[Q] Bluetooth Media Buttons and App Functionality - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I am a recent switchover from iPhone 5 to a Galaxy s5 and need some clarification on how Bluetooth devices and their buttons work with applications both in focus and in background.
I use mapping programs like Waze in addition to Pandora, Spotify, ect and am finding that my car stereo's bluetooth controls don't seem to control the music in regards to play/pause/FF/RW unless the application is in the foreground. Is this the way it is supposed to function or is this a quirk with my S5?
From what I have read it seems like it is a limitation of the way Android handles the media controls, but I would like to know for sure.
I have also found the same to be true when using an LG Tone Pro with Chrome open. You can't control the music unless you either switch to the music app, or goto a menu function of Chrome and the media controls work again. For example, in Chrome open up bookmarks using the three little dots in top right and leave that window open and media controls work as long as this is in focus. Seems odd to me.
In Waze you get the same effect. If you click on the button in the lower left to bring up the menu, leave it open, you can use media controls as long as there is focus.. once you click away it goes away.
Hope somebody can tell me that I am missing something, because this is a real bummer.

Related

Does this App exist?

Id love to be able to control my android music player without having to switch out of the calendar or browser or whatever im working on. As of right now, to perform this multitasking, I hold the home button down for frequently-used applications, or pull down the notifications bars, and switch completely to the full music player before changing my song/volume and then returning back to what i was doing before. I suppose I could use a widget, but that would require going back to the homescreen.
Is there an implementation similar to the Apple iPhone that allows "pop-up" music controls in android? For those unfamiliar with iPhone OS, double tap the home button and a miniature control window pops up in front of what you are doing, letting you control very basic functions of the music player like volume and forward/reverse/play/pause. I'd love to have this functionality, as I am always listening to music when on my mobile.
Does this app exist? If not, this would be a great idea for the many devs who frequent this forum *wink-wink*
Not be rude, but if you added more into title then Does this app exist, more people would probly help you.
But your question, I wish they had something like that too i dont know of any.
I have always hoped that Android device would provide an extra button or extra gestures for which users would be able to assign arbitrary actions, actions menus or apps.

[Q] Music Control on Lock Screen & Task Manager

I want to bring to attention 2 Problems that I am facing with my new Galaxy S3:
1. Using the stock music player on the default lock screen (swipe), there is no music control feature to pause and skip tracks when I am listening to music. Now I know that there are 3rd party apps that can do that, but I am pretty sure that the stock music player must be able to do that too, since on my galaxy s it works. Has anyone the same problem and any ideas on how to solve it? I am thinking maybe it's a bug on my phone, and considering to 'manufacture reset' the phone to see if it changes.
2. I cannot find the stock task manager app anywhere. I know how to start the task manager ( hold home button), but the app is not there and neither any widgets. I wish there was a widget, so I can put it on the home screen to save time. Any solutions? ( again, not using 3rd party apps)
Thanks in advance
PS: I am also curious how to get rid of the branding logo (Optus Australia) that shows up on start-up, it really makes it look bad. Any suggestions?
I'm having exactly the same questions.
Has anyone a idea?
You can find the music controls by pulling down the notification bar on lockscreen. Let's hope they fix this in the next update.
Yeah, pulling down the notification bar works, but it's an extra step which is pretty much useless, because you might just as well swipe and unlock the phone. Really hope that Samsung/Google fixes this problem, it's so basic.
Also, the stock internet browser seems to be not perfec either: Flash-related problems can occur, especially when watching youtube using the browser, sometimes it just keeps loading and doesn't play. I got the adobe flash player installed, still no change. Anyone sharing same problems?
same question, is there any way to add a shortcut to task manager other than long press home key ?
If you want task manager you can go Samsung app store you can download it. While you are there download photo editor too.
You get music controls if you use a Pin lock instead of just swipe... Silly, I know, but at least you increase your phones protection too
AndiTails said:
You get music controls if you use a Pin lock instead of just swipe... Silly, I know, but at least you increase your phones protection too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
... I don't get music controls on the lockscreen if I set a pin lock..
AndiTails said:
You get music controls if you use a Pin lock instead of just swipe... Silly, I know, but at least you increase your phones protection too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I did that sometime ago and totally forgot how it appeared.
suggest you go for poweramp , the preset has much better sound then stock player
"Apllication Monitor" available in samsung apps
_bottle_ said:
same question, is there any way to add a shortcut to task manager other than long press home key ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install application monitor widget from more services or samsung apps
AndiTails said:
You get music controls if you use a Pin lock instead of just swipe... Silly, I know, but at least you increase your phones protection too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a pinlock and get no music controls at all. Tried all the various settings?

[Q] Bluetooth headphone controls, plus question about stock music app

Hi,
I installed Winamp Pro on my Galaxy S3 (running 4.0.4), but when I try and use the controls on my Bluetooth headphones it launches the stock music app. Is there any way to set it so that those controls control Winamp instead? I have the relevant check box checked in Winamp, but it doesn't appear to make a difference.
Also, when the stock music app is launched via the icon in the regular app list, you are taken to a view where at the top of the screen it says All, Playlists, Albums, Artists etc. How do you get to this view if you launch the app via the widget?
When I click on the widget it brings up the main screen, but it displays the album art for the current track along with player controls. I can scroll left and right to change tracks, but only for that particular album. If I press the little on-screen button (bottom-right) I get a text based list of tracks, but again, for the current album only. I can't get to that screen that has "All, Playlists, Albums" etc. at the top in order to select a different album or browse my library.
Thanks in advance for any help!
Hi,
For the second part of your query, I believe this is a bug (which I intend to contact Samsung about today).
There is a way around it: from the screen you've described, there should be a button at the right under the album art (next to the shuffle and repeat controls). If you press this it takes you to the "music square" screen. At the top you will now have the menu for playlists, artists, etc.
On mine, in order to not have to scroll across the top, I've disabled everything except Artist and Music Square. Unfortunately you can't disable music square as this also disables the button!
As for the first part, I'm not entirely sure for Winamp but the option to respond to Bluetooth (or headset) controls should be within the Winamp settings (something like "override headset buttons" or something.
Thanks for the reply.
After starting this thread, I noticed that "music square" workaround when watching YouTube vids of people showing off the phone. I had hidden that option, which is why I was finding it impossible to get back to that main menu!
As for Winamp, I've switched to another player now, but I believe Winamp has now been updated to fix the problem I mentioned.

[Q] Switching between 4 apps in the car and other environments

What is the fastest and easiest way way to switch between four apps in the car. For example Google Nav, Poweramp, Trapster, and a speedometer app. A wave of the hand would be nice. I have looked at several and used a few. Smart Task Switcher, a reviewer said “Was warned about this app due to access to contacts permissions which dev says is used in China for advertising”. AppSwipe only does two ( the last opened). The “car apps” say nothing about task switching or is it shown in the Youtube videos. It would be nicer if an app would isolate and load these four programs from one key push then allow fast switching. A snap of the fingers would be another way to switch between these four apps. Also, a slideshow type thing of these four apps with the option to stay on the current one showing might be an idea. Or, one app that puts to the front the needed app, like the media player about the first and last 5 seconds of a song, trapster like app that would popup during notifications, navigation about 10 seconds before and after turns, and the speedometer the rest of the time. I'm just thinking out loud. Holding down the home key is not a good fit. Bottom line is I need a better task switcher (not killer) for the auto. An app that would allow me to map a steering wheel button in my 2011 Ford Fusion SEL for task switching would be golden! A friend's suggestion was to get four phones, so that one is already out there.
I tried Car Dock Home v3. It works by using a launcher that uses the back key to return to it's home screen, then another task can be selected via a shortcut. Unfortunately it cancels Google Navigation when the back key is hit to go to CDHv3 home screen. This would have been a better solution as it takes two key presses. It would be the best solution to perform one action to cycle through the desired programs. I installed Smart Task Switcher and that was good in theory but I could not find how to configure correctly and the floating button is far too small and often requires several taps, and that is sitting at the desk. There is a paid version where some of this is supposedly settable but from my experience with this app I don't think this is a solution.
The car was the first place that came to mind. But the need to quickly and efficiently switch task is useful in several environments.
I have hit a dead end and any suggestions would be appreciated.
Hey man,Im surprised you expect a phone to act as a tomtom,mp3 player and christ knows what else simultaneously.
theunderling said:
Hey man,Im surprised you expect a phone to act as a tomtom,mp3 player and christ knows what else simultaneously.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The S2 runs everything just fine, there is just not an efficient way to switch between them.

Media Control Pad?

Is there any way to get a 'media control pad' on the 2nd screen - like the LG Game Pad but to control Hulu or other video apps, or music apps - pause/play, rewind, etc.?
Was watching on one screen and would've liked to be able to use the other screen to control.
Thanks!
interesting idea. only thing I can think of is adding a widget to the dual screen for whatever particular media app you want to control, like Spotify.

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