WiiM Home PC App Currently In Beta

Spinning up a thread for feedback on the WiiM Home PC App which has been in beta. We'll post update threads in this forum when they become available, but this is a starter thread per request.

Please note that the PC app is mostly a companion app, it's not fully featured like the WiiM Home mobile apps. It'll control what's playing, but isn't designed as a full replacement for a primary controller. Find out more about the WiiM Home PC app here.

Get the Windows and Mac OSX Apps here.

 

[slartibartfast]

Because (at least in my case) the WiiM is used for listening to music only, not for looking at a screen. So the phone is the most convenient way to control it.

I don't mind a full PC app for the people that have there music in the same place as there PC and don't have a phone at the same place also but dismissing the WiiM because of the lack of a full featured PC app is maybe a little overreacting?

If it could be controlled via a web page you could have exactly the same experience on a phone and a PC with no new app necessary

 

[hgo58]

If it could be controlled via a web page you could have exactly the same experience on a phone and a PC with no new app necessary

Yes. I have suggested that a couple of times before.

E.g. post in thread 'TV display' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/tv-display.4708/post-101850

Post in thread 'Why not add a monitor output' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/why-not-add-a-monitor-output.5805/post-97294

 

[cc_rider]

If it could be controlled via a web page you could have exactly the same experience on a phone and a PC with no new app necessary

Integrating WiiM Devices with Home Assistant

TABLE OF CONTENTS How to Add WiiM Devices to Home Assistant Playback Control Tips for Smooth Integration Home Assistant is an open-source home automation platform that helps you control smart devices from different brands in one place....

faq.wiimhome.com

Also, as a mostly jazz album player, I use the Allmusic.com web site to select an album, then play it directly to my WiiM from the browser. I rarely use the WiiM Home app.

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Because (at least in my case) the WiiM is used for listening to music only, not for looking at a screen. So the phone is the most convenient way to control it.

I don't mind a full PC app for the people that have there music in the same place as there PC and don't have a phone at the same place also but dismissing the WiiM because of the lack of a full featured PC app is maybe a little overreacting?

Well, the phone app might be best for your use, a PC app better for others. No need not to do both, and that way everyone's happy.

As for "dismissing" any WiiM because of this, could you provide a link to me doing this? Because I've done no such thing.

WiiM works with a phone app. It could work with a PC app, and that'd benefit some people if it were introduced, and that's all I'm suggesting.

It's not rocket surgery.

 

[Burnside]

As for "dismissing" any WiiM because of this, could you provide a link to me doing this? Because I've done no such thing.

I don't think that was aimed at you as there had been an earlier comment today about someone advising friends away from WiiM because there wasn't a full blown desktop app.

It's not rocket surgery.

Nor brain science

 

[hgo58]

Well, the phone app might be best for your use, a PC app better for others. No need not to do both, and that way everyone's happy.

Yes but if there is limited resources (as the always are) I will agree with WiiM when prioritizing the phone apps.

As for "dismissing" any WiiM because of this, could you provide a link to me doing this? Because I've done no such thing.

Not you Post in thread 'WiiM Home app for Windows PC ?' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-home-app-for-windows-pc.9427/post-182074

 

[Steve Woodhouse]

Yes but if there is limited resources (as the always are) I will agree with WiiM when prioritizing the phone apps.

Not you Post in thread 'WiiM Home app for Windows PC ?' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-home-app-for-windows-pc.9427/post-182074

Thank you.

But I'm not sure 'limited resources' really covers it. Control from an app on a PC isn't a tiny minority, obscure bolt on.

As I say, it's very rare for other platforms to have a phone app but no PC app.

 

[Burnside]

Thank you.

But I'm not sure 'limited resources' really covers it. Control from an app on a PC isn't a tiny minority, obscure bolt on.

As I say, it's very rare for other platforms to have a phone app but no PC app.

@s3igell would disagree with you viz.
Post in thread 'WiiM Home app for Windows PC ?'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-home-app-for-windows-pc.9427/post-182126

 

[hgo58]

Thank you.

But I'm not sure 'limited resources' really covers it. Control from an app on a PC isn't a tiny minority, obscure bolt on.

As I say, it's very rare for other platforms to have a phone app but no PC app.

As @slartibartfast said, a web interface would be much more versatile.

Post in thread 'WiiM Home PC App Currently In Beta' https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/wiim-home-pc-app-currently-in-beta.9650/post-182118

The already existing web server in the WiiM devices could support a web page that would allow to control the WiiM just as the phone apps do. That would cover all device types that can run a browser.

 

[Kartal2126]

A great Wiim Home app has been made for Android TV. I think the Wiim team deserves thanks, but considering the thousands of people who spend 7-10 hours a day on their PCs, the PC app is far more important than the Android TV app, and I believe the most advanced version should have been developed for PC first. Even my iPad, which I use at home for 1-2 hours on weekends, has an advanced Wiim Home app, whereas PC usage is 50 hours a week. Therefore, while every user's needs may vary, the PC app should be the most advanced app after the phone version, in my opinion.

 

[hgo58]

A great Wiim Home app has been made for Android TV. I think the Wiim team deserves thanks, but considering the thousands of people who spend 7-10 hours a day on their PCs, the PC app is far more important than the Android TV app, and I believe the most advanced version should have been developed for PC first. Even my iPad, which I use at home for 1-2 hours on weekends, has an advanced Wiim Home app, whereas PC usage is 50 hours a week. Therefore, while every user's needs may vary, the PC app should be the most advanced app after the phone version, in my opinion.

I thought the PC was for work, not for browsing music

No, I understand that a full featured WiiM App on the PC would be good but in the meantime I guess most people working do also have a phone available.

 

[klaus99]

I mainly use Roon because it has a really good app for the PC. The WiiM PC app is absolutely dreadful in terms of both programming and design.
Why don’t you use AI for the programming? Have a web app created and distribute it to Mac and PC via Electron. To top it all off, it would also run in a browser.

 

[Burnside]

I mainly use Roon because it has a really good app for the PC. The WiiM PC app is absolutely dreadful in terms of both programming and design.
Why don’t you use AI for the programming? Have a web app created and distribute it to Mac and PC via Electron. To top it all off, it would also run in a browser.

You're assuming that WiiM devices have a sufficiently comprehensive API that AI could use for that- I don't believe that's the case. In the couple of instances I've used Ai to generate or tidy up code, it's made fairly basic programming errors. Like AI searches, I wouldn't trust AI to be able to do that.

 

[Lomax_hjs]

A great Wiim Home app has been made for Android TV.

Oh, missed that and going to check it out.
(not that I use my TV for listening to music. Maybe I should connect the WiiM to the TV )

 

[s3igell]

I'm a Roon Licensee, too. It is an Apples to Toyota invalid comparison. For Roon, you Pay a substantial Annual License Fee for the Software - and the Software is all that Roon delivers. For WiiM, you Pay Once for a Hardware Device and it is yours and functional for many years - and the WiiM Home App (with all of its ongoing updates and bug fixes) are Free. And the Good News is that all but one WiiM Device is "Roon Ready"!! So, you can enjoy the Roon UI that you like while playing Hi-Fi Audio to the WiiM Device of your choice (and mostly avoid the WiiM Home App without need to complain about it.)

 

[Burnside]

Oh, missed that and going to check it out.
(not that I use my TV for listening to music. Maybe I should connect the WiiM to the TV )

The WiiM home tv app is largely a now playing display with some control - and lyrics - it's not a replacement for the mobile app