How does WearOS iOS app circumvent background app suspension? - Wear OS Software and Hacking General

Hi everyone,
IIRC WearOS can display currently played song name on iDevices using their official app.
Interestingly enough, iOS has no implicit way to receive NSNotifications sent by MPMusicPlayerController.system in background.
My suspicion is that WearOS watch sends a periodic BLE heartbeat/ping to request media player state updates from app.
Is there anyone here able to confirm or smash my theory?

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[Q] Streaming Audio Problems (NOT the usual complaint)

Hey guys, I posted this over at Android Forums and, of course, I should have done so here first. I'm having a problem with the QUALITY of streaming audio, as described below. I'm hoping you guys can find a solution--this is the only thing I don't like about the MoPho
----- BEGIN SNIP -----
Hey, guys, I'm having a strange problem with streaming audio which I'd really appreciate if someone could confirm and perhaps help me troubleshoot. I'm certain this is a MoPho specific issue--I'll explain why below...
BACKGROUND:
I am a "feed provider"--I put a police scanner online through radioreference.com which monitors Indianapolis (Marion Co, Indiana) police agencies' dispatch channels. It's a digital system which is difficult to monitor; it requires an expensive radio, ideally located and programmed correctly. At any given time, from a handful to dozens (or more) people listen online via PC's, Macs, and SmartPhones of all manner and description.
I use the paid version of a free app, Scanner Radio by Gordon Edwards, (which I'm sure many of you use--it's a great app) to enjoy and keep tabs on my feed. A couple of days ago, my audio went to hell on the MoPho. I'm hearing brief, spurious bursts of noise during both periods of silence and during transmissions. These can occur from a few seconds to a minute or more apart. I hear these same problems using Wunder Radio to monitor my feed.
I also hear a different problem when monitoring NOAA weather broadcasts using both apps. It manifests itself a bit differently, but I'm convinced it's the same basic issue. On those broadcasts, it seems that the audio might be playing a very slight bit too slowly, and "catches up" via an intermittent, steady, cyclic, nearly instantaneous "skip". It sounds something like this...
"In Indianlis, at eight PM the temperature was eighty-en degrees, and the relative humidity was seventy-two peent" with no pauses--the audio is continuous.
SOLUTIONS I'VE TRIED:
1. Confirmed problem is MoPho specific by monitoring same sources with same apps on a Galaxy Tab. Everything sounded fine.
2. Changed DNS server and Port Addresses to 0,0,0,0 and 0, respectively. No improvement noted.
3. Factory-reset MoPho. Installed just Scanner Radio Pro. Problem was still present.
4. Have tried wi-fi, 3G, and 4G. Problem exists in all cases.
5. Scanner Radio (free and pro both) have an option to stream via their own built-in player or the native Android media player. Problem exists using both.
CONCLUSION:
If anyone wants to have a go at this, my specific feed can be found in Scanner Radio at Browse, Browse by area, United States, Indiana, Marion County, Marion County Police Dispatch. I'm at a loss--I'm confounded and I hope someone can help me work this out.
----- END SNIP -----
Here's a link to the thread where potential issues have been discussed. I've tried several things, including installing the leaked update (no problems there, thanks guys!) but the problems remain. Many thanks in advance for any help you all can give.
http://androidforums.com/motorola-photon-4g/394721-streaming-audio-problem-please-help.html
It's almost like some sort of a buffering issue...
I do believe I'm "hot on the trail" of this problem... From ScannerCast's configuration and usage page:
"Playback Using RealPlayer Results In Periodic Noise
If you play back a stream created by ScannerCast using any version of RealPlayer, the resulting audio will contain periodic pops, clicks, screeches, and noise. This happens whether you directly listen to a ScannerCast stream, or you listen to a stream created by ScannerCast that's being relayed through a SHOUTcast/Icecast server.
This problem occurs because RealPlayer incorrectly handles the SHOUTcast metadata interval parameter, causing it to attempt to decode the metadata as MP3 audio data. This bug was first reported to the RealPlayer developers in 2005, and applies to any SHOUTcast or Icecast stream that doesn't use the default metadata interval of 16K. Real Networks (the for-profit company that owns RealPlayer) hasn't fixed the bug in all these years, and my attempts to report this problem to the RealPlayer developers, or at least hear their side of the story, received no reply.
While ScannerCast could be changed to use the default metadata interval, that would seriously degrade tag/audio synchronization. I have no plans to change the way ScannerCast works to make it work with a third-rate, broken, media player."
Sound familiar???
tbhausen said:
I do believe I'm "hot on the trail" of this problem... From ScannerCast's configuration and usage page:
"Playback Using RealPlayer Results In Periodic Noise
If you play back a stream created by ScannerCast using any version of RealPlayer, the resulting audio will contain periodic pops, clicks, screeches, and noise. This happens whether you directly listen to a ScannerCast stream, or you listen to a stream created by ScannerCast that's being relayed through a SHOUTcast/Icecast server.
This problem occurs because RealPlayer incorrectly handles the SHOUTcast metadata interval parameter, causing it to attempt to decode the metadata as MP3 audio data. This bug was first reported to the RealPlayer developers in 2005, and applies to any SHOUTcast or Icecast stream that doesn't use the default metadata interval of 16K. Real Networks (the for-profit company that owns RealPlayer) hasn't fixed the bug in all these years, and my attempts to report this problem to the RealPlayer developers, or at least hear their side of the story, received no reply.
While ScannerCast could be changed to use the default metadata interval, that would seriously degrade tag/audio synchronization. I have no plans to change the way ScannerCast works to make it work with a third-rate, broken, media player."
Sound familiar???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why does this affect you? Our default media player isn't RealPlayer. Or you saying that's what you've been using? Sorry...confused, hoping to see you resolve this tho...good luck!
No, but I believe the in app player for Scanner Radio and teh Andriod player as implemented in the MoPho have an identical (or very similar) problem. I won't rest until I get to the bottom of this or my 30 days is up, whichever comes first.
tbhausen said:
No, but I believe the in app player for Scanner Radio and teh Andriod player as implemented in the MoPho have an identical (or very similar) problem. I won't rest until I get to the bottom of this or my 30 days is up, whichever comes first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah...gotcha. Have you tried using alternate players then? Seems there's a few that support feeds in the market. Double Twist? Doggcatcher
Bandage said:
Why does this affect you? Our default media player isn't RealPlayer. Or you saying that's what you've been using? Sorry...confused, hoping to see you resolve this tho...good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would also be willing to wager that the stream that is used is Shoutcast...as this was the same problem with the MLB app and moto phones. When you switch the alternate audio for streaming MLB games in app instead of the Shoutcast method the problem goes away.
SOLVED (Workaround)
SOLVED:
Apparently, Motorola phones don't like 16kbps mono audio streams. I set up alternative broadcasting software and changed my feed to 32kbps stereo, and the feed plays well with the in-app (Scanner Radio) player--not so well with the Android player. The feed is now listenable, and I hipe this helps people (even if they hadn't experienced the problem--yet...).
tbhausen said:
SOLVED:
Apparently, Motorola phones don't like 16kbps mono audio streams. I set up alternative broadcasting software and changed my feed to 32kbps stereo, and the feed plays well with the in-app (Scanner Radio) player--not so well with the Android player. The feed is now listenable, and I hipe this helps people (even if they hadn't experienced the problem--yet...).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice TB...glad you figured it out!!

[Q] Mirror iOS display on smart watch

I currently have an iPhone 5 and a rooted Motoactv fitness watch. I saw an ad for a device that mirrors your iOS screen onto a watch thats powered by android. However, the watch does not have a release date. The watch is called "Starfish." I was wondering if they're are any android applications that will mirror my iPhone's display on them and perhaps use touch input to control them? My iPhone is jailbroken so installing an app on my iPhone side is ok. I've considered something like VNC but when I'm out and about it needs to maintain a connection between the phone and the watch. Bluetooth perhaps? Just wondering if this could be done or if anyone is willing to work on it? I do not know anything about developing but I have a lot of good ideas.

Does the Gear S have media controls?

I understand there is a music player. You can control the music from the music player on your phone or on your watch, but I use Spotify most of the time and don't actually have any music on the phone itself. Right now I have the Gear Live and it works great for media control. Anything that would pop up controls on my lock screen, for instance: I also get controls for video too like Netflix when I'm streaming to Chromecast. I've been unhappy with the very limited cards interface of Android Wear and was looking at the Gear S but I really need media controls.
Also will the Gear S only work with Samsung Messages? Can I use Samsung Messages on the watch while using something else on my phone? Right now I'm using the Google Messenger app they just released with the beautiful material design look.
I would love it to have basic Bluetooth music controls also which is a MUST. Very few ppl still use the stock music apps and not online services.
That way we can control other devices and stereos also.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hm. So the Media Controls app doesn't seem to have made it to the Gear S even though it is on the Gear 2 and all of the others. Not sure why it isn't there.
The Gear S will only work fully with Samsung's messaging app on the phone. Hangouts functionality beyond notifications is locked down to Android Wear and Android devices by Google.
So there is no Spotify control on gear s? ?
I control Spotify flawlessly from my gear s. It's a wonderful feature.
Actually there is one. Stock music player is the basic bluetooth media controller.. just click 3 dots on the bottom right of the widget. Then you have option to 1 control device and 2 control music on the gear. Choose control device. Now you can control the media with your gear s.
I call samsung as samsuck but its not that sucks to remove basic bluetooth media controller. Hope it helped =)
Sent from my SM-G925T using XDA Free mobile app
sbrownla said:
The Gear S will only work fully with Samsung's messaging app on the phone. Hangouts functionality beyond notifications is locked down to Android Wear and Android devices by Google.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock Gear S (EU version at least) fully work with Hangout. You can answer by canned answer or by Keyboard or by Voice Input You must install also the Wear app even if you have not a Wear Device, (answer API are in Wear app and not on phone app)
Otherwise there are app on store for extended notification wich works for Gear S with not last firmware (from specific operator).
The Gear Notification Extender app in the Play Store let's me use forward and backward and pause controls when I'm listening to Google Play Music from my phone.

[Q] App Request: Gear Fit Watch Screen Off Timer

I need an app that will allow me to set a screen off timer for my Samsung Gear Fit watch. I will use this for when I'm in a business meeting or at the movies. It's preferrable that it be Tasker compatible.
Does anyone know if this exists?

Apple TV app equivalent for android

Hi everyone,
I'm currently searching an equivalent to Apple TV app for android. Not only an aggregator like JustWatch but a complete app where you can find movies and series you started and where you stopped.
After some research, I considered to try to make this app but I found no API for services like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video or Disney+.
Anyone know of an application that meets these criteria ?
Thank You

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