Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#91

Post by mychael » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 3:37 PM UTC

I bought the app. A few ideas:

- When importing, it would be great to see that "importing" is not a copy of the exact same data, but rather a reference or link (like a symlink). I have 40 gb of music on my iPhone. I don't want to double that by using your app.

- Needs a nicer looking app logo.

- Needs a cooler app name that is more original than "Doppler".

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#92

Post by pryelluw » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 3:40 PM UTC

calcifer wrote: post #28

pryelluw wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's good marketing to outline the fact for a slight competitive advantage.

As always, there is a relevant xkcd. https://xkcd.com/641/

It's not wrong. That works on everyone.

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#93

Post by radutzan » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 3:53 PM UTC

So I've been making a music player app called 'Doppi' for years now, I wonder if it served as inspiration? https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/doppi-offline-music-player/i...

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#94

Post by azinman2 » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 4:03 PM UTC

lolsal wrote: post #89

I sincerely cannot tell how this is different from the Music app that I already use on my iPhone other than the color-matching background stuff. - Minimal design: The 'now playing' drawer in the screenshot looks nearly the exact same as the Music 'now playing' drawer. If anything it has more text for buttons than the Music app. - Adapts to my music: The background color changes? - Import my music: Ok, but with Music…

My thoughts exactly.

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#95

Post by jakecopp » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 4:32 PM UTC

Android users: I build some tools to Rsync your iTunes library to your phone over WiFi and it's absolutely bulletproof, works great!

https://github.com/jakecoppinger/android-itunes-rsync

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#96

Post by mixmastamyk » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 6:11 PM UTC

Would like something like VLC, but with a better interface. I copy media to its folder, and then play it.

One pet peeve, on iOS the audio transport buttons are in a different location in music apps than they are on the lock screen. Leading to more fumbling around than needed.

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#97

Post by joezydeco » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 6:16 PM UTC

martin-adams wrote: post #20

ainiriand wrote: post #9

Like I always say when I see a music related app submission: Get a lawyer. It looks pretty awesome by the way, any plans for android?

I'm genuinely curious why you say to get a lawyer for all music apps as I can't really see why this one would necessarily need a lawyer. Are you talking in terms of music licensing issues or patent violations, or other?

Could be patent violations.

A few jobs ago I was working on a video player for an embedded device and the UX team mimicked the CoverFlow interface gimmick.

We had a C&D from Apple within a few months of showing it in public.

I would assume there are other patents. For example, sampling the cover art to decide on the background color. Was that an Apple thing? I don't know.

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#98

Post by walterbell » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 6:18 PM UTC

GoodReader on iOS can synchronize offline files via SSH and play audio/video.

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#99

Post by clay_the_ripper » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 6:20 PM UTC

thrav wrote: post #71

linkmotif wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I can get my old MP3 files to the app without stupid iTunes sync? Does it support "File sharing" so the app is shown in iTunes and I can drag and drop my MP3 files to its storage? That’s what I want to know too. My biggest problem is having iTunes in the middle.

Look into waltr: https://softorino.com/waltr/ It’s perfect at what it does.

This looks great. I actually wood prefer a third party app though because using the stock apps means that audio auto plays when connecting to some Bluetooth devices. It drives me insane that every time I get in my car some audiobook I was listening to starts auto playing.

Re: Show HN: I wanted better offline music on the iPhone, so I made Doppler

#100

Post by thefounder » Thu, Apr 12, 2018, 6:26 PM UTC

lolsal wrote: post #89

I sincerely cannot tell how this is different from the Music app that I already use on my iPhone other than the color-matching background stuff. - Minimal design: The 'now playing' drawer in the screenshot looks nearly the exact same as the Music 'now playing' drawer. If anything it has more text for buttons than the Music app. - Adapts to my music: The background color changes? - Import my music: Ok, but with Music…

You no longer have that banner("Sign up to Apple Music") everywhere. Since the streaming service was launched the Music app became unusuable.