Audio Player Woes

I am posting here because I can't seem to provide feedback through the app (long story, not the issue I would like solved).

The issue I have has to do with the new audio player (I want to say it was updated in the spring?). I have nothing but trouble with it. The one item that really frustrates me is that it has to have focus it or won't play.

Here is what I mean by that. My normal routine is to start a conference talk (or chapter in the Book of Mormon), turn off the screen, and then pocket my phone, etc. However, with the screen off, the audio will stop after just a couple of minutes. I never used to have the screen on while listening. I once listened to all the talks in general conference on a long road trip without having the screen on. That can no longer happen.

This past week I was reminded of this bug when I was listening to conference and needed to switch to my navigation. Again, just a couple of minutes of me viewing navigation and the audio player quit.

The other frustrating part about this bug is when you go back to the audio player to turn it back on. The audio player appears to be still running (the pause button is still showing). The only thing you can do is hit the pause button which kills the audio player and you lose your place in the audio file.

Can anything be done?

Do you have any battery optimization settings turned on that prevent apps from running in the background? You can check under Android Settings > Apps > Gospel Library.

'Allow background usage' is turned on.

chamfamdad wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 4:32 pm However, with the screen off, the audio will stop after just a couple of minutes.

It sure sounds like something on the phone is shutting down. Perhaps the phone kills the internet connection when it's asleep?

As a test, you might try setting the app to text-to-speech mode (so it doesn't need an internet connection) and see if it does the same thing.

chamfamdad wrote: Mon Aug 12, 2024 4:32 pm I am posting here because I can't seem to provide feedback through the app (long story, not the issue I would like solved).

We're told that Feedback for Church Apps can also be provided via the "Feedback" link available at the bottom of most Church webpages, and that as long as you describe what's occurring, your Feedback will be routed to the appropriate "bin". That's probably a good thing to do, along with continuing to use the Forum to see if others can help diagnose your issue.

Since the consensus seems to be that it is a problem with my phone I have done some more testing.

I uninstalled the app and reinstalled it. This appears to have fixed the issue. Until I try listening to the Book of Mormon in Italian (default language is English). This causes the issue to start again, and the audio player is now in a state that won't let anything play unless the screen is on, and the app has focus.

The introductory sections in the Italian Book of Mormon have audio recordings, but 1 Nephi and later sections don't – they only have text-to-speech (computer-generated audio). I wonder if that has to do with it? Where in the Italian Book of Mormon were you listening?

If you try to listen to something else (like a general conference talk), does it work correctly, or does everything start failing after having listened to the Italian Book of Mormon?

Do you see a row that says "Text-to-Speech" at the top of the audio player?

sbradshaw wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 5:20 pm The introductory sections in the Italian Book of Mormon have audio recordings, but 1 Nephi and later sections don't – they only have text-to-speech (computer-generated audio). I wonder if that has to do with it? Where in the Italian Book of Mormon were you listening?

Alma 50s and yes, it is text to speech.

sbradshaw wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 5:20 pm If you try to listen to something else (like a general conference talk), does it work correctly, or does everything start failing after having listened to the Italian Book of Mormon?

Once the audio player gets messed up, it stays that way and it no longer works properly for anything else.

sbradshaw wrote: Fri Aug 16, 2024 5:20 pm Do you see a row that says "Text-to-Speech" at the top of the audio player?

Book of Mormon in Italian, yes. General Conference, no.