PocketMusic 2.5 Released

[Janak Parekh]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.pocketmind.com/news.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.pocketmind.com/news.htm</a><br /><br /></div>PocketMind continues to improve their PocketMusic player. The newest version includes: <ul><li>Landscape Mode with large buttons and controls added (see below) <li>PocketMusic Today item added - control music playback directly from Today screen <li> Greatly improved equalizer quality and performance on XScale processors <li> Added option to continue playback from the last place in the last played file when PocketMusic starts <li> Ability to scan all folders (local content) or selected folder on device to find all supported media files and add them to playlist</ul> <img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/parekh-200301023-PocketMusic.gif" /><br /><br />I've been looking forward to some of these -- especially the music resume and the folder scaning features. :)

[szamot]

now how about streaming mp3's over wifi at your local hot spot from your home server. I thought that "open url" was supposed to be supported in the upcoming version of Pocket Music. Bummer. Does anyone know?

[Don Tolson]

I went to the web site, but there's no mention of how to 'upgrade' and when you download the package, the executable in the .zip says it's 2.0. I didn't try to actually run it, since I was worried I'd lose my 'bundle' status and actually be downgrading from 2.1.

[Janak Parekh]

Don,

If you own a copy of the bundle, you should have received an email with upgrade instructions. I got one, for what it's worth. :)

--janak

[jeffmd]

hmm, no streaming? Guess i'll keep conduits player. ^^

[dmeineck]

Having installed this from the e-mail i recieved from pocket music, i noticed that even the landscape mode is skinnable - nice.

[juni]

Having installed this from the e-mail i recieved from pocket music, i noticed that even the landscape mode is skinnable - nice.

Does it still only accept winamp skins or is there a way to make custom skins only for PM (like Conduits pocket player)?

[dmeineck]

It uses a collection of custom images and an XML file to specify the location etc. This is located inside:

\Program Files\Pocket Music\PMSkins\Landscape

I hope this helps and doenst annoy others...here is the text from the xml to help juni:

&lt;skin name="Landscape Skin" provider="PocketMind">
&lt;preload>
&lt;bitmap alias="IMG_BACKGROUND" file="back.png"/>
&lt;bitmap alias="IMG_PLAYPAUSE" file="playpause.png"/>
&lt;bitmap alias="IMG_BUTTONS" file="buttons.png"/>
&lt;bitmap alias="IMG_SHUFREP" file="shufrep.png" />
&lt;bitmap alias="IMG_SLIDER" file="Slider.png" />
&lt;bitmap alias="IMG_STATUS" file="status.png" />
&lt;/preload>

&lt;layout>
&lt;background
src="IMG_BACKGROUND"
x="0" y="0"
w="240" h="320"
/>

&lt;timer>
x="20" y="214"
w="26" h="76"
orientation="90"
font="Tahoma"
point="18"
weight="700"
color="000000"
&lt;/timer>

&lt;titlebar>
x="126" y="22"
w="27" h="250"
orientation="90"
font="Tahoma"
point="18"
weight="700"
color="000000"
&lt;/titlebar>

&lt;iconstatus>
x="132" y="285"
w="23" h="25"
&lt;stop src="IMG_STATUS" x="0" y="25"/>
&lt;play src="IMG_STATUS" x="0" y="50"/>
&lt;pause src="IMG_STATUS" x="0" y="0"/>
&lt;/iconstatus>

&lt;checkbutton>
id="PLAYPAUSE"
x="157" y="150"
w="82" h="90"
&lt;state1>
&lt;released src="IMG_BACKGROUND" x="157" y="150"/>
&lt;pressed src="IMG_PLAYPAUSE" x="0" y="0"/>
&lt;/state1>
&lt;state2>
&lt;released src="IMG_PLAYPAUSE" x="0" y="90"/>
&lt;pressed src="IMG_PLAYPAUSE" x="0" y="180"/>
&lt;/state2>
&lt;/checkbutton >

&lt;button>
x="168" y="241"
w="68" h="68"
id="PREVIOUS"
&lt;released src="IMG_BACKGROUND" x="168" y="241"/>
&lt;pressed src="IMG_BUTTONS" x="0" y="68"/>
&lt;/button>

&lt;button>
x="168" y="80"
w="68" h="68"
id="STOP"
&lt;released src="IMG_BACKGROUND" x="168" y="80" />
&lt;pressed src="IMG_BUTTONS" x="0" y="136" />
&lt;/button>

&lt;button>
x="168" y="11"
w="68" h="68"
id="NEXT"
&lt;released src="IMG_BACKGROUND" x="168" y="11" />
&lt;pressed src="IMG_BUTTONS" x="0" y="0" />
&lt;/button>

&lt;button>
x="14" y="14"
w="58" h="57"
id="MODE"
&lt;released src="IMG_BACKGROUND" x="14" y="14" />
&lt;pressed src="IMG_SHUFREP" x="0" y="0" />
&lt;/button>

&lt;checkbutton>
x="13" y="77"
w="58" h="57"
id="REPEATONOFF"
&lt;state1>
&lt;released src="IMG_BACKGROUND" x="13" y="77"/>
&lt;pressed src="IMG_SHUFREP" x="0" y="57"/>
&lt;/state1>
&lt;state2>
&lt;released src="IMG_SHUFREP" x="0" y="171"/>
&lt;pressed src="IMG_SHUFREP" x="0" y="285"/>
&lt;/state2>
&lt;/checkbutton>

&lt;checkbutton>
x="13" y="140"
w="58" h="57"
id="SHUFFLEONOFF"
&lt;state1>
&lt;released src="IMG_BACKGROUND" x="13" y="140"/>
&lt;pressed src="IMG_SHUFREP" x="0" y="114"/>
&lt;/state1>
&lt;state2>
&lt;released src="IMG_SHUFREP" x="0" y="228"/>
&lt;pressed src="IMG_SHUFREP" x="0" y="342"/>
&lt;/state2>
&lt;/checkbutton>

&lt;slider>
id="VOLUME"
x="56" y="212"
w="39" h="85"
orientation="90"
&lt;released src="IMG_SLIDER" x="0" y="0" w="39" h="19" mask_color="00FF00" />
&lt;pressed src="IMG_SLIDER" x="0" y="19" w="39" h="19" mask_color="00FF00" />
&lt;/slider>

&lt;slider>
id="SEEKBAR"
x="73" y="23"
w="39" h="165"
orientation="90"
&lt;released src="IMG_SLIDER" x="0" y="0" w="39" h="19" mask_color="00FF00" />
&lt;pressed src="IMG_SLIDER" x="0" y="19" w="39" h="19" mask_color="00FF00" />
&lt;/slider>

&lt;/layout>
&lt;/skin>

[juni]

I see, but that is only valid for the landscape skin. I was wondering if it generally has its own skin format, since using winamp skins makes them a bit fuzzy.

[dmeineck]

Ah, i really am not sure on that one, you would have to ask the authors. I have noticed the degradation in resolution on winamp skins though!

[Pixelnose]

Any word on improved sound quality? I went to pocket player only because it sounded better. Any word on if this has been improved? (I mean just the original sound, not equalizers)

[Jereboam]

I don't know about Conduit's player, but I've just reinstalled Pocket Player because I liked the landscape option and today plugin, and must confess it sounds much better than my £250 Creative Zen jukebox...but the jukebox does have 20 gigs...dammit why can't just one device to it all....it's sooo frustrating not to mention seriously damaging to my bank balance... :)

Nevermind. I think it also depends very much on the headphones you use.

Is there anything else about Pocket Player (other than perceived sound quality, don't get offended, I just mean that everyone is different when it comes to musical quality and one player might favour your ears over another and vice versa for me) features-wise that makes it better than Pocket Music? I certainly prefer its looks, I think going for a Winamp-esque look was a mistake personally.

J'bm

[dmeineck]

I certainly find an improvement on the sound quality if listening through the mini speaker of my axim if use the headphone setting on the equaliser.

[dhpss]

Wishlist:

1-Please make the plugin today transparent (no background) and smaller (1 line perhaps!) see Todayplayer free plugin here: http://www.todayplayer.com/

2-Have hardware button mapping for Landscape mode switching (this mode is design for use in car, isn't it? but to activate it we have to select by tapping small buttons first?!!!). It can not be selected from Today plugin.

[Jereboam]

Wishlist:

1-Please make the plugin today transparent (no background) and smaller (1 line perhaps!) see Todayplayer free plugin here: http://www.todayplayer.com/

2-Have hardware button mapping for Landscape mode switching (this mode is design for use in car, isn't it? but to activate it we have to select by tapping small buttons first?!!!). It can not be selected from Today plugin.

Both good points, especially number one.

J'bm

[Pixelnose]

Interesting that you'd get better sound out a pda headphone out rather than the Zen's headphone out. I remember a guy at a headphone site finding with dismay that the headphone out of his Sony nz90 beat his ipod. Assuming you're listening to the same mp3's, are the headphones the same? I usually use either ety er6s or Senn px200s with my ipod. The er6 predictably shows how crap a pda headphone out is, but with the px200 there's a good synergy.

[Jereboam]

Yes, it is disappointing, and strange.

Same mp3 files, same headphones, a pair of Sennheiser HD497's which are no means audiophile quality but are certainly a very decent pair of cans (btw, I like those folding PX200's might have to get me a pair for travelling with) and I have to say, I still reckon the iPaq sounds better.

Hang on, I'll have a quick compare now...ok here we go, a highly subjective quick listening test on some Linkin Park tracks I know really well...

All my tracks are encoded with LAME at --alt standard, plenty high enough quality for most purposes.

1. There does seem to be a slight background hiss with the iPaq, ie the Zen seems to offer a cleaner sound.
2. The sound coming from the iPaq is definitely more powerful, even without the system or player bass enhancements...I assume this has to do with anal French-sponsored limitations on the output from portable music devices/players. There's just no comparison...volume-wise the iPaq kicks the Zen's butt.
3. Equaliser control is vastly superior on the iPaq with Pocket Music. Ok, I know it's all software based and any equalisation is basically just distortion, but I can get my music to sound the way I like it on the iPaq. The EAX options on the Zen basically suck.
4. The high notes (cymbals etc) on the iPaq are much brighter than on the Zen...on the jukebox they sound a little muffled, makes no difference if flat or equalised.

So, with a quick test, I have to say that if it weren't for the fact that the Zen holds 20 gigabytes of music, runs for about 6 hours, and the slight hiss on the iPaq, I prefer the iPaq for listening pleasure.

J'bm

[ctmagnus]

1. There does seem to be a slight background hiss with the iPaq, ie the Zen seems to offer a cleaner sound.

My NJB3 has a noticable hiss as well but I don't listen to it as much anymore since I got my new iPaq, which also has a noticeable hiss. The 1900 series iPaqs are capable of a lower volume setting than the 5xxx series. Any 19xx series owners care to comment on the hiss on these devices?

[Pixelnose]

The Senn 497's are nothing to sneeze at - comparing them to the Grado sr60's I found them more pleasent to listen to. The Grados had an over-bright forward, harsh and unnatural sound. The 497's from my brief listen had much of the same accuracy but grooved more. Looking back, I shoulda gotten the 497's.

To make you want the px200 more, they have a darker presentation and you probably are not going to hear any backround ipaq noise. I've had two pair (one sold, then regretted it) - the first pair took a while to break-in, sounding harsh before calming down. But this current pair exhibited much of the broken-in sound right out of the box.

As for pda headphone outs, from my pda history, the best is the Clie 770c, but the ipaq 2210 might at least tie it. I don't have the 770c anymore, so I can't a/b them. The two worst were the Tungsten and Loox. The Tungsten because of its overly harsh cheap sound, complete with backround noise, and the Loox because of more backround noise than any device ever.

I can't really compare the ipod to the 2210 since firstly, I use different phones, and secondly, I use aac on the ipod. Also the ipod suffers from the Euro-volume cap. :(

Yes, it is disappointing, and strange.

Same mp3 files, same headphones, a pair of Sennheiser HD497's which are no means audiophile quality but are certainly a very decent pair of cans (btw, I like those folding PX200's might have to get me a pair for travelling with) and I have to say, I still reckon the iPaq sounds better.

Hang on, I'll have a quick compare now...ok here we go, a highly subjective quick listening test on some Linkin Park tracks I know really well...

All my tracks are encoded with LAME at --alt standard, plenty high enough quality for most purposes.

1. There does seem to be a slight background hiss with the iPaq, ie the Zen seems to offer a cleaner sound.
2. The sound coming from the iPaq is definitely more powerful, even without the system or player bass enhancements...I assume this has to do with anal French-sponsored limitations on the output from portable music devices/players. There's just no comparison...volume-wise the iPaq kicks the Zen's butt.
3. Equaliser control is vastly superior on the iPaq with Pocket Music. Ok, I know it's all software based and any equalisation is basically just distortion, but I can get my music to sound the way I like it on the iPaq. The EAX options on the Zen basically suck.
4. The high notes (cymbals etc) on the iPaq are much brighter than on the Zen...on the jukebox they sound a little muffled, makes no difference if flat or equalised.

So, with a quick test, I have to say that if it weren't for the fact that the Zen holds 20 gigabytes of music, runs for about 6 hours, and the slight hiss on the iPaq, I prefer the iPaq for listening pleasure.

J'bm

[Jereboam]

The 497's were definitely a good buy...and for digital audio absolutely perfect, lightweight and comfy. I was looking for the Grado's as well but found these first... ;)

The PX200's just look really neat, and if as you say they match well with the iPaq/Zen then they are on my list...I'll have to order them from somewhere, unlikely to find them in Moscow.

Never played with Palm audio much, but now I'm going to steal my better half's Zire 71 to have a go... :D

Other forums have it that the iPod is actually inferior in sound quality to the Zen even...so it looks like PDA's really might be better, depending. I almost got a Loox over the iPaq 5450, now I'm glad I didn't.

How do you find AAC vs mp3? Theoretically lower bitrates should give equal quality to higher bitrate mp3's but would like to hear a user-based comparison rather than the usual technical listening tests...

I think we're about to hijack this thread... :D

J'bm

[Steven Cedrone]

I think we're about to hijack this thread... :D

Don't worry, big brother is watching... :wink:

Steve

[Jereboam]

I think we're about to hijack this thread... :D

Don't worry, big brother is watching... :wink:

Steve

:D Have I gotten myself on your list of people to watch?

J'bm

[Jereboam]

We are, in fact, extolling the virtues of said program in effect, so we should be ok.... :D

J'bm

[Kati Compton]

Yes, but talking about whether or not you're on topic isn't on topic, so let's get back to the discussion.

[Jereboam]

No, I think I'm finished now thanks. :roll:

[jeffmd]

what is it with people making today screen entrees that arn't transparent? The most unsightly thing on my pocket pc is a huge grey bar that is part of my ambicom bluetooth driver. It is solid grey when the card isn't inserted, and a slightly more colorfull white when it is plugged in.

[mike6024]

what is it with people making today screen entrees that arn't transparent?

Well, it isn't the easiest thing in the world to do. I've had the darndest time(yes, I said darndest) trying to get my little Today Weather app to be transparent and it just won't do it. I think I did something weird with all the windows I used though.

Anyway, does anyone else get popping/short muting while playing mp3s with PocketMusic? I get it for a few seconds during almost every song. By the way, I store all my songs on my SD card, but WithMP3 doesn't have this problem, so I don't think it's the card that's the problem. So anyone else get this?

[maikii]

They seem to have eliminated the downloadable demo version? Or is that coming later?

Of course there is still the freeware version of Pocket Music available for download, but that doesn't have all the features we have been discussing. This new version of Pocket Music with Feature Pak is available for sale on the Pocketmind website for $19.95, but I see no downloadable demo version of it.

Anyone know what's going on? They had a demo of the previous version.

[Pixelnose]

Yeah I use the ipod simply because it's a convinient way of having _all_ my cd's in the same place. I've also heard the zen-ipod debate, and apparently there's people on both sides of the fence - and as I'm a Mac user, it's ipod for me. :)

How do I feel about aac? Well, comparing my 192k mp3 to 160aac, I'm getting about the same quality. Aac sounds smoother, not as metallic. Otherwise, from what I've read, mp3 apparently takes the prize at higher bitrates. I only have er6's and not 4p's, so if I need higher quality, I'll use my full-size cans and a proper source. :D

How do you find AAC vs mp3? Theoretically lower bitrates should give equal quality to higher bitrate mp3's but would like to hear a user-based comparison rather than the usual technical listening tests...

I think we're about to hijack this thread... :D

J'bm