Shuffle button disabled, inactive

[instrumentally 8]

I just downloaded the Emby server for Windows, and the Emby app for Android.  I can connect to my Emby server just fine, and play music fine.  EXCEPT....

In both cases, within the web interface and also using the mobile app, the SHUFFLE buttons are all disabled whenever I am listening to a playlist.  What is up with that?  IOW, tapping on the SHUFFLE button does not change the status or appearance of the SHUFFLE button.

Edited December 13, 2021 by instrumentally
clarification

[Luke 42077]

HI, the shuffle button on what screen exactly? Can you please show a screenshot? Thanks.

[instrumentally 8]

I thought I made it clear....

1. Android app  >  Home > Playlist > Shuffle button is disabled.

2.  Windows desktop, Edge web browser connecting to server via 1.2.3.4:8096, choose a playlist, and you will find the SHUFFLE button inactive.

Shouldn't need screen snapshots.

[Happy2Play 9780]

10 minutes ago, instrumentally said:

2.  Windows desktop, Edge web browser connecting to server via 1.2.3.4:8096, choose a playlist, and you will find the SHUFFLE button inactive.

Just tested this and it shuffle plays the playlist.

Default order

Shuffle order

Tested album m3u and Emby created playlist with same results in Edge on desktop.

Edited December 13, 2021 by Happy2Play
added update for m3u and Emby playlist

[instrumentally 8]

I didn't say that the SHUFFLE button doesn't play the playlist.  I stated that the PHYSICAL APPEARANCE of the SHUFFLE button does not VISUALLY CHANGE when you tap it....in either the Android app or web interface.

[instrumentally 8]

99 out of 100 mp3 players or music streaming services user interfaces will change the appearance of the shuffle button when the user taps the shuffle button.  Not so with Emby.  Why?  This is very bad UI practice.  If your developers have programmed the physical appearance of the FAVE button to toggle/change (turning the heart to red color), then why do the UIs fail to highlight or disable the shuffle button when the user taps it?

Edited December 13, 2021 by instrumentally

[instrumentally 8]

How is one supposed to know (VISUALLY CONFIRM/VERIFY) when the apps are in shuffle mode or not?  It's impossible to know that with Emby since you do not change the physical appearance of the shuffle button when the user taps on in.

[Luke 42077]

Quote

does not VISUALLY CHANGE when you tap it.

Hi, yes it's a good point. We'll look at improving it. Thanks.

[instrumentally 8]

So what does tapping the SHUFFLE button do?  Initiate a playback with the tracks shuffled?  If so, then how do you STOP the shuffled playback and play the tracks in sequential order?

[instrumentally 8]

Also, since I have your attention, it sure would be nice if you provided some sampe/example "Remote IP address filter:" entries under the SERVER > NETWORK section of the server setup.  I haven't been able to figure out the right combination.    If I am trying to permit access to only users with 192.x.x.x addresses, what do I need to enter here?  The HELP button is totally useless, for the page the user is taken to only mentions a tiny fraction of all the possible NETWORK settings found on the SETTINGS page, and as my luck would have it, nothing is mentioned on the help page pertaining to the Remote IP filter.

Edited December 13, 2021 by instrumentally

[Happy2Play 9780]

1 minute ago, Luke said:

Quote

does not VISUALLY CHANGE when you tap it.

Hi, yes it's a good point. We'll look at improving it. Thanks.

True as none of the buttons here have a selected indication like elsewhere.

1 minute ago, instrumentally said:

So what does tapping the SHUFFLE button do?  Initiate a playback with the tracks shuffled?  If so, then how do you STOP the shuffled playback and play the tracks in sequential order?

Play plays sequentially and Shuffle will shuffle the list.

Can only comment on web client, select stop and click the appropriate button.

1 minute ago, instrumentally said:

Also, since I have your attention, it sure would be nice if you provided some "Remote IP address filter:" entries under the SERVER > NETWORK section of the server setup.  I haven't been able to figure out the right combination.    If I am trying to permit access to only users with 192.x.x.x addresses, what do I need to enter here?

Are you referring to 192.168.x.x private address space or public 192.x.x.x address space?  But you have a whitelist or blacklist for that field.

192.168.x.x is not considered remote though.

[instrumentally 8]

Quote

192.168.x.x is not considered remote though.

Yes, I know.  Bad example on my part. I had hoped it wouldn't make any difference.

OK, so how do I permit access to: 107.x.x.x   ?

I've tried going to whatismyip.com on my mobile phone (while off wifi), and then entering that ip4 address in the Emby server, but when I do that, I no longer can connect to the server.

[instrumentally 8]

Quote

Play plays sequentially and Shuffle will shuffle the list.

This arrangement is definitely NOT intuitive.  I've never seen a media player that didn't have a TOGGLED STATE built into the SHUFFLE button.  On 99 out of 100 audio players out there, the shuffle button is only supposed to server as a toggle, not a trigger.  I don't know who came up with this scheme on Emby, but it is not intuitive, nor standard UI design.

[instrumentally 8]

Quote

OK, so how do I permit access to: 107.x.x.x   ?

Looks like the answer is, 107.0.0.0/8

Oddly, if I enter a single IP address, e.g., 107.1.2.3 and my mobile device is using 107.1.2.3, Emby server blocks access to that IP.  I don't see anything mentioned about requiring a netmask for a SINGLE IP address in the HELP or the caption below this data field.

Edited December 13, 2021 by instrumentally

[Happy2Play 9780]

2 minutes ago, instrumentally said:

Yes, I know.  Bad example on my part. I had hoped it wouldn't make any difference.

OK, so how do I permit access to: 107.x.x.x   ?

I've tried going to whatismyip.com on my mobile phone (while off wifi), and then entering that ip4 address in the Emby server, but when I do that, I no longer can connect to the server.

Well the big question will be does you phone always get this address or subnet?  But the "Remote IP address filter:" should only allow remote access from listed addresses that are Whitelisted, assuming you have Whitelisted selected in "Remote IP address filter mode:".

3 minutes ago, instrumentally said:

Looks like the answer is, 107.0.0.0/8

Oddly, if I enter a single IP address, e.g., 107.1.2.3 and my mobile device is using 107.1.2.3, Emby server blocks access to that IP.  I don't see anything mentioned about requiring a netmask for a SINGLE IP address in the HELP or the caption below this data field.

Was just testing this on my cell and @Lukeselecting whitelist in a singles address block it, but blacklisting it allows it.  So this is something that needs looked at.

[instrumentally 8]

Quote

Well the big question will be does you phone always get this address or subnet?

I guess time will tell.

Quote

 assuming you have Whitelisted selected in "Remote IP address filter mode:".

Yes, I have WHITELISTED selected when trying to enter a single IP address.  Fortunately WHITELISTED works when entering a range/mask value.