BubbleUPnP is a versatile and feature-packed mobile app for Android users who want to stream, share, and download media files across different devices on their home network. Developed by Bubblesoft, this app provides seamless compatibility with popular protocols such as DLNA, UPnP, and Chromecast to access multimedia content from your smartphone or tablet to your TV or audio system without any technical hassles. With BubbleUPnP, you can easily manage your media library, create playlists, adjust playback settings, and much more.
Features
DLNA/UPnP Support
One of the standout features of BubbleUPnP is its native support for Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standards, which are widely used in modern home entertainment devices such as smart TVs, game consoles, Blu-ray players, and so on. This means you can wirelessly stream music, videos, and photos from your Android device to these devices, or vice versa, without requiring any additional hardware or software. Additionally, this feature supports transcoding, which converts incompatible formats into compatible ones for seamless playback.
Chromecast Integration
If you have a Chromecast device, BubbleUPnP can quickly connect to it and beam your favorite content to your TV in just a few taps. Chromecast support includes both audio and video casting, as well as screen mirroring for apps that do not natively support this feature. Moreover, BubbleUPnP allows you to extend the capabilities of Chromecast by adding features like cross-device streaming, cloud storage access, and offline playback.
Media Management
BubbleUPnP is designed to make managing and organizing your media content effortless. You can browse and play files directly from your Android device's internal storage, external SD card, or cloud storage accounts such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more. Furthermore, you can create playlists, shuffle tracks, set playback modes, adjust volume, equalizer settings, and even remotely control compatible devices like Xbox, PlayStation, Roku, and Apple TV.
Advanced Options
If you are an audiophile or a power user, BubbleUPnP has plenty of advanced options to fine-tune your experience. Some of these options include gapless playback, replay gain, dynamic range compression, crossfading, normalization, and high-resolution audio support. You can also customize the app's interface with different themes, fonts, icons, and layouts to suit your preferences.
Pros
Flexible and Intuitive Interface
BubbleUPnP has a clean and polished user interface that makes it easy to navigate and access its features. The app's main screen displays your media sources in a collapsible menu that you can expand or collapse anytime. The playback controls are conveniently located at the bottom, and you can easily switch between the player and the media library. Additionally, the app supports both landscape and portrait orientations, and you can customize the interface with various skins and colorschemes.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
BubbleUPnP is not limited to Android devices only. It is a cross-platform app that works across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and even some Smart TVs, media streamers, and game consoles. Therefore, you can access your media files from anywhere and stream them to any device that supports DLNA, UPnP, and Chromecast protocols.
Robust and Reliable Performance
BubbleUPnP has a reputation for being a stable and robust app that seldom crashes or lags, even when dealing with multiple devices and large media libraries. The app has been extensively tested with various hardware and software configurations, and its developers regularly update it with bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features based on user feedback.
Cons
Paid Version Required for Some Features
While BubbleUPnP offers plenty of features in its free version, some of the more advanced options such as cloud storage access, offline playback, and DLNA server mode require a premium license. You can purchase this license through an in-app purchase, but some users may find it too expensive or unnecessary.
Complicated Setup for Certain Devices
Although BubbleUPnP strives to make network setup and device detection as easy as possible, some users might still encounter issues with certain devices or network configurations. For example, setting up Chromecast can be a bit tricky if you don't have the latest firmware, and some routers might require port forwarding or firewall configurations to work correctly. However, these issues are relatively rare and can usually be solved by consulting the app's support forum or contacting its customer service.
Comparison to Similar Apps
BubbleUPnP is one of the most comprehensive and polished apps for DLNA, UPnP, and Chromecast support on Android. Its closest competitors are arguably AllCast, Plex, and LocalCast, which offer similar features but with some limitations. AllCast focuses mainly on audio and video casting from your phone, while Plex and LocalCast offer more extensive media management options but with a steeper learning curve and higher costs. Compared to these apps, BubbleUPnP provides a perfect balance of functionality, ease of use, and affordability, making it an excellent choice for both casual and power users.
Tips for Using the App
Here are some tips to help you get started with BubbleUPnP:
Make sure all your devices and network are on the same subnet and support DLNA, UPnP, or Chromecast protocols.
If you have firewall or port blocking issues, consult your network administrator or adjust your router settings accordingly.
If you experience lag, buffering, or quality issues during playback, try reducing the transcoding settings or adjusting your Wi-Fi signal strength.
If you want to back up your playlists, media library, or other settings, use the app's backup/restore feature or sync with a cloud storage account.
Conclusion
If you are looking for a reliable, feature-rich, and user-friendly app to stream, share, and manage your media files on Android, BubbleUPnP is an excellent choice. Its extensive support for various protocols and devices, seamless integration with popular services, advanced playback options, and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top-rated video players and editors on the Play Store. Although it has some minor drawbacks such as a paid license and occasional setup issues, these pale in comparison to its overall strengths and benefits. Therefore, I highly recommend giving BubbleUPnP a try if you want to enhance your home entertainment experience.
Updated 03-18-2023
Overview
BubbleUPnP is a versatile and feature-packed mobile app for Android users who want to stream, share, and download media files across different devices on their home network. Developed by Bubblesoft, this app provides seamless compatibility with popular protocols such as DLNA, UPnP, and Chromecast to access multimedia content from your smartphone or tablet to your TV or audio system without any technical hassles. With BubbleUPnP, you can easily manage your media library, create playlists, adjust playback settings, and much more.
Features
DLNA/UPnP Support
One of the standout features of BubbleUPnP is its native support for Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) and Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standards, which are widely used in modern home entertainment devices such as smart TVs, game consoles, Blu-ray players, and so on. This means you can wirelessly stream music, videos, and photos from your Android device to these devices, or vice versa, without requiring any additional hardware or software. Additionally, this feature supports transcoding, which converts incompatible formats into compatible ones for seamless playback.
Chromecast Integration
If you have a Chromecast device, BubbleUPnP can quickly connect to it and beam your favorite content to your TV in just a few taps. Chromecast support includes both audio and video casting, as well as screen mirroring for apps that do not natively support this feature. Moreover, BubbleUPnP allows you to extend the capabilities of Chromecast by adding features like cross-device streaming, cloud storage access, and offline playback.
Media Management
BubbleUPnP is designed to make managing and organizing your media content effortless. You can browse and play files directly from your Android device's internal storage, external SD card, or cloud storage accounts such as Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, and more. Furthermore, you can create playlists, shuffle tracks, set playback modes, adjust volume, equalizer settings, and even remotely control compatible devices like Xbox, PlayStation, Roku, and Apple TV.
Advanced Options
If you are an audiophile or a power user, BubbleUPnP has plenty of advanced options to fine-tune your experience. Some of these options include gapless playback, replay gain, dynamic range compression, crossfading, normalization, and high-resolution audio support. You can also customize the app's interface with different themes, fonts, icons, and layouts to suit your preferences.
Pros
Flexible and Intuitive Interface
BubbleUPnP has a clean and polished user interface that makes it easy to navigate and access its features. The app's main screen displays your media sources in a collapsible menu that you can expand or collapse anytime. The playback controls are conveniently located at the bottom, and you can easily switch between the player and the media library. Additionally, the app supports both landscape and portrait orientations, and you can customize the interface with various skins and colorschemes.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
BubbleUPnP is not limited to Android devices only. It is a cross-platform app that works across Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and even some Smart TVs, media streamers, and game consoles. Therefore, you can access your media files from anywhere and stream them to any device that supports DLNA, UPnP, and Chromecast protocols.
Robust and Reliable Performance
BubbleUPnP has a reputation for being a stable and robust app that seldom crashes or lags, even when dealing with multiple devices and large media libraries. The app has been extensively tested with various hardware and software configurations, and its developers regularly update it with bug fixes, performance improvements, and new features based on user feedback.
Cons
Paid Version Required for Some Features
While BubbleUPnP offers plenty of features in its free version, some of the more advanced options such as cloud storage access, offline playback, and DLNA server mode require a premium license. You can purchase this license through an in-app purchase, but some users may find it too expensive or unnecessary.
Complicated Setup for Certain Devices
Although BubbleUPnP strives to make network setup and device detection as easy as possible, some users might still encounter issues with certain devices or network configurations. For example, setting up Chromecast can be a bit tricky if you don't have the latest firmware, and some routers might require port forwarding or firewall configurations to work correctly. However, these issues are relatively rare and can usually be solved by consulting the app's support forum or contacting its customer service.
Comparison to Similar Apps
BubbleUPnP is one of the most comprehensive and polished apps for DLNA, UPnP, and Chromecast support on Android. Its closest competitors are arguably AllCast, Plex, and LocalCast, which offer similar features but with some limitations. AllCast focuses mainly on audio and video casting from your phone, while Plex and LocalCast offer more extensive media management options but with a steeper learning curve and higher costs. Compared to these apps, BubbleUPnP provides a perfect balance of functionality, ease of use, and affordability, making it an excellent choice for both casual and power users.
Tips for Using the App
Here are some tips to help you get started with BubbleUPnP:
Conclusion
If you are looking for a reliable, feature-rich, and user-friendly app to stream, share, and manage your media files on Android, BubbleUPnP is an excellent choice. Its extensive support for various protocols and devices, seamless integration with popular services, advanced playback options, and easy-to-use interface make it one of the top-rated video players and editors on the Play Store. Although it has some minor drawbacks such as a paid license and occasional setup issues, these pale in comparison to its overall strengths and benefits. Therefore, I highly recommend giving BubbleUPnP a try if you want to enhance your home entertainment experience.