Meridian Unplugged - Powered by MrTechGuy.co.uk Forums Discussion Meridian - Streaming Meridian no longer supporting Control:Mac [Discussion]

For someone in the know, how difficult is it to port 32-bit software to 64-bit?

Given tools like Wine to allow applications from one OS to work on another OS, are there not similar porting tools to bring the software over without changing functionality?

Hi Ian

I suspect it is a lack of will rather than a lack of skill?

Russ

Undoubtedly, Meridian appear to have decided not to devote further resources to Sooloos maintenance. With Roon around, they probably see it as a dwindling user base and have to allocate their finite resources effectively.

Also hugely disappointed, more by the unfulfilled expectations of "Exciting Times Ahead".
Seems as if such statements have expiry dates.

Maybe I did not understand fully the unshared roadmap directions

Hector

It depends... like on how well it was written in the first place, how important the 32 and 64 bit data structures are to the app and what technology it was written in in the first place...

Re the latter, I am pretty sure that both the Control:PC and Mac apps are based on the classic Microsoft .NET framework, which on the Mac would have run within the third party Mono sub system to run the .NET executable which Meridian would have zero control over. From my own experiences, running a .NET app in Mono was not without limitations and especially dependant on what underlying GUI (Such as Windows Forms) was used - even what should have worked often didn't.

So I suspect that Control:Mac no longer being supported is likely down to the Mono used by Control:Mac using the now non supported Carbon API for graphics rather than anything intrinsic to do with 32/64 bit. Bit of an insight here but don't read too much in to the usefulness of the alternative as, as was previously mentioned, getting Windows GUI's working when Mono on OSX was not being hindered by OSX was often tricky, let alone when the OSX rollercoaster is giving a very rough ride.

The world has moved on now and better cross platform support is around, such as .NET Core, which allows .NET applications to run on various platforms without Mono etc. But converting classic .NET to .NET Core is not easy and often nay on impossible if a GUI is involved.

To be honest, I don't see Meridian's tack being a cop out. The solution to Mac owners is either not to upgrade to latest versions of OSX (it's not compulsory and it was a decision I took a number of years ago as I have a couple of very expensive apps not compatible with latest versions), run something to allow Windows apps to run, such as Parallels or, if it works, that mentioned above, move to Roon, or use a PC to rip material and use iOS apps etc or Control:Web for control.

Thanks for that background, Ian

I am not only disappointed but disgusted at this kind of support attitude! This is the most ridiculous and assuming behaviour of a supposedly customer oriented brand. Guess it's time for me to move on to Aurender and others.

... and some wonder why I was so angry about Meridian’s failure in providing support for my G95 (fixed by myself, with the help of others here). Now, you know.

Or lack of product development resources?

I think Roon is a good option for playing music, but not for importing to my MC200. Control:Mac is great for that, so I'm very disappointed.

I think I have to install Windows and Control:PC or I change completely to Cocktail Audio and Roon and give my Meridian to eBay 😡

I broke down and bought a cheap PC only for Meridian. Not ideal, but gets the job done.

@basti

The difference with Roon is that you don’t have to import anything. Just rip your CD and save your download to a specific folder. Select the folder as a watched folder. Job done.

It is different to Sooloos but for good reasons.

The files and folders in your MC200 are utterly unmanageable in randomly named code folders.
If you use the folder method I mention above you will also avoid always having to do the ultimate native export for use anywhere else. Sooloos has many flaws and bugs with that process too.

I don’t support or appreciate M’s lack of communication here at all. They should do much much better.

However, as many have noted the writing was on the wall for a long time. That they have to take this step is probably very logical in the grand scheme.