Spark App on Windows PC
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Has anyone figured out how to run the Spark App on a Windows PC?
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If you mean the Android app, then install BlueStacks - it enables you to run Android apps on a pc.
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@redhouse_01
Thanks! BTW, I heard from Positive Grid confirming that they do not have a Windows ap, but will "try to make it possible in the near future". Having suspected this, based on the dearth of info on the web, I happened to look for Windows android emulators and came across the one you mentioned (BlueStacks). By any chance, have you or anyone else out there tried running the Spark android ap on a PC using BlueStacks?I'm still waiting for my Spark, but have been playing with the ap on my android phone, which is really too small for "following the bouncing ball" (sorry for the antiquated reference). One thing I did try that helped was casting my screen to a Chromecast device on my TV using one of the pull-down phone widgets. Unfortunately, the Android ap won't go into landscape mode, so you waste a lot of real estate on the big screen. Still, it's a lot easier to read than my phone. I assume there is an equivalent way to cast with an Apple device, so this may be helpful to those folks as well. Bear in mind, I haven't tried this while connected to the amp yet.
Thanks again.
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I have the app running smoothly, in "BlueStacks", on a "Win 7" laptop and two "Win 10" desktops. No problems ... yet.
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@redhouse_01 Just want to verify that the app and the Bluetooth connection to the amp are both working in Bluestacks? It's been years since I used it and I though there were issues with Bluetooth connections.
Thanks!
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I can't give you an answer on that. I should probably have stated earlier that I haven't received the amp yet so I'm just playing around with the app at present; getting accustomed to it, prior to using it, and,so far, all the "jam" functions available to me are working.
I don't think that android emus support bluetooth but having said that, all the functions I would require are available through the pc "as is", so I didn't consider the bluetooth question until now. Sorry. -
@redhouse_01 No worries. I went ahead and install Bluestacks but it definitely doesn't support Bluetooth connections. Their website say the may in future releases.
I'm going to try Bliss OS as Live CD/USB to see if that'll work. I don't mind using my phone but it would be cool to have it on a laptop plus it gives me something to play with during meetings...
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@fatoldowl I have "BlueStacks" on my pc's to play android games and just tried the spark app to see if it would work, but I'm thinking I might try puting "Bliss" on one of my spare hdd's and see what the outcome might be. Save buying a "chromebook", if nothing else :)
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@fatoldowl FYI in case it's of use to you - I'm running "Bliss" from a usb and it's paired up with my bluetooth speakers with no problem. I've also been able to download and install the spark app, so I think the rest of my evening will be used up in swaping out hdd's and installing "Bliss" on the laptop.
So "Bliss" would appear to be the way forward for getting the app to run on a laptop. -
Any solution to run Spark App on PC? I've tried with bluestacks but effectively it doesn't support bluethoth...
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Anyone have any luck chrome casting the spark amp.....
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Hi I'm using Microsoft app "Your Phone"
It links phone to pc works just fine
Hope this helps -
@stuart-clanfield As I was reading this thread, I was thinking that my phone automatically links to my Windows PC. I'm not sure if that's possible on Window XP, 7, 8, or Vista. I'm assuming a lot of the people asking this question must be on an older version of Windows. I can access my phone from my PC via bluetooth, controlling apps, texting, etc.
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I downloaded Soundshed. It looked interesting. Played a bit and found I needed to get wifi for my computer. Bought an $11 dongle from Amazon.
Behold: This is exactly what I wanted Soundshed gives me a super interface on my 21 inch PC screen and I can actually read the printing. And, I see a lot more in the tone cloud than on my phone, which keeps going to sleep anyway. To Christopher Cook: Well Done! I'm a retired programmer and I must say again Well Done! Soundshed is the program that should have come with the Spark from Positive Grid
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Mea Culpa!
I meant BluTooth Dongle. -
@eldredjames Thanks for the Soundshed tip. This is great. Kudos Christopher Cook. Works with bluetooth on my Win 10 laptop without the need for a dongle. Why Positive Grid couldn't come up with this solution themselves is a mystery. This is way better than using my phone. Yeah you lose the graphics for the amps/effects but who cares. Having all controls have the same size and "ballistics" is very helpful.
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@mbcarrol Just tried bluestacks on Win 11. Not working. It is not even offered as an app in play store. As an apk it is also not installable, error parsing the package.
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If you have Samsung Galaxy Android phone, can use Samsung DEX app on Windows PC to obtain large screen Spark App experience
