HP Release New Version of iStream App for HP MediaSmart Windows Home Servers

If you have an iPhone or an iPod Touch, and an HP MediaSmart Server running at least the 2.5 server software then you could use the iStraem app to connect to your Windows Home Server and view pictures, videos, and so on. We did an in-depth review of the app last year – why not take a quick look by clicking here.

A few days ago HP released an update to this app – now at version 2.0.50.

Here is what HP say about the updates:

iStream 2.0.50 Changes and New features:

Performance improvements:
A more responsive user interface when starting large videos, improved music streaming, and faster browsing through the lists of items on the server.

New languages:
– Spanish
– Japanese

Music + Videos + Photos:
– Search: Search for an item by name within any list under Music, Videos or Photos. Click the search button (magnifying glass in the lower left area) and type the characters contained in the item you’re looking for.

Photos:
– Send up photos via email.
Instructions: Under Photos, go to a list view or view an individual photo. Then click on the action button (circle with arrow) on the lower left. Select the action sheet menu item “Send Photo”.

Limitations: up to 5 photo attachments per email; the size of the photo attachments has to be less than 9 MB. The attached photos will be resized to 1024 pixel for the longest side if they are bigger than that.

Requirements: Email account needs to be setup on the device.

Music:
– Cover flow mode when viewing a list of albums or playing a song; to activate turn device into landscape mode.

Videos:
– Video playback issues with iPhone OS 3.0 or higher were fixed; video playback performance has been improved.

– Video playback is not allowed when connected via cellular networks to reduce bandwidth requirements; Video playback over Wi-Fi is still allowed.

– Videos are filtered to show only videos converted with mq[2] or Mobile[3] Video Converter profile.

[2] = if connected to a HP MediaSmart Servers running software version 2.5
[3] = if connected to a HP MediaSmart Servers running software version 3.0

GETTING THE APP

If you already have the app installed, you can just check for update either directly in the App Store on from your device.

What is amusing is that the App Store information is wrong. Notice above it says it’s version 1.1.34 and yet underneath it says 2.0.50. Pretty poor really! Also, the app says 1.1.34 until you click on it (see below this image).

DO I HAVE THE RIGHT VERSION?

Given the confusing information provided by HP, you might wonder if you have the right version!

The image on the left was before the update and the one of the right after.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The app is easy to install, or update if you already have it.

It is a shame that the video playback over the mobile/cellular network has been removed though. So if you really need that functionality you might want to consider NOT updating.

And for those of you still running older versions of the HP MediaSmart Server software, your wait is almost over.