Android App Volume Control Issue

Answered
Reuben Levy

My setup: Android 14 (latest v) with BluOS, streaming Tidal CONNECT on PowerNode (latest v). I am NOT broadcasting phone>Powernode, rather using Tidal Connect. 

I've asked support but not received a straightforward answer to the following: 

What is the expected behaviour:

1)  When music is playing but I am running another (non BluOS) app, should the Android volume controls/rockers adjust the volume, or not? (they don't for me)

2) When the phone is locked, should the Android volume controls/rockers adjust the volume, or not? (they don't for me)

For me, the only way the Android volume controls/rockers adjust the volume is if I'm in the BluOs app.

Thanks

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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • Official comment
    Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    1)  When music is playing but I am running another (non BluOS) app, should the Android volume controls/rockers adjust the volume, or not? (they don't for me)

    2) When the phone is locked, should the Android volume controls/rockers adjust the volume, or not? (they don't for me)

    For me, the only way the Android volume controls/rockers adjust the volume is if I'm in the BluOs app.

    THIS is the intended and expected behaviour as per the requirements of Android. Volume should only work if in the App.

    In iOS volume should NEVER work as the BluOS Player is not the source of audio, merely a remote of an audio device. If using AirPlay, Spotify Connect or Bluetooth, then the phone is the source and volume will work.

  • John Cartwright

    I have The same problem. I stream a lot from my firestick via optical cable and find it very frustrating to have to open the Bluos App everytime I want to alter the volume. Please sort this issue out BluOs. Every other app can managed to implant it into their software.It can't be that hard to do?

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  • Bjørn Ulvik
    Hi-Res

    All depends on the android version.
    Android 10 and lower, the volume can be controlled even with the phone locked.


    Not tested Android 11, but from 12 an up you will not be able to control the volume unless the app is open.

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  • John Cartwright
    • Edited

    Even with the app open but minimised the volume doesn't work. Where as with other apps you can alter the volume when they are minimised.

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  • Chris Tyas

    Hi Tony,

    to clarify your message above, the intended and expected behaviour of the hardware volume rocker buttons with regard Bluos on an Android device is:

    1. When streaming using Bluos device but Bluos phone app is not in focus, phone hardware volume controls/rockers should not adjust the Bluos volume.

    2. When the phone screen is locked, the phone hardware volume controls/rockers should not adjust the volume of Bluos (or other) devices.

    If this is true then the actual behaviour reported by some users (Bluos app has focus of hardware volume rockers at all times, even when other app on phone is playing audio and outside of Bluos home wifi connection and hardware buttons continuing to manipulate Bluos device volume when phone screen is locked) is not intentional or expected and is a bug?

    I have been reporting this unwanted, annoying and potentially dangerous behaviour for months and I don't believe Bluesound have recognised it as a software fault to date.

    Can you please reassure users that a fix is being actively pursued by Bluesound? If there is anything I can do to help fault-find (logs etc) please let me know.

    Thanks, Chris Tyas.

     

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  • Tony W.
    Product Support Manager

    Hi Chris

    I can re-assure you it has been reported to both our Quality Assurance and Product Development teams who actively and repeatedly test it against Android requirements provided by Google's SDKs. If your particular device is an issue, please report details of it to support@bluesound.com including make, model, and versions form the About page of your device. We likely will not be able to resolve it quickly but add your specific advice to test cases or report it is failing test cases to Google.

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  • Chris Tyas

    Thanks for the reply Tony.

    I reported the two issues (Bluos retaining focus of phone hardware rockers indefinitely and rockers still being active when phone is locked) and the official reply from Kyle F in support was: 

    The intent is that you are to force close the app when you aren't around the system(such as when you leave your house) just like many other apps that users use.
     Furthermore, the other user is correct about how long this has been present, as it's been like this for quite some time and will very likely remain as such due to what the functionality is intended for.
     If this is inconveniencing you, force close the app when you are leaving the area where the Bluesound installation is for best results and to avoid the behavior all together.
     You can also force close the app when you are at home to avoid the behavior and only open the app when you want to use it(as the BluOS app is intended as a remote and designed to be opened for short periods of time).
     I use Android and am subject to the same behavior, force closing works perfectly fine for me and I hope it will for you too.


    Basically: "Yes; Bluesound support have the same issues but we are not accepting or admitting that it is undesirable behaviour at all and here's a workaround that is awful!" and the phone locked issue was just ignored, hence my comment above that Bluesound had not recognised it as an issue.

    Happy to provide details and even videos to support the issue.

    Thanks, Chris Tyas.

     

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