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Spotify Blames Apple for Loss of iPhone Volume Button Control of Connected Devices
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Correct me, if I'm wrong. But I'm not aware of any circumstances, where iPhone allows playback from more than one app simultaneously.
I assumed the whole point of Sonos and Spotify was to be an intermediary between the speaker and the device with the app installed so that other audio could then be played on the device with the app installed without interrupting the audio playing on the speakers? Effectively handing control of playing the audio on the external speaker from the native device to the third party app, thus freeing up the native device to play other audio through it’s own speakers.
Airplay 2 supports remote-sourced audio and video just fine, as long as the stream fits into the supported set of features on the Airplay 2 receiver.
Yep. You can look at the 'camera button' rumored this year and extrapolate that they will probably remove volume button reading from camera apps on newer hardware as well.
I think the appropriate solution for Apple is to support non-Airplay targets to be provided by applications. Let me send a video I'm watching in Safari to my TV via Chromecast, if Google wants to add support.
I want the music to stop when I leave home, why not let the users decide what they want and as mentioned before they used to support AirPlay.
The complaints about the Apple ecosystem apply also to Spotify ecosystem and as a developer it's extremely restricted what you can do with Spotify API's.
Spotify spent years complaining of not having access to the AirPods, but when the access came, they decided not to provide that service to the users. So, Spotify is doing exactly the same, that they complain to other companies about, so they should begin by cleaning their own house, before complaining about others!
I tried it just now, and indeed, you can play music in the background with Spotify Connect on an external speaker and additionally play audio from another source in Safari or even another app.
Controlling the volume of the external playback with the volume buttons still works, even if it's potentially confusing.
Spotify connect and AirPlay 2 should both be supported. They supported AirPlay before they created their own ecosystem, so they are trying to force their users into their ecosystem, which is fine. But don't complain of others, if you do the same!
They are both supported. Inside the Spotify app on iPhone I can choose between Connect speakers, my Apple TV and Bluetooth speakers.
Apple is not “letting the users decide”. Users decided to use a workflow that has worked since 2013, which Apple has now deprecated. I explained in detail in a post above why Spotify can’t just fix the problem by implementing Apple’s API.
Spotify Connect is a fantastic technology and probably embarrasses Apple because it makes devices feel far more integrated than AirPlay or anything in the Apple ecosystem — which is the whole point of the Apple ecosystem.
I used Apple Music briefly and was blown away by how unintegrated it felt compared to Spotify. Controlling music playback and playlists on my Mac when it’s playing on my iPhone or vice versa (not to mention non Apple devices/speakers) is just so elegant.
It’s no wonder both companies are being stubborn here but it sucks for consumers and I wouldn’t mind at all if the EU bullies Apple on this particular point. I don’t want AirPlay to work better with Spotify; I want Spotify Connect and similar services to work with my Apple devices. Or Apple to create a universal API more like the X-connect ones — which isn’t in their best interests. (Edit to add: and would not likely be integrated with older devices unless it has some kind of bridge with the connect services).
Also adding: the original article here could have provided way more context on the actually tech underpinnings of this dispute
I used Apple Music briefly and was blown away by how unintegrated it felt compared to Spotify. Controlling music playback and playlists on my Mac when it’s playing on my iPhone or vice versa (not to mention non Apple devices/speakers) is just so elegant.
It’s no wonder both companies are being stubborn here but it sucks for consumers and I wouldn’t mind at all if the EU bullies Apple on this particular point. I don’t want AirPlay to work better with Spotify; I want Spotify Connect and similar services to work with my Apple devices. Or Apple to create a universal API more like the X-connect ones — which isn’t in their best interests. (Edit to add: and would not likely be integrated with older devices unless it has some kind of bridge with the connect services).
Also adding: the original article here could have provided way more context on the actually tech underpinnings of this dispute
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Yeah. They have already been slapped by regulators for shady behaviour in this area though, this just seems like more of the same.
Microsoft got charged with being an illegal monopoly for using APIs themselves that they denied use to 3rd parties.
You mean in 2012? So 13 years pass and there is more of the same. Nothing like some good hyperbole.
But you’re attempting to create some tenuous connection going back 13 years to prove apple is bad guy rather than Spotify who should be doing the work.
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technically there is something apple is using to control apple tv volume with the volume buttons via the remote app
i imagine that’s private cause access to that feature would solve this for spotify. it’s not airplay either cause it’s not casting or streaming the app works instantly
Spotify was the first music service to piss me off and I'm never going back. I really wish Apple and other tech companies would just strong arm the EU. Cease business in the EU entirely and see how long the EU lasts as a political organization last when none of their tech works.
If you are still interested in this, the Impact assessment of the Digital Markets Act explains the reasoning behind the DMA decisions. Of particular interest at page 37 of Part 1 they explain the reasoning behind the identification of "core platform services".
For end users, it’s irrelevant who’s at fault. It’s the device in people’s hands who consciously or subconsciously gets blamed or seen as at fault. So mainly, even if theoretically this WAS Spotify’s fault, most people would feel there was something wrong with their device.
Ergo…this sort of thing hurts Apple more than anything and the accumulation of similar “episodes” just confirms this sentiment.
Ergo…this sort of thing hurts Apple more than anything and the accumulation of similar “episodes” just confirms this sentiment.
True - and controlling the volume in the audio app that’s active and right in front of you on the screen is a no-brainer.
Can‘t Google do it themselves in their Chrome browser?
I mean, the DMA ensures they have access to the necessary „core platform“ OS features.
What an evil wish and dystopian future you‘re envisioning where the biggest for-profit corporations in the world dismantle whole governments.
After reading that I’m even more annoyed at the DMA than I was previously. What a joke of a law.