New streaming services on dedicated audio streamers

aoxomoxoa

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The recent introduction of new streaming services, eg Presto Classical, Apple Classical, has set me wondering whether the manufacturers of dedicated audio streamers (Innuos, Auralic etc) can add these services to existing streamers. I'm interested to know whether it's a straightforward firmware or OS upgrade, or whether there are hardware considerations that would render it difficult or impossible. I presume there are also commercial licensing aspects that need to be addressed.

Does anyone know how it all works?
 
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newlash09

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The recent introduction of new streaming services, eg Presto Classical, Apple Classical, has set me wondering whether the manufacturers of dedicated audio streamers (Innuos, Auralic etc) can add these services to existing streamers. I'm interested to know whether it's a straightforward firmware or OS upgrade, or whether there are hardware considerations that would render it difficult or impossible. I presume there are also commercial licensing aspects that need to be addressed.

Does anyone know how it all works?
From the little I know about computers in general, I would assume it is a firmware fix after the appropriate licensing.
 
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JANDL100

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Presto Classical
"Fairly remunerating artists and composers using a pay-per-second model"

I like the sound of that, I shall definitely investigate.

Spotify has seriously pissed me off with its new and totally useless home page format, maybe it's time to change.
 
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Jubal

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Anyone who doesn’t allow software updates for new features and services should be avoided like the plague. It would be built in obsolescence from day one.
 

simon g

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This is not really about software updates, per se. It's more a matter of the Application Program Interface (API) and having/allowing access thereto.

For example, Apple does not allow this. Apple Music is thus only available on Apple devices. This may change, but that is the situation at present.

If API access is available then it's down to licensing, etc and then, finally, a software update to the streamer concerned to allow access to the 'new' service.
 

aoxomoxoa

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This is not really about software updates, per se. It's more a matter of the Application Program Interface (API) and having/allowing access thereto.

For example, Apple does not allow this. Apple Music is thus only available on Apple devices. This may change, but that is the situation at present.

If API access is available then it's down to licensing, etc and then, finally, a software update to the streamer concerned to allow access to the 'new' service.
Thanks, that's useful to know.
 

jamesrfisher

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This is not really about software updates, per se. It's more a matter of the Application Program Interface (API) and having/allowing access thereto.

For example, Apple does not allow this. Apple Music is thus only available on Apple devices. This may change, but that is the situation at present.

If API access is available then it's down to licensing, etc and then, finally, a software update to the streamer concerned to allow access to the 'new' service.
Apple is also on Sonos, but otherwise that's what I understand.
 
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Jubal

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This is not really about software updates, per se. It's more a matter of the Application Program Interface (API) and having/allowing access thereto.

For example, Apple does not allow this. Apple Music is thus only available on Apple devices. This may change, but that is the situation at present.

If API access is available then it's down to licensing, etc and then, finally, a software update to the streamer concerned to allow access to the 'new' service.
It’s a good point. The software update itself is last in the chain. Although I do struggle to understand why some streaming services don’t want to be on every major platform or make their APIs more accessible etc.
 

aoxomoxoa

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It’s a good point. The software update itself is last in the chain. Although I do struggle to understand why some streaming services don’t want to be on every major platform or make their APIs more accessible etc.
You'd think it would be a no-brainer, especially for services like the new Presto classical offering which majors on hi-res as one of its USPs. On the other hand, as a small outfit they may not have the bandwidth to get into negotiating licence deals with a lot of hardware manufacturers. Hopefully will come with time - I read on another forum that they're aware of the need to provide high sound quality through other platforms.
 

bencat

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There are different reasons for not allowing across to your API for Apple it is only allowed if they do the work and you pay a very hefty license fee . Amazon is because they do not like outside companies having any access to their network and they do not have the people to deal with the API hand shake issues . There idea is most use Amazon Music via Amazon echo at all so nothing is needed . They have added some large mfg but they tend to be AV like Denon and Onkyo not small streaming companies . Smaller and in particular new streamers it will be money and trying to get payment via license from the streamer mfg which is additional cost them for no return so back of the queue .
 

bobovox

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The Idagio classical service is also available on SONOS but on other platforms you have to use Airplay, Chromecast or Bluetooth so I canned it and went back to Qobuz.

Would love to see Presto working with some of the specialist audio companies to get their service integrated with specialist streamers. I like the business model, the web interface is nice and have always had good service from them when ordering CDs and downloads. Sorry I can't shed any light on how it all works.
 
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jamesrfisher

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Ah, that's interesting. I didn't know that; it's been a decade or more since I had any Sonos kit.

Will it stream lossless Apple Music, or just AAC, do you know?
This from a sonos forum

Playing Apple Music directly from the Sonos app streams at 256 kbps AAC. And, as far as I know, AirPlay 2 is about the same quality.

If you have your music library stored on a computer or NAS, you can add your music library to the Sonos app and stream your lossless ALAC or FLAC files at a higher quality (up to 24-bit/48kHz).
 

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