In Operation
Here’s an image of MusicPod in action. The interface is basic but simple to use.
What we do have? Besides playback of audio files, there’s cover art support, playlists, liked songs, and the usual playback options (repeat and shuffle).
Any music player worth its salt offers gapless playback. Any music player lacking this functionality is best described as hapless (or hopeless). Gapless playback is the uninterrupted playback of consecutive audio tracks, such that relative time distances in the original audio source are preserved over track boundaries on playback. It’s essential if you listen to classical, electronic music, concept albums, and progressive rock. There are quite a few Linux music players that don’t offer gapless playback.
It’s not clear if MusicPod has implemented gapless playback properly. On locally stored music, gaps are occasionally audible. But on remote shares, it’s clear there is no/insufficient buffering taking place.
The radio section lets you listen to a pre-defined selection of internet radio stations (at the time of writing it’s 36 stations). It’s definitely not a replacement for a good dedicated internet radio app like Tuner or Shortwave.
The podcast functionality is better with searching although it’s missing things like the ability to download podcasts.
There are many more polished podcast players. See our roundup of the best podcast players.
The settings button lets you set your music collection directory; there are currently no other configuration settings.
Next page: Page 3 – Memory Usage
Pages in this article:
Page 1 – Introduction / Installation
Page 2 – In Operation
Page 3 – Memory Usage
Page 4 – Summary
We have radio-browser internet resource, coupled with pyradio, Tuner, Shortwave – we don’t need this added to our music players.
We have feeds and excellent working podcast players for those that use them (Kasts is my choice, though I generally just listen via the feed reader).
So really, we have no need for this Ubuntu focussed Snapd fluff (especially the many of us who don’t use any Snaps and don’t bother enabling it).
Linux has some good music, internet radio and podcast players but they are far from perfect. While you may be happy with the apps at present, you don’t speak for me. So please don’t say “we don’t need”… What you mean to say is “you don’t need”.
I can think of other software categories where there is a far wider choice. And choice is important. Sure there are other fields where Linux apps is pretty ropey to say the least. But they are likely really hard for a new developer to tackle.
The thing is, people keep coming up with multiple apps which offer nothing new – in which case I would prefer separate and very good applications.
Guayadeque, with smart playlists and ‘smart play’ auto ‘DJ’ style with filters was brilliant – and Strawberry does very good work.
Choice is important when most of the apps suck – you’re right. Simply put, I can tolerate Strawberry, but Guayadeque is still far and away the best – but it’s development is down to basic maintenance, and it’s just not working as well as it should now.
I’m not a coder so I can’t donate code. Instead I donate financially to open source projects I love.
At least Guayadeque still compiles and works reasonably well. And I’m sure Juan Rios could use help going forwards.
You must be fun at parties.