Another unfortunate case of vaporware.
Auralic will eventually release an Android app. Hopefully.
It is odd, given that Android has a greater market share than iThingies. One would think Auralic would be eager to leverage the market penetration.
Elk said [...] Auralic will eventually release an Android app. Hopefully.Looks like progress, based on this this Facebook post.
– Chris
I wouldn’t think that the technology of Android is so much more complex than MAC that it would be a problem to create an Android app. The delays that Auralic announce are worrying me that they are having a problem with the development or they are in bed with Apple to increase sales of their products.
I would think so. When you choose UPnP rather than Open Home the Aries should show up like any other renderer. I haven’t tried it but others have reported that works and I believe Auralic says the same.
You may also be able to use Bubble UPnP as a controller (even with the Open Home setting). I tried it together with minimserver and it worked fine. I haven’t tried it with JRMC (yesterday I tried connecting my Aries to my JRMC Mac library and had issues–not sure what I was doing wrong; the Aries sometimes saw the library but not for long; I didn’t think I needed to switch to the UPnP setting when I was just using JRMC as a DNLA server but I could have been wrong, or just missed a setting in JRMC).
With the new bridge not being available until mid-year (hopefully), I decided to try the Aries.
I run a pretty much dead silent computer that I built a couple of years back (Asus motherboard; Windows 7, 64 bit) on which I run Jriver. No issues streaming to the bridge in the Directstream. Router (an Asus AC66U running firmware v. v. 3.0.0.4.270) , computer and the stereo are all in the same room.
Installed the Aries on the weekend. The good news is that it is rock solid when run as a uPnP render. Streaming my music from the Lightning App is no problem and, more importantly to me, Jriver sees it and I can stream music to the Aries either right from my desktop when running JRiver or via Jremote. I’m using a coaxil cable until the jcat usb cable I ordered arrives.
The bad news is that when run in OpenHome, the Lightning App keeps losing it and showing no devices. When that happens, the music is lost. Not a big deal when streaming my music as I can run it in uPnP mode and use Jriver / Jremote. However, one of the reasons for getting it was to be able to stream Tidal - which sounds great when run through the Directstream. However, once the link between the Lightning App and the Aries is lost, the music stops and then starts again at the beginning of the song. The drops can be for only a couple of seconds but someimes it is permanent in the sense that I can get the connection back after rebooting the Aries. This means it is pretty much useless when in OpenHome. It doesn’t matter if the Aries is hooked to the router by ethernet cable or running it wireless. Same issue.
On another site, they suggested making the address for ipad static, but that didn’t fix the problem.
I contacted Tidal support and so far they have not been helpful.
I tried two different modems (a Dlink Dir 880L and an Apple Extreme) and not only did the same problem exist, but the Lighting App would not stream my music to the Aries, either in uPnP mode or in OpenHouse mode. So, back to the Asus and thanking Best Buy for their return policy.
I have a hard time thinking it is a router problem as I’ve tried 3 different routers. I’ve had no other issues with other wireless devices and dropped connections. I’m thinking I just have a defective unit. The dealer has said I can return it for a full refund, but I’ve asked him about an exchange.
Before I do an exchange or a return, thought I’d ask if anyone has any suggestions on what I could try? Oh and yelling / cursing at it didn’t work. 
I have no idea what the problem is but I run open home with the Lightning App almost all the time (when not testing Bridge 2) with very few problems. One day it did have trouble staying locked to my JRMC library but that seems to have fixed itself (at least it shows up–not really using that now). Mostly I have been using minimserver (on an early 2009 Mac Mini) or a USB drive plugged directly into the Aries. I have not tried Tidal or internet radio. Rumor has it that Auralic will release Aries firmware version 2.0 this month (but it has been pushed back before). I don’t know whether it addresses any connection issues.
Murrayb said Oh and yelling / cursing at it didn't work.Shit - this was exactly what I intended to suggest!
Have you tried something else than your JRiver library?
If you don’t have a NAS, could you try a directly connected flash disc?
In anticipation of getting the Aries, I had installed minimserver on the computer as well and it is the minimserver library that I’m using when using the Lightning App with the Aries in OpenHome. I have not loaded the Jriver library into the Lightning App. Both Jriver and minimserver are running on the computer.
But why do you use JRiver?
Minimserver running on your PC, Aries, Lightning DS on your iPad should do it. Should work in OH mode (mine does).
Frode saidMinimserver running on your PC, Aries, Lightning DS on your iPad should do it. Should work in OH mode (mine does).
As does mine, and to wonderful effect.
– Chris
flenser55 saidFrode said Minimserver running on your PC, Aries, Lightning DS on your iPad should do it. Should work in OH mode (mine does).As does mine, and to wonderful effect.
– Chris
Still using Jriver because (a) I can run it from my desktop, which I do when I’m working at my desk and listening to the stereo; (b) still prefer using Jremote to the Lightning app; and (c) running in OpenHouse causes all of the problems noted above which basically makes the Aries unusable.
The firmware upgrade that they released yesterday has help with the issues I’ve been experiencing. Still get the drop between the Lightning app and the Aries, but now the music usually keeps playing when the Lightning App loses the Aries instead of stopping and then restarting when the connection is made. Supposedly a new version of the Lightning App is to be released this weekend and so I’m hoping that will fix the problems.
One thing I’ve noticed is that when the Lightning App loses the Aries, it often loses some or all of the other devices that it sees (i.e, my computer, my Oppo). Suggests to me that the issue is with the App and not the Aries. From seeing comments from others with the problems they are having, it does seem that the App is far from a finished product and we are basically being used as beta testers.
The fact that very few have reported this problem, I would suggest to take another look at your wifi infrastructure.
I also find it very odd that the music stops if the control point (LDS) is lost as long as the playlist already is transferred from your music library to your renderer in openhome mode (when using minimserver). The music itself never arrives or is streamed from your iPad. However if your network drops out, then it is another ballgame.
If it was with one modem, I would suspect it was a wifi issue; but I’ve had the same issues with 4 different modems, all of which are considered pretty good modems (i.e., there not $30 cheapies). Also, if it was a wifi issue, I would be having dropping issues when the Aries was in uPnP mode or I’d see it when using my laptop and I don’t. It’s only when the Aries is in OpenHome mode. Everything is in the same room and so the ipad is about 8’ feet or so away from the router. Hoping that the new version of the App fixes the problem.
Ok, and you confirm that you are using minimserver together with Aries in oh mode?
jRiver server won’t work with Aries in oh mode, only uPnP.
Wish I could help… I use my Aries in Open Home…WiFi on 5ghz…Router is an Asus RT-68U… Music on a Synology Nas, Miniserver… I don’t do Tidal but I stream FM Radio and I’ve left it playing for Days without an issue.
Frode - yes, I’m running minimserver and using that library with the App with the Aries in oh. I realize Jriver is only available when the Aries is in uPnP mode, and it works flawlessly.
Erikm - I’m using the same router, so it is good to know that the Asus RT-68U works for someone else. Only difference is that my music is on my computer instead of a NAS. Can’t imagine that should make a difference as regards the issues I’m having. The computer is wired directly to the router.
What I found last night after the firmware upgrade was if the App lost the Aries, then more often than not, the music would keep playing and when the App “found” the Aries again, it wouldn’t disrupt the music. That I could live with, but just as I thought this would be ok, a couple of drops resulted in the music stopping and then restarting.
On the positive side, my daughter called and told me my jcat cable had arrived. Of course it would come on the night we are having a client event at our office and so I won’t get home until late tonight. t
I was able to solve the problem. I finally had chance to look into how one changes one’s wifi channel after reading about how that solved someone’s else dropping problem. My router was set to automatically choose the channels and after trying a couple of static ones, the third one I selected seems to have done the trick. Been playing for music for a couple of hours, with a couple of breaks, and no drops. What a relief.
I borrowed an Ipad and installed Lightning DS and the Aries in my system and configured it in wireless upnp mode. JRiver on my computer recognized the Aries and I was able to play tracks however after about 5 seconds the dropouts were severe. Using the Lightning DS after adding the library seems to works perfectly.
Do I need to add minimserver?
bazza said ......Using the Lightning DS after adding the library seems to works perfectly.You say things are now working perfectly (or is that simply a reference to the remote working perfectly, dropouts nonetheless)?. So Minimserver is not needed. It's an alternative to JRiver and can run in OH mode. I have both JRiver and Minimserver set up for my Aries and have no dropouts with JRIver but not sure of your network setup. My JRiver instance is on the same switch as my NAS and the wireless connection to the Aries is strong (router and WAP are 20 feet away in next room).Do I need to add minimserver?
Keep in mind that Aries can get setup (in addition to Lan) on either 5ghz or 2.4ghz wifi bands… 2.4ghz has much better range and will depending on your setup possibly have less issues with dropouts.