BY ERMINESOFT UPDATED November 18, 2024
DS audio has garnered attention for its impressive range of features supporting remote playback control, making it a go-to app for users who prioritize seamless music streaming and management. The app allows for easy management of music on Synology NAS solutions, enhancing user experience by consistently incorporating user feedback into updates and improvements.
One of DS audio's strengths lies in its ability to efficiently control playback on connected devices. However, users have expressed a desire for features such as a transparent widget for aesthetic customization, and the ability to set a default player to avoid resetting preferences. Connectivity over Wi-Fi and cellular networks has seen enhancements, particularly with fixes in connectivity over 3G/cellular post DSM 4.3 and the DS Audio app updates. Yet, the app's caching system requires refinement. Implementing a mechanism for pre-loading music queued for playback and improving cache management for offline mode could significantly elevate the app's functionality.
DS audio users prioritize security and connectivity, employing measures like SSH tunneling for secure external connections. Although the app functions well over Wi-Fi, challenges remain with streaming over 4G networks and when connecting to NAS over LAN, pointing towards the need for optimization in streaming and download speeds. Moreover, addressing issues like occasional music track duplications in offline mode and ensuring smoother streaming without short gaps in playback would enhance the listening experience.
The app has received commendation for its user interface (UI) improvements, making navigation and music management smoother. Despite criticisms about the splash screen and login page aesthetics, DS Audio has made strides in fast scrolling, effective offline features, and reliable notifications. The willingness of the developers to address user feedback and issues across both Android and iOS platforms reflects a commitment to enhancing cross-platform user experience.
DS Audio stands out as a robust app for managing and streaming music from Synology NAS solutions. While it excels in numerous areas, including user-interface design and remote playback control, there is room for improvement in caching, connectivity, and a few user-requested features for an even more seamless experience.
Yes, DS Audio can stream music over 4G networks, though performance may vary based on network stability and connectivity.
Yes, the app supports offline mode playback, allowing users to save songs for listening without an internet connection. However, issues with duplications in offline mode have been noted.
Yes, DS audio offers functionality for controlling playback on various devices connected to a Synology NAS, enhancing the flexibility of music streaming and management.
Recent updates have addressed connectivity issues, particularly improving performance over 3G/cellular networks and enhancing user experience through UI and feature set improvements.
Yes, DS Audio can stream music to other networked devices such as Sonos or Naim, making it a versatile tool for home audio setups.
DS audio is primarily a mobile app designed for smartphones. However, you can run DS audio on your computer using an Android emulator. An Android emulator allows you to run Android apps on your PC. Here's how to install DS audio on your PC using Android emuator:
Visit any Android emulator website. Download the latest version of Android emulator compatible with your operating system (Windows or macOS). Install Android emulator by following the on-screen instructions.
Launch Android emulator and complete the initial setup, including signing in with your Google account.
Inside Android emulator, open the Google Play Store (it's like the Android Play Store) and search for "DS audio."Click on the DS audio app, and then click the "Install" button to download and install DS audio.
You can also download the APK from this page and install DS audio without Google Play Store.
You can now use DS audio on your PC within the Anroid emulator. Keep in mind that it will look and feel like the mobile app, so you'll navigate using a mouse and keyboard.
