Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Problems with Sooloos Update 2.356

Last night an issue arose with the new update. Perhaps the sequence of events leading up to my problem might help others diagnose the issue and help me fix it?

My new Sooloos system has been in for a couple of months now, and I have been busy ripping CDs at my PC using Control:PC, and doing all my listening downstairs controling the system via the iPad app installed on a new iPad2.

Until a couple of days ago, I have always been able to load Sooloos on the iPad instantaneously, by clicking the Sooloos symbol on the (apple) "desktop".

I have also been toggling between Sooloos and Safari whilst listening, to search for lyrics (you might recall VK's amazement that I wasn't using a plug in to do this, but as no-one told me how to, I've continued to do it manually via Google searches). During such toggling, I have always been able to re-enter Sooloos instantaneously.

Two nights ago, when I fired up the iPad, it opened on a config screen I hadn't seen before. I decided that this probably meant that the iPad had (in my absence, and without my express permission ) downloaded and installed the new version of the operating system.

When I tried to go into Sooloos, I just got a screen saying "Searching for System Core". When that screen changed to one where I could enter the IP address of my MC200 manually, I did this, but the core was still not found.

In the meantime, I read about the new version of ControlPC which supposedly fixed some problems with the new OS, downloaded and installed this, restarted Control:PC (an on screen instruction to do this would help, M!) and lo and behold, my iPad app worked again.

Until last night, that is!

And so to my problem. Now when I click on the Sooloos icon on the iPad desktop, or when I try to toggle back to Sooloos (which is already running and playing music or radio) from browsing (for lyrics!) in Safari, I get (again) the message:-

"Searching for System Core".

This message stays for circa 1 minute. I then get a message asking if I want to enter the address manually, or search again.

I press "Search again" and a couple of seconds later, the app finds my MC200 and we are back in business.

So the issue is a bit odd, in that ultimately I can get Sooloos going again. But hopefully fellow HHs will appreciate how incredibly irritating it is having to wait over a minute (every time!) to get into the Sooloos app, and how much harder selling my wonderful new investment to an already sceptical "SWMBO" has now become.

NB. I am using a new Airport Extreme router for my wireless network. Also, I won't be in a position to try any suggested fixes until the weekend)

Thanks in anticipation.

Neil

Don't know whether I can help diagnose the problem but I can confirm that my system, very similar to yours (MC200 controlled via app on iPad2 and using Airport Extreme as router) has no problem switching between Safari and the Sooloos app pretty much instantly.

BTW, I don't think the iPad will update to iOS5 without your permission. Afaik, you have to plug it into a computer running iTunes to do the update. Are you still therefore running iOS4? Just check in settings or sync with iTunes. If so, perhaps you should expressly update and see if that helps.

Also I don't think it was the ControlPC update that fixed problems with iOS5 but the update to the software running in the system core.

Ah - some useful pointers there!

I did try to find a screen in settings on the iPad last night, to confirm which iOS version was running, but couldn't find this. Can you be more specific about where this is located, please?

I will try upgrading the iOS if it isn't the latest version.

Also, how is the software in the system core updated (or at least, does it need any intervention or does it just update behind the scenes?).

Thanks

Neil

Re iOS, I think you go settings - general - about - version. Or plug your iPad into a PC or Mac running iTunes and it will offer you the update if you're running iOS4.

M push the Sooloos update. In ControlPC a tab called, I think, messages appears; and if you click on that and follow the instructions it'll do the system core update.

FWIW, I also sometimes find that my iPad cannot 'find' the system core and I have to close the Sooloos app and re-open it. Only happens for me, though, when going into Sooloos for the first time - toggling between that and other apps has not been a problem. I figure in my case it is a dodgy wirless router that really needs replacing.

hecd2,

I thought I had looked in Settings, General, About last night, but I don't recall a "Version" option. I'll check tonight (and try plugging it into my PC to).

I upgraded my ControlPC software the way you describe, 2 nights ago. I was wondering if the system core software was something different.


Simon,
I know this sounds daft, but coming from the PC world, I am used to having a cross top right, which I can click on to close an application (amongst various other methods). So, in iPad Appleland, please can you tell me how to actually close an app down? Given that I don't know how to do this, I can only assume that the Sooloos app has been open and running on my iPad for the last 8 weeks or so (and certainly during my 2 updates of Control:PC) in case this may have a bearing on the symptoms I described in my opening post.

Thanks,
Neil

To close an app on iPhone/iPad:

- Double click the button at the bottom with the square on it, which will bring up the list of running apps (across the bottom)
- Scroll (L/R flick) to find the relevant app
- Press and hold it
- All running app icons will start to wobble and a minus sign in a red circle will appear top left of each
- Click the minus sign on the app (or apps) you want to close
- Press the square button again to finish
- Press the square button again to return to main screen

It is easy to get a lot of apps running these days which can cause the device to become sluggish, and battery life to fall. I usually have a clear out every week or two and have peaked at about 40 apps. A friend (who didn't realise all this multi-tasking stuff had been introduced) had over 80 running as he had never closed one since upgrading to iOS4 (I think that was when it all came in).

Duncan

Neil,

Forgive me this suggestion if you've done this, but make sure you have rebooted everyting after the update.

Bill

Duncan

Thanks for those instructions. I'm amazed by what it takes to close an app(!), but I will certainly do this tonight, and I will try rebooting everything too (thanks for the suggestion Bill).

Cheers!

Make sure that the reboot is a full power cycle rather than just a 'soft' reboot. I seem to need to do this post any and every update to Sooloos &/or other Meridian config settings. Also cures other strange behaviour when MC200 does not always want to play ball - fortunately this is not too frequent.

John

Ha ha, me too

Thanks for the instructions, most helpful.

Both iPads have only small amounts of available RAM (256Mb and 512Mb) and thus does not really allow Multi-Tasking

It just freezes the Apps in the background; only the iPod Music Player and a few 3rd Party Music Apps are allowed run in the background

Because of Memory leaks, it's best to Reboot the iPad at least once per week to avoid problems with multiple frozen apps in the background; you do this by:

a) Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button for a few seconds until the red "slide to power off" slider appears, and then slide the slider.

b) Press and hold the Sleep/Wake button until the Apple logo appears.