Does MediaMonkey work on Android?
Introducing MediaMonkey
MediaMonkey is a popular media player and media library application available for multiple platforms. First released in 2001 for Windows, MediaMonkey has developed an extensive user base over the past two decades.
According to Wikipedia, MediaMonkey is widely recognized as a leading tool for organizing and managing large libraries of digital music. It is praised for its automatic tagging and file organization functionality.
Beyond playing local files, MediaMonkey also supports podcasts, device syncing, content acquisition, and online services like Last.fm scrobbling. With an active user community and regular updates, MediaMonkey continues to be one of the most full-featured music management applications available.
MediaMonkey on Desktop Platforms
MediaMonkey is available as a desktop application for both Windows and Mac operating systems. The Windows version has been around since 2001, while the Mac version was released in 2008https://www.mediamonkey.com/windows. On desktop platforms, MediaMonkey offers a robust set of features for managing and playing media files.
Some of the core features of MediaMonkey for desktop includehttps://www.mediamonkey.com/information/free/:
- Managing large libraries of audio and video files
- Automatically tagging files using online databases
- Organizing files into hierarchical folders based on ID3 tags
- Customizable auto-DJ mode for hands-free playback
- Ripping CDs and converting audio formats
- Synchronizing libraries and playlists across devices
- Downloading podcasts
- Creating smart playlists using advanced queries
- Playing a wide range of media formats and codecs
With these features and more, MediaMonkey aims to provide a powerful all-in-one media management solution for desktop users.
MediaMonkey on Mobile Platforms
MediaMonkey originally launched mobile apps for both iOS and Android platforms. The iOS version debuted in 2010, providing iPhone and iPad users access to their MediaMonkey libraries on the go. However, MediaMonkey discontinued their iOS app in 2014, citing limited resources and shifting priorities. According to their announcement, “Due to limited resources we have decided to discontinue further development on the iOS version of MediaMonkey in order to focus on the Android version.”
After shutting down the iOS app, the MediaMonkey team shifted focus to developing an Android version to allow Android users to manage and sync their music collections. The initial beta version of MediaMonkey for Android launched in 2016. While iOS support was discontinued, MediaMonkey continued iterating on the Android app to provide mobile access for this platform.
MediaMonkey Beta for Android
MediaMonkey first released an initial beta version of their Android app in 2016, aiming to bring the desktop experience to mobile. According to this post on their forum, development was put on hold for a while as they focused on the desktop application. However, in recent years MediaMonkey has resumed active development on the Android version.
The Android app is still in beta testing as of 2022. Frequent beta releases are made available to testers who can provide feedback on bugs and suggest features. There is an active Beta Testing subforum where users discuss the latest builds. While not yet feature complete, the Android beta brings core MediaMonkey functionality like library management, playback, and syncing to the mobile platform.
Core Features of Android App
The Android version of MediaMonkey offers many of the core features that make the desktop application popular for managing large music libraries. According to the MediaMonkey website, some of the key features of the Android app include:
Music Library Management
MediaMonkey for Android allows users to wirelessly sync track metadata, ratings, play history, and playlists between devices. This makes it easy to manage a large music library from multiple devices. The app supports common music file formats like MP3, FLAC, WMA, and AAC.
Playback Controls
The Android app includes standard playback controls like play/pause, next/previous track, repeat, and shuffle. It also allows users to edit metadata tags, album art, and other track information on the go. Advanced audio settings like crossfade, gapless playback, and EQ presets are also available.
Playlist Creation
Users can create dynamic playlists based on various criteria like genre, artist, rating, play count, etc. It’s also easy to make standard playlists and sync them across devices. Playlists can be organized into folders for better management.
Overall, while not as full-featured as the desktop version, the Android app provides robust music library management and playback capabilities in a mobile-friendly interface.
Limitations of the Android Beta
Since MediaMonkey for Android is still in beta testing, it is missing some advanced features found in the desktop version. For example, the Android app currently lacks advanced tagging and automatic file organization that the desktop version provides (https://www.mediamonkey.com/support/knowledge-base/purchasing-licensing-mediamonkey-for-android/mma-free-vs-pro-license/).
Additionally, as a beta product, the Android version is more prone to occasional bugs and instability. Users have reported issues with high bitrate video playback and streaming to other devices (https://www.mediamonkey.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=96943).
While the developers are actively working to squash bugs and stabilize performance, it’s important to understand the Android version does not yet offer the full MediaMonkey experience. The limitations are temporary but should be considered especially for mission-critical or professional use cases.
Alternatives for Android
While MediaMonkey for Android is still in beta, there are some good alternatives for Android devices that offer more mature support and features. Some other media library apps have more robust Android apps that provide similar organization, syncing and playback capabilities as MediaMonkey.
For example, Pulsar Music Player is a full-featured music player for Android that helps you manage a large music library. It provides advanced tag editing, smart playlists, Chromecast support, and a clean user interface. Pulsar has been available on Android for years and has excellent reviews.
Another option is GoneMAD Music Player, which touts itself as the “most powerful” Android music player. It focuses on providing lots of customization options, cool audio effects, support for hi-res audio, and robust library management tools. The Android app has been actively developed since 2012.
For those looking for simpler music apps, Shuttle Music Player provides a lightweight experience focused on an intuitive interface, gapless playback, and essential library management features. The free version has over 10 million downloads on Android.
The Future of MediaMonkey for Android
The development team behind MediaMonkey is committed to continuously improving and adding new features to the Android app. According to the development roadmap, there are several major improvements planned for future versions:
Planned new features include:
- Full support for organizing and syncing audiobooks
- Integration with more Android Auto head units
- Support for video playback
- Options for customizing the user interface
Some of the planned improvements include:
- Faster syncing and device detection
- Enhanced search capabilities
- Ability to download album art and metadata
- Fixes for software bugs and crashes
The developers are working hard to bring MediaMonkey for Android up to feature parity with the desktop version. Fans of the app on Windows and Mac can look forward to similar rich capabilities on mobile as development continues.
Verdict: Yes, MediaMonkey is on Android – But with Caveats
The short answer is yes, MediaMonkey does have an Android app available. However, it comes with some important caveats.
MediaMonkey’s Android app is currently in beta testing. This means it is still under active development and may contain bugs or instability. The Android version does not yet have feature parity with the desktop application.
While the core functionality of a media library and music player is there, many advanced features like synchronization, tagging, and integration with third party services are still limited or missing entirely.
So in summary: MediaMonkey is definitely available on Android, but in a limited beta state. Power users may be frustrated by the lack of advanced tools, but it shows promise as development continues. For now, it’s perhaps best suited for casual music listeners looking for a basic mobile experience.
The Bottom Line
MediaMonkey brings the power and flexibility of its desktop app to Android, giving loyal fans a way to manage and sync their media library across platforms. The Android version is still in beta, so it lacks some polish and features compared to more mature offerings. For now, other apps like Pulsar provide a smoother Android experience. But MediaMonkey devotees finally have an official mobile option, and it shows promise as the developers work towards an eventual stable release.
MediaMonkey for Android makes it possible to take your curated desktop media library on the go. The beta shows MediaMonkey’s commitment to cross-platform support. As the Android app matures, it will become an excellent option for diehard MediaMonkey fans who want desktop-quality tools on mobile. But the beta tag means you may want to wait for a more finished product before switching from your current Android music player. Other apps offer more stability today, but none match MediaMonkey’s deep capabilities. Overall, MediaMonkey on Android brings hope for the future, but remains a work in progress.