Audio does not pause when switching app / multitasking on iOS

Chang

I am not sure if this is a bug or we have to handle it manually (by using Event.APPLICATION_SUSPEND)? :-/

My mp3 audio keep on playing after double-clicking on the home button (iOS).

I've tested the following situations: Lock, Home and Sleep. All seems to be working normally (audio paused).

atilim

Honestly I don't know if it's a bug or not. I've tested this situation with a couple of popular games. Some pause the mp3 audio, some not.

Chang

@atlim I just found some games did not pause the audio too (e.g. amateur surgeon 2).

atilim

@Chang, I think we can leave this behavior as it is.

Chang

Agreed.

moopf

I'd expect normal behaviour to be that the music stops - I can't honestly remember playing a game on iOS where that doesn't happen. I'm sure, like you say @atilim, that there are some, I just haven't come across them.

Be careful, this is exactly the kind of thing that Apple would love to reject an app for - unless it's a radio player, music player etc. where it's intentional.

OZApps

This is slightly off-topic but still related, last night I was trying to Facetime and it wasn't connecting, so when I pinched my iPad (5 finger gesture) to exit the app, suddenly I found some sound playing, I had to check all of my devices to see which one was the one that was playing the sound, I shut the iPad with the mag cover and still it wouldn't stop. It was like if I was streaming the sound from somewhere like Airplay (I was trying that earlier) however I switched the iPad off and the sound stopped.

So the audio in some apps can play at random times like that and nearly gave me a scare, definitely it is a bug. The app was an Objective-C app for a TV station allowing to play re-runs of shows.

Some of the apps/games I remember from the iPhone3 days would stutter with the sound or keep playing when they exited due to memory errors. Just saying, if that helps narrowing down the issues.

atilim

I've only a couple of games installed on my iPod touch. When I double click the home button here are the behaviors:

Kingdom Rush -> paused the music
Pocket Minion -> not paused the music
Albert -> paused the music
Flick Champs -> not paused the music

I think Pocket Minion and Flick Champs are two of the popular games.

On the other hand, I've also tested this with a children's book and unfortunately narration continues. I think this _may_ be acceptable for background music but not for narration.

For the last couple of days, I'm moving the iOS port of Gideros' sound system to ObjectAL. I haven't tested this on ObjectAL but most probably it handles this case well and pauses the background music. Therefore this issue will be solved when I finish the moving.

Thanks to @Chang, @moopf and @OZApps for the feedback.

moopf

Hi @atilim, I'm surprised that an app was allowed in the app store where the narration carries on playing!

Just downloaded Pocket Minions and the music fades out on my iPhone 4S when I click the home button and resumes again if I go back into the app. Interesting that it's working differently on your iPod touch though.

atilim

@moopf, here we're testing only "double click the home button" and not lock, home or sleep.

moopf

@atilim ha ok, I need to learn to read then. I've been reading this thread wrong all day. Sorry for creating confusion!