How does Simplify Media software work?

Simplify Media software lets you browse and play remote music using the iTunes, Front Row, Winamp, Windows Media and Rhythmbox players, and remote photos using the Simplify photo viewer, iPhoto, and Windows Explorer. Specialized music and photo applications are also available for the iPhone and iPod touch mobile devices.

Media is streamed directly between computers over the Internet within small groups that you control. Your group can be made up entirely of your own computers, for example home and office or home and iPhone. You can also invite close friends and family to join. Once an invitation is accepted, you will be able to view and play each other's libraries when online. See more Simplify Media features.

 

How much does it cost?

Simplify Media for the desktop is free, and there are no hidden charges or spyware.

Simplify Music for the iPhone and iPod touch is $7.99 in the Apple App Store. Simplify Photo for the iPhone and iPod touch is available for $3.99.

 

Is it safe?

Yes. Simplify Media is developed by engineers with extensive experience in Internet Security. We have leveraged that experience to ensure you have complete control over who is in your group and what files they can access.

First, only computers on your approved list can interact with you. All communication between those computers is encrypted and highly secure. Second, our protocol only allows streaming from your machine. No other file operations are possible, and we do not allow remote execution of code. Finally, users can only access files within the folders you select, and we filter out all non-music files within those folders.

 

Is it private?

Simplify Media is secure and encrypted, and the only information we store about you is data required for account management and connections. See our Privacy Policy for details.

 

Can I control what others see?

Yes. First, you decide what to share. Some or all of your music, some or all of your photos, or both. You can pick folders, playlists, or iPhoto collections like Albums, Faces and Events. Second, you decide who to connect with and, on an individual basis, who can see music, photos or both. No one has access to your media without your permission.

 

Does it run on Macs, PCs and Ubuntu?

Yes. Simplify Media runs on Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Macintosh OS 10.5.x and OS 10.6.x and Ubuntu 8.10, 9.04 and 9.10.

 

Can I play music with iTunes, Front Row, Winamp, Windows Media and Rhythmbox?

Simplify Media works with iTunes 7, iTunes 8 and iTunes 9 on Windows and Macs. Simplify Media also works with Winamp 5.5x on the Windows and Rhythmbox is supported on Ubuntu 8.10, 9.04 and 9.10. You can use any of these programs to share and play from any other computer to which you are connected. In addition, you can use Front Row on the Mac to playback music and Windows Media Player 11 on Vista and Windows Media Player 12 on Windows 7.

Note: If you do not see a Shared section in iTunes, please check iTunes Preferences to make sure that "Look for shared libraries" is checked.

 

Can I view photos with iPhoto, Windows Explorer and Front Row?

Yes. In iPhoto, remote libraries appear under Shares, and on Windows, there is a new virtual Simply drive. However, for the best viewing experience we recommend the new Simplify Photo Viewer.

 

What about the iPhone and iPod touch?

Simplify Music and Simplify Photo run on the iPhone and iPod touch with firmware 3.0 and higher. First install Simplify Media on a computer to create a free account and choose a screen name and password. Then install Simplify Music or Simplify Photo on your iPhone or iPod touch by visiting the Apple App Store and downloading the app.

When the application starts for the first time, sign in using your existing Simplify Media screen name and password. You can begin to access music from online computers right away, but it will take time for your full file list to transfer. See step-by-step screen shots for Music and Photo.

Simplify streams music and photos to the iPhone and iPod touch. Music and photos cannot be streamed from these devices.

 

Can I use Simplify with my Sonos, Roku or Xbox 360?

Yes. With Simplify your Mac, Windows or Ubuntu computer can send all of your shares to local, UPnP-enabled devices like a Sonos ZonePlayer, a Roku SoundBridge or an XBox 360 console. Within the menu of the player you will see all your libraries and those from your friends. It's an easy way to Simplify your home entertainment system.

 

How do I install the software?

On Windows, just click on the SimplifyMediaSetup.exe file and the wizard will guide you through the rest. On Mac, download the SimplifyMedia.dmg file, and then drag the Simplify Media icon to your Applications folder to complete the install. On Ubuntu, extract simplifymedia.tar.gz.

The only other actions you have to take are to provide a screen name and password and select the files you want to share. See step-by-step screen shots for Mac, Windows and Ubuntu.

 

Do I need to change any firewall settings?

No. Simplify Media has been designed to inter operate with common routers and firewalls without compromising security. If you use a software firewall, you will have to allow the Simplify Media process when prompted after startup.

 

What music and photo files can I share?

You can choose to share your iTunes, Winamp or Window Media player music libraries and your iPhoto 6, 7 or 8 photo libraries. Or, just pick specific folders to share instead.

 

Do I need to import all my music into iTunes, Winamp or Windows Media player?

No, if you choose to share specific folders, you don't have to import the files you are sharing into your iTunes, Winamp or Windows Media libraries. The MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC and Apple Lossless files in the directories you designate will be accessible to the other computers in your group.

 

Can I share my playlists?

Yes, you can choose to share all of your iTunes playlists, your Winamp playlists, your Windows Media playlists or none. After the initial scan is complete, you can also decide to share select playlists.

Note: Playlist sharing is not yet available for Ubuntu.

 

Do I have to change any iTunes, iPhoto, or Windows Media settings?

No. By default, the option to look for shared media is enabled already in iTunes and iPhoto. Winamp works in a similar way provided you follow the Winamp Configuration instructions under Simplify Media in your Start Menu.

Note: If you do not see a Share section in iTunes or iPhoto, please check the program Preferences to make sure that "Look for shared libraries" is checked. If you use WMP 11 on Vista and don't see remote libraries, check WMP Options under Library > Configuring Sharing to confirm that "Find media that others are sharing" is selected.

 

How do I connect my own computers?

Simplify Media is a great way listen to your home music, or view your photo collection, from other locations. You can also access the songs and pictures that may be spread across your different computers. Simply install the software and sign in with the same screen name on all the computers or mobile devices you want to connect. Whenever those computers are online, they will be able to play each other's music and see each other's photos.

 

How do I listen to songs on another computer?

Just start iTunes, Front Row, Winamp, WMP 11 (on Vista) or Rhythmbox while Simplify Media is running. Select a remote library to sort, search and play. It doesn't matter which player you use.

On the iPhone or iPod touch, start the Simplify application and pick an available library.

 

How do I view photos?

On Mac and Windows, right-click on the Simplify Media S and open the Photo Viewer. For Ubuntu, the viewer has an shortcut on your program list.

When the viewer starts, remote photo will appear sorted by timeline, places and folders. If iPhoto categories are available, you will see Albums, Events and Faces instead of folders.

With iPhoto, remote images will also be listed under Shares. With Windows Explorer, remote collections will appear on the Simplify virtual local drive.

 

Does my computer need to be connected to the internet for to access my media?

Yes. Because files are streamed directly between computers, your computer needs to be online with a typical broadband connection. Simplify Media needs to be running, but you do not have to start iTunes, iPhoto, Winamp, Windows Media Player or Rhythmbox.

 

What types of files can be played and viewed?

Common music file types, such as MP3, AAC, WMA, FLAC and Apple Lossless can be played. Exceptions include DRM protected WMA files, vorbis, and WAV. Similarly, common photo formats like jpg, gif and png are support. RAW format is not, however.

 

What about songs purchased from the iTunes Music Store?

Computers signed in with your Simplify Media screen name and authorized by the iTunes Store can play iTunes purchased songs in iTunes. Computers not signed in with your Simplify Media screen name will not see those DRM protected files.

DRM-protected files cannot be played on the iPhone and iPod touch using Simplify Media, but you can listen to all of your iTunes Plus purchased music.

 

How much media can be streamed from one computer simultaneously?

With a standard home broadband connection, most computers will be able to handle 2 connections simultaneously. The Media List displays capacity indicators next to each computer to show their status: Green for serving music and photos without delays; Yellow for busy, some delay may occur.

 

How do I make sure my Simplify Media software is up to date?

For Mac, Windows and Ubuntu, our auto-update feature checks for updates and notifies you when they are available.

For the iPhone and iPod touch, check for new versions in the Updates section of the Apple App Store.

 

Where can I learn more about features you are planning?

Our blog is is the best source for the latest product information.

iTunes, iPhoto, Mac, Macintosh, iPhone and iPod are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Winamp is a trademark of AOL LLC. Windows, Windows Media, Windows XP, Windows Vista and Xbox 360 are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and other countries. Sonos and ZoneBridge are registered trademarks of Sonos, Inc. in the United States and other countries. Roku is a trademark of Roku, Inc. in the United States and other countries.