Grid View for Browsing Albums, Artists, etc…

[Sesquicunnus]

Every music app that I’ve used (Audirvana, Naim, JRiver, etc) has supported Grid View for browsing Albums, Artists, etc. (usually with an alphabetical index running down the screen on one side)… I can’t find any way to change to Grid View from List View in the WiiM Home app, although it’s probably really obvious and staring me in the face… I don’t use any streaming services, just have all my music stored on a NAS, being served to the WiiM Pro by MinimServer…

 

[Burnside]

Not currently support for UPNP servers. I suggest you raise a feature request ticket to WiiM via the more/feedback section in the app to let them know you’d like that option.

You may be able to use another app that does support Minimserver and grid view to play to your Pro - in fact, can’t Jriver play to UPNP players?

 

[Maurizio]

Every music app that I’ve used (Audirvana, Naim, JRiver, etc) has supported Grid View for browsing Albums, Artists, etc. (usually with an alphabetical index running down the screen on one side)… I can’t find any way to change to Grid View from List View in the WiiM Home app, although it’s probably really obvious and staring me in the face… I don’t use any streaming services, just have all my music stored on a NAS, being served to the WiiM Pro by MinimServer…

I have been a WiiM user since the first series of the Mini. I have asked to WiiM what you are asking at least a hundred times over the course of time.
It would be logical, useful and easy to implement.
Result? Well you've seen for yourself what it was. Nothing done, just column and no grid.
My reaction?
Since time immemorial I no longer use WHA to stream
However, WiiM is in good company. Even Tidal, in its proprietary app, offers column view as the only option.
You can use Bubble UPnP as an alternative. In this app, you can choose how to display the album page, grid or column. As well as a lot of other options. I use this one and I think it is the best on the market. It is, however, only for android.
If you have iOS the only one is to use MConnect.
It's not Bubble, but it works and you have the albums in a grid.

 

[harkpabst]

However, WiiM is in good company. Even Tidal, in its proprietary app, offers column view as the only option.
You can use Bubble UPnP as an alternative. In this app, you can choose how to display the album page, grid or column. As well as a lot of other options. I use this one and I think it is the best on the market. It is, however, only for android.

And even using BubbleUPnP it's on the album level only and it doesn't try to create an alphabetical index( if the DLNA server didn't create one, in the first place).

So it's not all that easy to implement when it comes to DLNA.

 

[simbun]

And even using BubbleUPnP it's on the album level only and it doesn't try to create an alphabetical index( if the DLNA server didn't create one, in the first place).

Grid layout is available to all indexes not just album, although I don't like that it's a global setting.
Whilst it's not an alphabetical index, the scrollbar on the right hand side (activated as you begin scrolling) offers similar (better for small screens) functionality.

 

[harkpabst]

Grid layout is available to all indexes not just album, although I don't like that it's a global setting.

Is this a feature of the paid licence version?

I can switch between list view and grid view, but only for indices based on album.

The only grid related option I find is "Immersive grid view" and "Grid item size" in the library settings. The former does not appear to do anything, the latter works independently of the former.

 

[simbun]

Is this a feature of the paid licence version?

I don't think it is. It's the icon next to the magnifying glass.


'Immersive grid view' removes this header section.

 

[Pragmatist]

I can only repeat again and again that for me as an iOS user with Qobuz, Tidal (although not for me anymore) as well as for stored music on my hard discs the JPLAY app turns out to be the ultimate. Not free, but cheap.

 

[harkpabst]

I don't think it is. It's the icon next to the magnifying glass.

View attachment 20959
'Immersive grid view' removes this header section.

That's interesting. I've only had combined indices so far like

• Album Artist/Album
• Artist/Album

The first level (e.g. Album Artist) for sure doesn't show the grid icon (but the magnifying glass).


The second level has the grid icon (but the search function has moved to the 3 dot menu).


When Synology Media Server creates an index purely based on e.g. album artist it doesn't include any secondary criterion by default. The result is mostly useless, but again BubbleUPnP does not show the grid icon:

 

[simbun]

That's interesting. I've only had combined indices so far like

• Album Artist/Album
• Artist/Album

They're no different to the control point, it's just an index with a '/' in the name.

From a quick test, grid layout isn't available when viewing tracks (within an album/playlist) or if the list of objects lacks artwork.

 

[Maurizio]

I can only repeat again and again that for me as an iOS user with Qobuz, Tidal (although not for me anymore) as well as for stored music on my hard discs the JPLAY app turns out to be the ultimate. Not free, but cheap.

View attachment 20960

View attachment 20961

Intrigued by your comment on Jplay, I decided to try it out. I have activated the trial period, but I think I will keep it. I have only just started trying it out and studying it, but I already feel I share your opinion. I think it is very complete and very well done.
Finally an app for iOS that can stand on a par with Bubble for Android.
I had MConnect which works but a bit too primitive.
I would need a suggestion for Jplay. Where can I activate the gapless function?
Thanks for a reply

 

[Pragmatist]

Audio out > choose your streamer



then

 

[Burnside]

Audio out > choose your streamer

View attachment 20975

then


View attachment 20977

Ah, the MDSM/5 - you had to go one better than me What do you think of it?

 

[Pragmatist]

Ah, the MDSM/5 - you had to go one better than me What do you think of it?

May be the newer one, not necessarily the better.
Once the insight into the need for an all-in-one solution was done, there was no real alternative. Quite sure it fits my idea of sustainability over long years as my LP12 did for thirty years and now still runs with my son. The divorce from so much hoarded stuff and old-fashioned rules made it easy. To understand and to afford.
Its around two weeks now and we are still in honeymoon. But I bet it is like expected.

 

[Maurizio]

Audio out > choose your streamer

View attachment 20975

then


View attachment 20977

Thanks for your quick replay. Meanwhile i did found the option.I was misled because my app is in Italian and there is no gapless, but “Riproduzione continua” continuous reproduction.
After a moment's thought, I activated the option and it was the right one.
Thanks again, it looks like a great app.

 

[Maurizio]

Hi @Pragmatist
I have been playing with Jplay for two days now. Really a great app, I don't know how I missed it. Good thing I decided to take your advice.
Rich in functions, it makes straming smooth as silk, I can manage my libraries (Qobuz - Tidal ) with a single app like I did on Android with Bubble. Now I can also with IOS. Also great is the search function that allows you to search your library, or Qobuz, or Tidal or anywhere. Also great is the way to reorder albums. Truly the app most comprehensive of options in this regard.
I'll definitely keep it after the trial period is over.
When you have other similar tips, don't hesitate to share them.

 

[Pragmatist]

Hi @Pragmatist
I have been playing with Jplay for two days now. Really a great app, I don't know how I missed it. Good thing I decided to take your advice.
Rich in functions, it makes straming smooth as silk, I can manage my libraries (Qobuz - Tidal ) with a single app like I did on Android with Bubble. Now I can also with IOS. Also great is the search function that allows you to search your library, or Qobuz, or Tidal or anywhere. Also great is the way to reorder albums. Truly the app most comprehensive of options in this regard.
I'll definitely keep it after the trial period is over.
When you have other similar tips, don't hesitate to share them.

Found an update this morning, they installed a so-called "Lounge" feature. Nice if you have the tablet beside your chair and it gives you all the necessary basic functions. Just click the Chair icon.

 

[Maurizio]

Found an update this morning, they installed a so-called "Lounge" feature. Nice if you have the tablet beside your chair and it gives you all the necessary basic functions. Just click the Chair icon.

View attachment 20997

Thank you. I didn't get the update notification, but going to Jplay in the store there was the update. It often happens with WHA too, which I only use for settings.
You are a real mine of useful information. I'll have to keep an eye on you.
Nice Lounge function. One more option.

 

[Sesquicunnus]

Wow... sorry guys, I didn't get any notifications for this... didn't realise that it had blown up so much!!! My original post was prompted by the screenshot below (from the WiiM Official Fan Page on Facebook) where a user seems to have what I'm looking for (albeit on an Ultra and via USB). I was hoping there was some way to switch to this type of view but, from some other things I've read, he's maybe using some third-party software (anyone know what it is?) or this is a consequence of him using the USB input. As Maurizio stated above, we've been requesting this for years, but WiiM seems curiously unwilling to provide this feature (as Burnside said, it's the fact that I'm using a uPnP sever)... So, so frustrating: I love the speed and responsiveness of the WiiM Home app (I use it in preference to the Naim app as a front end to my NDS), but having Grid View would be the icing on the cake... by the way, every time I settle in for a listening session, I send feedback to WiiM about this...

 

[Sesquicunnus]

Now, if only the WiiM Pro had a USB-A input...