We understand that most of you listen to Element IV at your desktop. Still, a growing number of customers have asked for Android or iOS support for compact streaming setups. Thanks to @JimmyBuckets for the stand pictured above.
We’re pleased to announce:
Core is now in Google Play!
Core for Android brings every capability from core.jdslabs.com to your Android phone or tablet except for firmware updates:
- 12-Band Parametric EQ – Full control over Element IV’s PEQ
- Preset Management – Import/export EQ presets from external sources
- Community Presets – Browse and listen to presets shared by fellow Element IV owners
- On-Device Profile Storage – Save up to 10 profiles directly to your Element IV
Behind the Scenes
Porting Core to Android was relatively painless, thanks to Androids’s native USB Host driver. The app was mostly functional within a few days on an older phone. We spent far more time adapting the UI for phones and tablets, and another week navigating the Google Play publishing process.
What about iOS?
Yes, we’d also like to see a native app. Now that Core is available for all other platforms, iPad is our next step.
Please keep in mind that Apple restricts USB serial access to iPads with DriverKit support (2022+), so iPhone support is unlikely unless Apple brings DriverKit to iPhone.
Glad to hear that a native iPadOS app is likely not far away. I’ve since learned, however, that I can also use the Sidecar feature (and an Apple Pencil) to wirelessly control my MacBook Pro from my iPad and confirmed that this feature works well with both Core and Apple Music. This means that I can leave my MacBook connected to my Element IV and retain full wireless control from across the room, needing only a wired connection between my headphones and Element IV.
The missing feature in all of this, of course, is Core support of volume adjustment, preferably in a way which mimics the function of the volume knob on Element IV. Hence my repeat plea to add this to the list of active feature requests, for the desktop as well as mobile native apps. Thanks! ☺️