Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion What's New At Axiom Designing The Axiom Airplay Speaker

Andrew, the specs look good! Regarding your planned DLNA/UPnP implementation will it support:
- gapless playback (SetNextAVTransportURI), and
- For Synchronised Playback (Whole House / Multi Device) and you using the V2 DLNA additional expanded guidelines or antoher method?
- What Declared Audio Support do you plan, eg:
http-get:*:audio/L16;rate=44100;channels=1:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get:*:audio/L16;rate=44100;channels=2:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get:*:audio/L16;rate=48000;channels=1:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get:*:audio/L16;rate=48000;channels=2:DLNA.ORG_PN=LPCM
http-get:*:audio/mpeg:DLNA.ORG_PN=MP3
http-get:*:audio/x-ms-wma:DLNA.ORG_PN=WMABASE
http-get:*:audio/x-ms-wma:DLNA.ORG_PN=WMAFULL
http-get:*:audio/mp4:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO
http-get:*:audio/3gpp:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO
http-wavetunes:*:audio/x-ms-wma:*
http-get:*:audio/wav:*
http-get:*:audio/x-wav:*
http-get:*:audio/flac:*
http-get:*:audio/x-flac:*
http-get:*:audio/mp4:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO_320
http-get:*:audio/3gpp:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ISO_320
http-get:*:audio/vnd.dlna.adts:DLNA.ORG_PN=AAC_ADTS_320

Thanks
Nathan

Speaking of UPnP, I hope you will make certain that this feature is *not* exposed to the public internet, but instead strictly limited to the local network. Steve Gibson of grc.com provides perhaps the best advice (https://www.grc.com/su/UPnP-Rejected.htm):



Here's what you need to know about Universal Plug n' Play (UPnP):

UPnP is a “zero-authentication” (no passwords required) system for allowing networked devices to discover and easily connect with each other on a private local network.

Additionally, software such as Skype and BitTorrent, and gaming consoles, which wish to be “seen” on the Internet, are able to use UPnP to open “holes” through the protection normally provided by routers in order to allow “unsolicited” traffic to enter.

THE HUGE MISTAKE IS: No part of UPnP was EVER MEANT to be exposed to the EXTERNAL public Internet. It was only ever meant for private local control of devices and routers. Its exposure gives malicious hackers direct access to the inside of any exposed private network.



You probably know all this, but just in case...

Apologies for the confusion Tom (and anyone else)!
Basically, as you point out, the flinging or "pushing" audio from another device where the audio files reside to AxiomPlay puts all control in the hands of that device, including volume.

If you want to play an audio file from a USB drive or your NAS, the WebUI (web user interface) is required in order to display the files as a library structure (using existing file tags), select which files to play and in what order (playlist functionality is included), start, stop, pause, and control volume. The same applies for internet radio where you can select a channel from a library and then start playback and adjust volume. The reason this must be done via the WebUI is that AxiomPlay is now acting as the SERVER for the files, so it must also be the controller.

The WiFi hotspot is a really neat feature and something we are very proud of. Many times someone will want to take their AxiomPlay portable speaker to the dock, away camping, or maybe even to the garage where a WiFi network is not available. With the built-in hotspot you can still playback from any device, or control AxiomPlay with the WebUI simply by connecting to the hotspot WiFi address! It also works in an "auto-fallback" mode so that if your home's WiFi network goes out for any reason, you can keep on streaming music from your phone or tablet.

We are planning to have a preliminary version of the WebUI on our site soon. This will allow you look at the layout and see how the display will render on your specific device.

Thanks,

Andrew

Correct! And anyone can join it, so your friends can start streaming their files from their own devices!

Hi Nathan,

We are still working on the final parameters, but I can say that gapless playback is supported and will likely be a preset that can be selected if desired.

The first version of AxiomPlay will not allow synchronisation, but the plan is to make that possible in a future release.

Pretty much all audio file formats can be played back, except for encoded multi-channel formats like Dolby Digital or DTS. We are still in the process of testing as many file formats as possible, and so far I have not run into a file type that has not played correctly.

Thanks!

Andrew

For sure UPnP will be locked down and not accessible outside of your local network.

Thanks,

Andrew

Nice work, Andrew.

What Tom said.



Can't wait. I'm going to be merciless.

Oh no. Does this mean a return of the Medusa Hand Bag? The Humanity!!!!

Since i'm going to go on the well deserved assumption that this will sound good, the feature set sounds like exactly what I'm looking for Andrew. I'm looking forward to to it's release.

Bummer, that is the part that is missing from all other DLNA devices on the market to date (well apart from sonic quality that I'm sure Axiom will deliver). In all my testing of DLNA devices, device drift is horrific and makes whole house audio unworkable. My understanding is that DLNA V2 spec allows this but needs a network based time clock that seems to have so far not been taken up by anyone.
Thanks
Nathan