[APP][7.0+][v4.3.6] BubbleUPnP - UPnP/DLNA/Chromecast Control Point and Renderer

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bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745


BubbleUPnP on Google Play [current version: 4.3.6, released on April 4th 2024]
BubbleUPnP on Amazon appstore [current version: 4.3.4, released on February 26th 2024]
BubbleUPnP latest APKs, Google Play version (notably for side-loading on Android TV)
BubbleUPnP latest APK, Amazon appstore version (notably for side-loading on Fire TV)
BubbleUPnP 'Audio Cast' Xposed Module. Only needed on Android < 10. (current version: 1.1, released on April 28th 2021)
BubbleUPnP Server home page (download and documentation) [current version: 0.9-update49, released on February 17th 2024]

BubbleUPnP home page

Stream all your music, videos and photos to various devices in your house:

  • Chromecast
  • DLNA TVs
  • gaming consoles: Xbox, Playstation (from XMB)
  • UPnP/DLNA renderers: XBMC, WDTV Live, other Android devices, ...
  • various HiFi gear from Sonos, Denon, Pioneer, Onkyo and many more
  • local Android playback

BubbleUPnP can access your media from a lot of sources, including:

  • UPnP/DLNA media servers: most NASes, XBMC, Plex, Twonky, Serviio, Windows Media Player and many more
  • local media stored on your Android device
  • cloud media: Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Google Music, Google+
  • SMB Shares
  • WebDAV (ownCloud, NextCloud, webserver...)
  • media from other apps such as web browsers and file managers, using Share/Send
  • captured audio from most other apps. Requires Xposed (root)
  • Shoutcast radio (with XiiaLive)

BubbleUPnP is a versatile app packed with many features for you to discover, some of which are:

  • extensive Chromecast support: play incompatible Chromecast media with transcoding (*), subtitles, audio/video track selection (*)
  • fast and secure Internet access to your home media while on the go, from mobile and WiFi networks (*)
  • playback queue, editable playlists, scrobbling, sleep timer, various shuffle modes
  • integrated full screen image viewer and controller
  • media download to your SD Card
  • ...and much more!

(*) Some features are provided by BubbleUPnP Server, an optional software that can be installed on any machine on your local network to provide additional services. To learn more about BubbleUPnP Server, visit https://bubblesoftapps.com.

Some features are restricted and can be unlocked by purchasing the BubbleUPnP License app.


If something is not working, you can record a log file and mail it to me at bubblesoftproducts@gmail.com:

- launch the app
- go into More > Settings > Control
- Enable "logging to file" (at the end of the page).
- IMPORTANT: Exit the app (More > Exit)
- restart the app
- run the app and trigger the problem to troubleshoot
- exit the app (More > Exit)
- email me the files found on internal storage:

On Android 10 and below:

/Android/data/com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp/log.txt
/Android/data/com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp/prev_log.txt

On Android 11 and higher:

/Downloads/com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp_log.txt
/Downloads/prev_com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp_log.txt (if present)

You can access them with a file manager app and share them to your email app for sending them.

IMPORTANT: Make sure to not restart BubbleUPnP until you have sent or saved the log file as it is overwritten on app startup.
 
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radeon_x

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2006
388
85
Looks like an awesome app - all the features I want... BUT it is not currently recognizing my Synology NAS (upnp/dlna). Win 7 media player works great.

EDIT - Sorry it did eventually show up. It would be nice to have some asynchronous loading notifications. Also, if I queue up an entire genre, for example, it takes a looong time to load/start playing (thousands of songs). Otherwise looking good.
 
Last edited:

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
Looks like an awesome app - all the features I want... BUT it is not currently recognizing my Synology NAS (upnp/dlna). Win 7 media player works great.

EDIT - Sorry it did eventually show up. It would be nice to have some asynchronous loading notifications. Also, if I queue up an entire genre, for example, it takes a looong time to load/start playing (thousands of songs). Otherwise looking good.

Thanks for the feedback.

I'll think again about async loading notifications (I suppose you mean loading of folders here), but I do not like the additional clutter they involve.

For the second point, the playlist is not designed to handle thousands of tracks. What what your exact use case ? Doing shuffle on an entire genre ?

--------

I updated the first post with an Android Market link to install the app.
 

radeon_x

Senior Member
Jan 13, 2006
388
85
For the second point, the playlist is not designed to handle thousands of tracks. What what your exact use case ? Doing shuffle on an entire genre ?

Yeah, exactly. But after using it for a while, I don't mind the delay all that much since it only happens on the initial adding the songs to the playlist. Once the songs are added there are no slowdowns.

No other complaints really - hands down the best functioning and looking UPnP audio player on the market.
 

jonengland

New member
Sep 12, 2008
2
3
excellent app, works great with PS3MediaServer

minor issues:
reports search as not supported but I guess that's a PS3MediaServer problem?
doesn't show any album art
I have a DLNA TV (LG_42LD790) but it doesn't show up as a renderer, only local renderer available

how much are you going to charge for the unlocker?
 

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
excellent app, works great with PS3MediaServer

minor issues:
reports search as not supported but I guess that's a PS3MediaServer problem?
Yes, it doesn't support searching at all.
I tried PS3MediaServer and it is not the best server you can find for audio (only folder browsing, no search, some bugs in returned data).
I found 2 bugs in less than 1h usage :p

doesn't show any album art

It likely doesn't expose any album art to the app.

I have a DLNA TV (LG_42LD790) but it doesn't show up as a renderer, only local renderer available

Most DLNA TV are not remotely controllable to push content. You can just browse from their interface to play content.

how much are you going to charge for the unlocker?

Undecided yet but it won't break the bank :).
 

adwinp

Senior Member
Jun 22, 2008
2,055
330
urandom
1: has the potential of being better than upnplay (although the latter is free & ad-free)
2: needs a landscape mode (or use system/sensor detection)
3: exit on back key press
4: ability to add WAN server
5: use built-in player (like you already do for music types) for divx+mp3,x264+aac,mpeg2 files (detect via 4cc and/or extension - avi,divx,mkv,mp4,mpg,mpeg,vob,m2v)
open external player for other file types (mov/qt/rm/ac3); the system, hardware renderer should be able to decode most of the aforementioned files, thus eliminating the need for an additional app expressedly for that purpose (vplayer/mobo etc)
This COULD give you an edge over the other upnp/dlna solutions, since none of them provide this functionality (yet).
 
Last edited:

debay

Member
Jan 21, 2011
48
3
My Setup: Twonky Media Server and WD TV Live as Renderer!

This setup works fine with other apps, also on iOS...

BubbleUPNP looks really good, BUT:
- the timeline / song progress bar (dont know how you call it) doesn't work (even if use the setting 'use other...')!
-> so as a result, the next song in the playlist doesnt play :)

So by now, the app is useless. Would like to use yours, all the others work, but yours seems more smooth and has a better usability.

Looking forward to some updates!

Would def. pay for this if the issue gets fixed!
 

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
1: has the potential of being better than upnplay (although the latter is free & ad-free)
2: needs a landscape mode (or use system/sensor detection)
3: exit on back key press
4: ability to add WAN server
5: use built-in player (like you already do for music types) for divx+mp3,x264+aac,mpeg2 files (detect via 4cc and/or extension - avi,divx,mkv,mp4,mpg,mpeg,vob,m2v)
open external player for other file types (mov/qt/rm/ac3); the system, hardware renderer should be able to decode most of the aforementioned files, thus eliminating the need for an additional app expressedly for that purpose (vplayer/mobo etc)
This COULD give you an edge over the other upnp/dlna solutions, since none of them provide this functionality (yet).

Thanks for the feedback

2. Not a priority for the initial stable version but in consideration for future versions. Landscape is mostly useful for tablets as it is the natural orientation.

3. You can exit the app via the "Exit" menu action found in the Now Playing tab.

4. definitely on the todo list although probably not in the first stable version

5 in consideration for a future verson
 
Last edited:

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
My Setup: Twonky Media Server and WD TV Live as Renderer!

This setup works fine with other apps, also on iOS...

BubbleUPNP looks really good, BUT:
- the timeline / song progress bar (dont know how you call it) doesn't work (even if use the setting 'use other...')!
-> so as a result, the next song in the playlist doesnt play :)

Would def. pay for this if the issue gets fixed!

Thanks for reporting, it is a sign that the app has trouble getting timing info from the WD TV Live. There's logging inside the app that should be able to tell why and allow me to fix it. Can you record a log file following the step below, and send me the log to bubbleguuum@free.fr:

- launch the app
- go into the Settings page (Menu > Settings) and then in the Advanced Settings section
- check "Enable logging to file".
- IMPORTANT: Exit the app using the "Exit " menu item found in menu of tab "Now Playing"
- restart the app.
- handle the app to trigger the problem
- connect your phone to your PC or MAC and mail me the file /Android/data/com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp/log.txt found on the SD Card
 
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jonolo

Member
Oct 27, 2009
36
2
Preston
Using as Renderer and Controller on two devices

Hi,

I am using your app to control my old HD2 (CM7) connected to external speakers with my Galaxy S2.

I am having some issues that when I start it up to control the renderer and the renderer have been running for some time, sometimes it will not find/connect to the renderer.

If I restart both apps then they will usually pick up and connect to each other again. I am not sure if this is my HD2 going to sleep in some way that makes it not being visible. But it will still continue to play music from my upnp server (WMP7) though I can't control or add new tracks...

I will put both devices to log when I am home later tonight and send you some log files that hopefully will help.

Thanks for all the hard work!

Cheers

Jonas
 

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
Hi,

If I restart both apps then they will usually pick up and connect to each other again. I am not sure if this is my HD2 going to sleep in some way that makes it not being visible. But it will still continue to play music from my upnp server (WMP7) though I can't control or add new tracks...

Jonas

I just upgraded my SGS from stock 2.2 to CM7 and fixed today a WiFi connectivity issues that is related to sleep mode. It is not CM7 specific but related to how the WiFi chipset operates when going into power save mode.
So look forward to the next beta which should be out soon.
 
Nov 28, 2008
2
0
Using WMP as media player

Hi,

I just installed BubbleUPnP, and it looks really great. I already tested a few similar apps (2Player, Andromote, etc) but it's definetely the most impressive and promising one.

I just encounter a small problem when I enqueue a few music files and then launch the playlist. it sends each file to WMP but directly goes to the next one until the last one. So, only the last file is read.
A workaround is to launch the playlist with only 1 item, and then add other items while playing. Don't know if the problem comes from BubbleUPnP or WMP...

Also FYI, my Synology is well recognized, as well as my Samsung LED TV.
 

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
Hi,
I just encounter a small problem when I enqueue a few music files and then launch the playlist. it sends each file to WMP but directly goes to the next one until the last one. So, only the last file is read.
A workaround is to launch the playlist with only 1 item, and then add other items while playing. Don't know if the problem comes from BubbleUPnP or WMP...
TV.

Thanks for reporting, I can reproduce this issue so it will likely be fixed in the next beta.
Can you try playing a video on your Samsung TV an tell me if it works ?
 
L

lambomanx1

Guest
I haven't tried it as there is no point, being a BubbleDS user already (and loving it, might I add...feels like a factory app and works far better than anything on the Apple side). But just out of interest, will this be a separate product or will BubbleDS be merged with it?

Sent from my Desire HD
 

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
I haven't tried it as there is no point, being a BubbleDS user already (and loving it, might I add...feels like a factory app and works far better than anything on the Apple side). But just out of interest, will this be a separate product or will BubbleDS be merged with it?

BubbleUPnP and BubbleDS will remain separate apps (mostly to avoid to clutter BubbleDS with unneeded stuff).
The next major version of BubbleDS will be updated to use the same codebase than BubbleUPnP, which will bring some fixes and even some new functionnality (Shuffle Library).
As a bonus, BubbleUPnP will be a free app to use for BubbleDS owners, as it will act as an unlocker.
 
Last edited:

bubbleguuum

Senior Member
Dec 23, 2010
7,016
2,745
0.9.9.1 available on the Market.

WDTV Live as a renderer may be partially or totally fixed, needs testing.

  • Library: fixed "Browse timeout" errors specific to Android 3.0.1+ (tablets)
  • Library: faster browsing
  • Library: display spinning wheel while loading folders / searching
  • Library: browse compatibility fixes with some Media Servers
  • Library: tweaked album list layout to make more of the album title visible
  • fixed wifi issue (on some devices) preventing from playback advance in playlist (and possibly other network issues) after screen has turned off
  • fixed track advance in Playlist not working correctly with WMP and likely other renderers
  • videos can now be downloaded in the Videos subfolder of the download folder
  • Now Playing: display container format of videos
  • Settings: added rate app button, known issues button
  • obscure crash fixes
 

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  • 1
    Hello, I am having trouble streaming Tidal to my mpd/upmpdcli renderers using Kazoo as a Control Point and BubbleUPnP server as the OpenHome renderer.
    Kazoo as its own Tidal service, but the library does not even show if a mpd/upmpdcli combination is selected as a renderer, unless on top of upmpdcli there is BubbleUPnP server with its own OpenHome renderer with Tidal support enabled.
    While this upmpdcli+bubbleupnp server setup works perfectly when using the BubbleUPnP app, it does not work with Kazoo.
    I get the "unsupported uri scheme" error on mpd.
    Instead, if I use gmrenderer-resurrect, of course with BubbleUPnP server "on top" of it, Kazoo happily plays Tidal to it. Unfortunately in this case, I don't get scrobbling to Last.FM which I like to have.

    Is there something I can do to fix the issue?

    Thank you

    @GioF_71

    Can you send me (at bubblesoftproducts@gmail.com) the BubbleUPnP Server log file (BubbleUPnPServer.log.0, usually found on Windows in folder C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\BubbleUPnP Server) after attempting to play with Kazoo a TIDAL track to the upmpdcli renderer managed by BubbleUPnP Server, resulting in that failure to play ?
    Make sure to select the correct upmpdcli renderer in Kazoo (the BubbleUPnP Server managed one).
    1
    Hi there

    I've been using Bubbleupnp installed on a raspberry pi4 to stream music from Qobuz and Tidal on to a Hegel streamer amp, using Linn Kazoo as a controller.

    Over the past week or so I've been unable to log in to Tidal and I can't figure out why. All I seem to get when I click the login tab in Kazoo is an error message (see image)

    Is anyone else having this issue? I'm wondering whether it's because Tidal have been messing with their subscriptions recently...

    View attachment 6090538

    It's happening to me as well, starting last week.
    If you reset the application preference using the control panel which also allow to uninstall apps and try again, you will notice that Tidal has introduced a "human" verification, but Kazoo cannot prompt the user properly. Then you will get the same error again.
    Kazoo has been last updated in 2016 so I suppose won't be "fixed" (but I'd prefer to be wrong) so I am afraid we are out of luck here, at least with Kazoo. Unless Tidal changes something but this looks unlikely for a very old app like this one.
    It's a shame, I still like to use Kazoo when I am on a windows laptop.
    1
    I've just downloaded the new Linn app on my phone and to my surprise it works!

    Give it a go.
  • 277


    BubbleUPnP on Google Play [current version: 4.3.6, released on April 4th 2024]
    BubbleUPnP on Amazon appstore [current version: 4.3.4, released on February 26th 2024]
    BubbleUPnP latest APKs, Google Play version (notably for side-loading on Android TV)
    BubbleUPnP latest APK, Amazon appstore version (notably for side-loading on Fire TV)
    BubbleUPnP 'Audio Cast' Xposed Module. Only needed on Android < 10. (current version: 1.1, released on April 28th 2021)
    BubbleUPnP Server home page (download and documentation) [current version: 0.9-update49, released on February 17th 2024]

    BubbleUPnP home page

    Stream all your music, videos and photos to various devices in your house:

    • Chromecast
    • DLNA TVs
    • gaming consoles: Xbox, Playstation (from XMB)
    • UPnP/DLNA renderers: XBMC, WDTV Live, other Android devices, ...
    • various HiFi gear from Sonos, Denon, Pioneer, Onkyo and many more
    • local Android playback

    BubbleUPnP can access your media from a lot of sources, including:

    • UPnP/DLNA media servers: most NASes, XBMC, Plex, Twonky, Serviio, Windows Media Player and many more
    • local media stored on your Android device
    • cloud media: Google Drive, Dropbox, Box, OneDrive, Google Music, Google+
    • SMB Shares
    • WebDAV (ownCloud, NextCloud, webserver...)
    • media from other apps such as web browsers and file managers, using Share/Send
    • captured audio from most other apps. Requires Xposed (root)
    • Shoutcast radio (with XiiaLive)

    BubbleUPnP is a versatile app packed with many features for you to discover, some of which are:

    • extensive Chromecast support: play incompatible Chromecast media with transcoding (*), subtitles, audio/video track selection (*)
    • fast and secure Internet access to your home media while on the go, from mobile and WiFi networks (*)
    • playback queue, editable playlists, scrobbling, sleep timer, various shuffle modes
    • integrated full screen image viewer and controller
    • media download to your SD Card
    • ...and much more!

    (*) Some features are provided by BubbleUPnP Server, an optional software that can be installed on any machine on your local network to provide additional services. To learn more about BubbleUPnP Server, visit https://bubblesoftapps.com.

    Some features are restricted and can be unlocked by purchasing the BubbleUPnP License app.


    If something is not working, you can record a log file and mail it to me at bubblesoftproducts@gmail.com:

    - launch the app
    - go into More > Settings > Control
    - Enable "logging to file" (at the end of the page).
    - IMPORTANT: Exit the app (More > Exit)
    - restart the app
    - run the app and trigger the problem to troubleshoot
    - exit the app (More > Exit)
    - email me the files found on internal storage:

    On Android 10 and below:

    /Android/data/com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp/log.txt
    /Android/data/com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp/prev_log.txt

    On Android 11 and higher:

    /Downloads/com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp_log.txt
    /Downloads/prev_com.bubblesoft.android.bubbleupnp_log.txt (if present)

    You can access them with a file manager app and share them to your email app for sending them.

    IMPORTANT: Make sure to not restart BubbleUPnP until you have sent or saved the log file as it is overwritten on app startup.
    9
    BubbleUPnP 1.6.8 and BubbleUPnP Server 0.6.5 are available

    Thanks to everyone who contributed suggestions, bug reports, logs etc.

    BubbleUPnP 1.6.8

    Video transcoding enhancements with BubbleUPnP Server (requires upgrading to BubbleUPnP Server 0.6.5)

    • transcoded video preserve embedded subtitles (mostly found in MKV). MX Player must be configured to use the H/W+ or S/W decoder to allow to select subtitles
    • when playing a transcoded video, ability to choose interactively audio/video streams to be included in the transcoded video (when there is more than 1 audio/video stream)
    • added ability to download transcoded videos (as MKV), preserving all audio/video tracks and subtitles of the original video
      Transcode quality can be set in "Settings > Network And Settings > Video transcoding", in the "File downloads" transcoding section.
      Requires licensed BubbleUPnP.

    New features

    • added Google Music auto playlists: "Thumbs up" and "Last added" (needs a Sync to appear)
    • added exit button to rich JB notification. Exit the app the same way than Menu > Exit
    • added option Settings > Library > Play displays Now Playing. If enabled, play actions in Library immediately switch to the Now Playing screen
    • added option Settings > Now Playing > Keep screen on. If enabled, the screen is kept on when device is plugged to power and on the Now Playing screen. Enabled by default
    • added "Music > Artists > All Albums" local media server folder, listing all albums sorted by album artist
    • added "Show metadata" action in context menu of album folders in Library (useful to see long titles)
    • added instructions for playing tunein radios from the Android web browser, in Settings > About/Help > Tips > Interacting with other apps
    • added ability to edit an item's metadata (title, album, artist) with context menu > Edit metadata in the Playlist tab and in a saved playlist folder (in Library).
      Useful to rename items having missing or incomplete metadata that have been sent to BubbleUPnP from third party apps (ex: tunein). This feature must only be used for items that will be added to a saved playlist. It *does not* modify metadata on the server
    • show album composer in album lists in Library, if composer is present and Settings > Display > Item size is set to Medium or greater
    • downloading a video also downloads the external subtitle file if present
    • local folder search also searches album name and artist instead of just title

    Bug fixes

    • fixed subtitle URLs sent by recent versions of Twonky (7.x) not recognized
    • fixed download of non-media items (such as subtitles) giving an error
    • fixed Stop (long-click on Play/Pause button) sometimes triggering playback of next track
    • fixed "Settings > Display > Multiline items" not working properly in Library album folders
    • fixed lock screen controls not showing when playing videos to external renderer
    • fixed current LAN renderer lost when network connection switches from WiFi to mobile data or no network
    • fixed error when playing podcast sent from Share action of Doggcatcher
    • fixed broken playlist track advance on some Roku renderers
    • fixed images displayed from Wild Media Server being low resolution (workaround WMS bug)
    • fixed Search action not available on phones, in Library folders containing items only, such as playlists. Now available under menu > Search, allowing local search of these folders
    • fixed possible crash when playing a video to a remote BubbleUPnP instance
    • fixed obscure crashes, some of them involving old versions of Android


    BubbleUPnP Server 0.6.5

    • added support for transcoding videos to MKV instead of MPEG-TS in a number of cases. MKV is automatically used when embedded subtitles must be preserved, and
      for transcoded video downloads (both require Android BubbleUPnP 1.6.8+). ffmpeg must have been compiled with MKV support
    • fixed proxy media servers not discovered by Windows Media Player
    • added option -useNumericIpInStreamURL to force the server to return numeric ip stream URLs instead of a hostname.
      This may be required for some specific renderers to accept to stream from a media server via tethering. This setting is forced if the browsing
      client is a Samsung TV, which requires it
    • fixed small CPU spike every 30s on slow NASes
    • fixed stream URLs becoming invalid if browsing large number of items (more than 3000)
    • fixed Sony SA-NS310 renderer recognized as a media server instead of a renderer
    • fixed proxies not carrying the X_MS_MediaReceiverRegistrar service
    • libshine is used for mp3 transcoding if compiled in ffmpeg (useful on slow NASes as it uses way less CPU than libmp3lame)
    • added missing Standby action support for OpenHome renderers (simply stops playback)
    • fixed transcoded images rarely failing to load due to low read timeout
    • Windows installer: updated ffmpeg to 1.2, added ffprobe, updated Java installer to 7u21
    8
    Finally, it's there!

    BubbleUPnP 1.8.0 is available on Google Play, bringing Chromecast support.
    BubbleUPnP Server 0.8 is available as well, providing transcoding support.

    All the details in this G+ post


    .
    8
    BubbleUPnP 4.0 announcement


    I've been working on BubbleUPnP 4.0.

    It will refresh the UI with Material Design 3, including (optional) Material You support (on Android 12+). It's been a lot of work and there is still a lot to do as the app is huge (and old, 12 years and counting. First version was released on Android 2.3!). Converting the app settings to androidx.preference, fragments and tweak some prefs for MD3 took several days alone!

    Here's a few work-in-progress screenshots until a beta is available later this month.

    The screenshots show various combinations of material You in dark and light mode. There's also to the ability to combine a light theme with dark bars for a look close to the current Light + dark bars theme (last screenshot). Note that dynamic tinting of the Now Playing screen based on cover colors is not yet implemented (as in the current version) but this is planned.
    8
    BubbleUPnP 4.0 is available in the Play Store. I hope you'll like the redesign !