves like an app setting (hidden) rather than a user document. You will need a second Android device from Lumin app to verify it.

If you don't have another Android device, and you're willing to take the risk of losing the already saved playlists, you may uninstall and reinstall the app, then relogin to Google Drive. That should restore the saved playlists.

Hi Peter

Thanks. I was expecting that I need to copy the playlist manually to another Android device. But actually everything is automatic, I see right away the same of playlist collection on my Samsung S20 Ultra. Perfect!

Best regards

Harry

It may not be obvious to most users, but for a long time, Lumin app on Android looks slightly less good than on iOS. We spent a significant amount of effort to improve the font rendering and fine tuning for Lumin Android app 5.9.0, such that the visual quality is now basically on par with iOS.

Originally Posted by wklie

It may not be obvious to most users, but for a long time, Lumin app on Android looks slightly less good than on iOS. We spent a significant amount of effort to improve the font rendering and fine tuning for Lumin Android app 5.9.0, such that the visual quality is now basically on par with iOS.

This is all far from encouraging. If Lumin can't (or doesn't want to) develop their app so Lumin streamers can be controlled on any platform the user has at his disposal (including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android), then why don't they have a word with those nice people at BluOS.com who will license Lumin to use the first-class BluOS app that works on all these platforms and more. I would not consider any streamer that doesn't come with a simple-to-use and comprehensive app that works out of the box on my Windows PC. I don't want a streamer where one has to subscribe to Roon to get this.

Hopefully this wouldn't put you out of a job, but it'd certainly get more Lumin streamers sold to happier customers than they seem to have now! Sorry to put this so bluntly but I've tried a number of streamers, but the apps provided by none has approached the ease of use as ones that use BluOS for control

Originally Posted by stefano-mbp

BluOS is a hw/sw platform … that means that Lumïn should change its hw … it seems a pointless request, and btw… BluOS is not DSD compatible and it isn’t UPnP capable
If you like BluOS then keep a NAD/Node streamer … as you do per your signature

Sorry but I have no idea what you are talking about with those abbreviations! I don't know how or whether BluOS deals with DSD or UPnP, but as far as I'm aware, an app merely acts as a controller that introduces the server's music files to one's streamer as requested by the user and it never touches the signal iteself - surely the way most protective of the signal.

BluOS is now the control app for several brands (see under Devices here - BluOS – Premium Multi-room Music Software) and I suspect others with join the club, particularly now that it's no longer exclusively used by NAD and Bluesound. But I'm no IT expert!

Originally Posted by stefano-mbp

Unfortunately BluOS is not only a software app but it is a hardware platform too and you cannot use anyway BluOS app with hardware different from BluOS hardware platform.
It is like DTS-PlayFi for Audiolab or MConnect/ConversDigital for Mytek, GoldNote and others or Sense /Innuos.
Therefore suggesting to use an app like BluOS is totally a nonsense for Lumïn.
Regarding DSD and UPnP … Google is your friend, search and study a little bit, being informed is the first thing before suggesting impossible solutions

I'm not suggesting that switching from an existing app to BluOS would be easy for Lumin, but several other brands have recognised the benefit of switching from a generic app or their existing ones to BluOS. It could be for all I know, that BluOS can adapt their app for the different hardware that other brands have developed.

Other brands using (or who have announced they will shortly be using) include Monitor Audio, Dali, Peachtree, Cyrus, Roksan and PSB, in addition to NAD and Bluesound. Whether Lumin could adapt by something as simple as a firmware upgrade or not, I have no idea, but these other brands have adapted and adopted BluOS to control their kit, presumably in recognition of its obvious benefits from the user's point of view.

Originally Posted by stefano-mbp

It should be like asking Ferrari to use Porsche engine, a total nonsense

From what I can see, I don't see any high end companies using Bluesound. Lumin - at least in my mind - is a much higher end product than any of the current ones I see using Bluesound.

Originally Posted by stefano-mbp

It should be like asking Ferrari to use Porsche engine, a total nonsense

Let’s take your tongue-in-cheek analogy a step further

Ferrari (Lumin) has an unsatisfactory engine - users find it awkward and it only works on certain roads (platforms).

Porsche (BluOS) has an engine with more power, that users like and it goes anywhere. What’s more Porsche has made its great engine available to other car brands. Shouldn’t Ferrari consider eating humble pie and talk with Porsche about an engine deal? Keep smiling

Preliminary support for differentiation of Qobuz / Tidal work/disc (i.e. multiple symphonies or discs under a single album) is available as Lumin Android app beta. Let me know if any Android user likes to try it.