This document contains preliminary information about a forthcoming software product from Wilcox Technologies. The information contained within may not reflect the final product, and could change rapidly during the development process. Always ensure that you have the latest copy of all documents before raising any concerns you may have.
As this project is licensed under an Open Source (NCSA) license, this document may be redistributed under the terms of that license. A copy of this license is included at the end of this document.
| Name | Date | Summary | Version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Wilcox | 30 October 2014 | Initial revision. | 0.1 |
Increasingly, people are streaming their favourite music online using services such as Spotify, Google Play Music, Pandora, and others. These services offer a low-cost, legal way to listen to a large selection of music instantaneously. [Research done by Kobalt Music](https://keywordsandjargon.wordpress.com/2014/11/05/spotify-royalties-over-itunes-earnings-in-europe/] indicates that Spotify's platform alone is more popular than Apple's iTunes in Europe, and Spotify's platform is also huge in the US. Google Play Music's platform is growing exponentially.
What users do not like are the web-based interfaces to these streaming services. They require browser plugins, like Flash, which are unstable and provide a wealth of security vulnerabilities to users. Browsers are becoming increasingly hostile to these plugins, while music streaming services continue to rely more on them. Users of major platforms are clamouring for ways to access their favourite services without the hassle of using the web interface.
SoundScape will fill this need by providing a portable native client that will allow users to stream their music from their favourite services without using the web interface. SoundScape will not be a Web application, and will not use HTML5, Flash, JavaScript, or other Web technologies. It will instead use native technologies and exploit the power of modern computing devices.
SoundScape will additionally be a completely Open Source project, allowing us to utilise the more technical users' knowledge of their own favourite platforms to assist in porting and bug fixing. Monetisation will be via advertisements and in-app upgrades (on mobile platforms), and 'donations' to development efforts (on desktop platforms).
- Reach at least three target platforms by Christmas '14.
- Have at least 1,000 subscribed 'donators' by Q1 2015.
- Have at least 80% 5-star ratings on any relevant review sites (App Store, Play Store, Linux Journal, et al).
- Stable, native client for their favourite music streaming service(s).
- Less dependence on web browsers.
For music lovers everywhere, SoundScape is a multimedia software that will allow streaming from top music services without using a Web browser. Popular services such as Last.FM, Libre.FM, social media (Facebook/Twitter), and playlist sharing sites will be fully supported. A plugin API will be present to allow users to create their own extensions. Unlike other software, SoundScape does not require a browser or vulnerable plugins; all it requires is a computer with an Internet connection.
- Stream music from popular online services.
- Connect with friends using Last.FM, Facebook, etc.
- Extensible, allowing users to script their own features they want.
The first release should focus primarily on stability and ensuring a good core. Focus on one platform (perhaps Google Play Music) as a model for other platforms to be developed. Lay groundwork for extensibility API. At least Windows/Mac/Linux.
Features, features, features. Add at least Spotify in, if possible. Perhaps start an extension marketplace ala Google's Chrome Store (though unpaid) where W-T and contributors can list extensions. Start promoting on Web sites; send links to major publications. Definitely need mobiles by this release.
Ensure all core needs are met. Focus on porting to other platforms -- Google Play still has no tablet app for iOS, and their tablet app for Android lacks features; Spotify's mobile apps utilise an ungodly amount of battery on both; FreeBSD is a good target since the systemd movement is causing Linux diehards to move. Of course, also always focus on keeping both users and extension writers happy.
SoundScape Copyright (c) 2010-2012 Wilcox Technologies LLC. All rights reserved. Developed by: Wilcox Technologies LLC, http://oss.wilcox-tech.com/ Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal with the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions: Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimers. Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimers in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the distribution. Neither the names of eScape Team, Wilcox Technologies, LLC, nor the names of its contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from this Software without specific prior written permission. THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CONTRIBUTORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM, OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE.