Device Tested: HTC Hero
ROM Version: Standard 1.5
Price: FREE
Audiogalaxy has had something of a rocky past. Legal issues, file sharing and general (yet unintended) naughtiness surround the 12 year old invention, so it's surprising that the thing is still alive. It's certainly a good thing that it did stick around, though, as in it's current form (having ditched Peer 2 Peer in 2002) Audiogalaxy is a fantastic app. In principle.
Yep, that's the idea.
Audiogalaxy is designed to allow instant streaming on any Android handset for any music on a computer with the Audiogalaxy client enabled. First issue. It may be obvious, because while you may stream from anywhere, your computer must have the client enabled. Second issue. The application will only allow streaming of MP3 files at time of writing, requiring possibly-lengthy file conversions. Third problem. The audio player is very, very basic. There's pause, next track, previous track and a timeline bar. That's all. Nothing fancy whatsoever. Disappointing, but understandable for a new application. Fourth problem. Streaming is anything but instant, often taking half a minute to clock onto what you had pressed. On my HTC Hero using a HSDPA connection, this was very much the case.
Having been fiddling with the spectacularly good idea that is Audiogalaxy, I can't help but feel a little disappointed. The application does what it does well; that is, basic streaming of MP3 files. But it could be more, so much more. Opening up to other file types, not requiring your computer to be turned on, etc. etc.
For free, Audiogalaxy is utterly worth an install. The file size is only 258KB and updates are coming regularly. Here's hoping something comes along, improves the service and makes it another essential app.
7/10
-Pros:
Great idea
Works well for MP3s
-Cons:
Lag on starting
Requires enabled client
Limited to MP3 formats
Basic player
UPDATE:
Following a lovely 1.1 update from the Audiogalaxy team, the lag basically is gone and the player works a treat, offering a couple more options than I remember being there before. Organisation needs working on for albums and track ordering, and it occasionally randomly flips back to a previous screen (not interrupting audio), but overall it's just about pushing this app into the 8/10 area.
Audiogalaxy: Not bad, but could be great.
