PocketMusic 1.2 Released!

[Steven Cedrone]

<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.handango.com/PlatformProductDetail.jsp?siteId=311&platformId=2&productType=2&catalog=0&sectionId=0&productId=51695&urlOnly=1' target='_blank'>http://www.handango.com/PlatformPro...51695&urlOnly=1</a><br /><br /></div>You've seen Jason talk about <a href="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7438&amp;highlight=pocketmusic">PocketMusic</a> before. PocketMind has released an update for their popular MP3 player...<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/pocketmusic.gif" /> <br /><br /><br />In new 1.2 version:<br /><br />• Hardware keys mapping to scroll playlist/move selected playlist items up or down.<br />• Added MP3 file reading cache. This feature is very useful for IBM Microdrive users and wireless network users.<br />• Improved equalizer algorithm.<br />• Option to show file names or file names with full path in the playlist.<br />• Improved recognition of some rare mp3 file formats.<br />• Minor bugs fixed.<br /><br />And remember: PocketMusic is freeware!!!

[surur]

Not to complain, but the music player is in fact cripple-ware, not freeware.

There is no facility to map the volume to a hardware button, which is obviously included in the paid version $19.99.

That of course and a pile of other much less essential features (such as playlist organization and ability to change id3 tags etc)

It looks like a lovely player, but these things should be made clear to people so they wont waste their time downloading it if they dont intend paying $20 to get basic essential functionality.

Surur

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Looks great. I would consider paying the price...

...if it had supported OGG (there's no mention of OGG support anywhere).

BTW, Steve, you're a front page poster now?

[Janak Parekh]

Not to complain, but the music player is in fact cripple-ware, not freeware.
That's your opinion, of course. If you don't feel the "freeware" version has enough features, and you're not interested in buying the expansion pack, then by all means use a different player. It says very clearly on the Handango page what the "freeware" version doesn't contain. We had a long discussion on this last time, and we should avoid repeating it -- if it wasn't obvious what the differences were I would have a problem, but this is not the case.

BTW, Steve, you're a front page poster now?
Haven't you noticed all his posts this week? He was "promoted" so that I wouldn't be all alone here. :)

--janak

[Skoobouy]

Perhaps this question has been asked before, but what effect does the equalizer have on the Jornada 560? I suspect increasing the bass would cause music to sound scratchy. Am I wrong?

[Wojo]

Not to complain, but the music player is in fact cripple-ware, not freeware.

There is no facility to map the volume to a hardware button, which is obviously included in the paid version $19.99.

That of course and a pile of other much less essential features (such as playlist organization and ability to change id3 tags etc)

It looks like a lovely player, but these things should be made clear to people so they wont waste their time downloading it if they dont intend paying $20 to get basic essential functionality.

Surur

you have to understand that they give the player away so they don't have to pay royalty $$$ for the MP3 engine. Once you sell the player you have to pay for the engine (unless they wrote their own) and from our research that can cost anywhere between $25,000 to $100,000. A little expensive for a PPC application.

So they give you the player, that took many hours to develop, so you can have the options that are provided in the expansion pack. If you like it pay the $20 for the expansion pack to support the company. If you don't like it uninstall the app and continue using the crippled Window Media player.

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

BTW, Steve, you're a front page poster now?
Haven't you noticed all his posts this week? He was "promoted" so that I wouldn't be all alone here. :)
I'm lamer than lame. :oops:

I spend most of my time nowadays looking at the latest forum postings or looking at the updated threads I receive notifications on (as opposed to the front page). I guess it wasn't quite as obvious to me.

Back on topic, I really like how the components are customizable on this unit (take out the equalizer and extend the playlist, etc.)... but come now, if WinAmpaq can support OGG, these guys should dive in as well...

[Foo Fighter]

Awesome app, but....no WMA support? :?

[surur]

Not to complain, but the music player is in fact cripple-ware, not freeware.
That's your opinion, of course. If you don't feel the "freeware" version has enough features, and you're not interested in buying the expansion pack, then by all means use a different player. It says very clearly on the Handango page what the "freeware" version doesn't contain. We had a long discussion on this last time, and we should avoid repeating it -- if it wasn't obvious what the differences were I would have a problem, but this is not the case.

--janak

Sorry to be upsetting people. The reason I call it CRIPPLEWARE as apposed to FREEWARE ( which was empasized by Steven on the frontpage post) was the absence of an essential feature. If it was really freeware it should be at least usable on a basic level. It includes some nice features (such as turning the screen off and caching files) but when I turn the screen of, how am I supposed to increase the volume?

They create the impression of generosity by including these advance features, but without being able to map VOLUME to my jog dail, the whole player is useless.

So yes, I feel strongly its crippleware, and even if handago or the developers call it freeware, Ill call a spade a spade.

Surur

PS: and yes, I understand about the royalties for MP3.

[jeffmd]

sur, dont feel bad, im the one who brought the same thing up in the 1.0 post. ;)

Btw the mp3 liscense is not something you buy in one fee.. its like a buck per unit. how ever this usualy isnt a problem..be cause most people dont charge for an mp3 player. ^^

just to let anyone know, you can use a player that is very much like this one (but has ogg support and winamp skin support without the need to buy it) at http://www.projecteam.org/phpwiki/index.php/WinamPAQ.

Skoobouy, that HAS been a problem with winampaq. Generally what you had to do was instead of turning up the frequencies you want (like low bass freq), you turned DOWN the frequencies you dont want. I havnt used Pocket MVPs eq but im pretty sure it did not have this problem. I have no idea if pocketmusic does or does not have it either.

[Steven Cedrone]

The reason I call it CRIPPLEWARE as apposed to FREEWARE ( which was empasized by Steven on the frontpage post) was the absence of an essential feature. If it was really freeware it should be at least usable on a basic level. It includes some nice features (such as turning the screen off and caching files) but when I turn the screen of, how am I supposed to increase the volume?

They create the impression of generosity by including these advance features, but without being able to map VOLUME to my jog dail, the whole player is useless.

You left out the all important "IMHO". Because that is exactly what it is, your opinion. :roll:

Now here is my opinion: As a basic player, this is a very nice app. I wouldn't call the inability to map volume control to your jog dial the "absence of an essential feature". This application is totally usable on a basic level, without the need to purchase any other software from the vendor. If you need/crave more functionality(and don't want to pay for it), look elsewhere.

And as you said: "Let me call a spade a spade" - If you don't have to pay for it, it is "freeware"...

Steve

[Ekkie Tepsupornchai]

Awesome app, but....no WMA support? :?
Are you serious Foo? Do you use WMA?

I can't think of one other PPC player that supports WMA...

[pocketpcfox]

Well, I tried both of these, and while they sound the same (*the* most important consideration, let's face it) winamPAQ does what other posters have deemed so important (mapping volume to buttons, etc).

It's a beta, so it crashes when you try to deselect the amplifier, but winamPAQ has my vote.