Sounds not playing with mute/ringer/silent switch?

Getting Started Newbie Questions
#1

I have an iOS app that is essentially a sound board.

When the user taps, I use (audio.play(sounds[currentSound]):wink: to play the currently selected sound.

I have received complaints in the app store that the app doesn’t work (play sounds) when the user has switched their ringer/mute/silent switch to slient mode.

It seems logical to me, but I have seen too many complaints to ignore it. I have poured through the forums and the docs, but I have not found any documentation relating to how to override the mute/ringer/silent switch on iPhones.

Thanks in advance!
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#2

Generally speaking, apps should not override the mute/ringer/silent switch. Doing so without good cause is grounds for rejection on the App Store.

That said, there are categories of apps that do need different mixing behaviors and Apple provides Audio Session Categories to control this:

http://developer.apple.com/library/ios/#documentation/Audio/Conceptual/AudioSessionProgrammingGuide/AudioSessionCategories/AudioSessionCategories.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40007875-CH4-SW1
To access these features in Corona, see this post:
http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/06/05/new-audiosession-properties

However, this is still considered advanced usage and is generally not advisable because if you don’t use the APIs just right, audio will not work as you expect.

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#3

Thanks for the response ewing.

If anything, I can pass the news of a risk of rejection on to the client to satisfy their curiosity. I can also add a popup to the apps advising the user to un-mute their phone. [import]uid: 42286 topic_id: 13672 reply_id: 50245[/import]

#4

I honestly can’t even believe that they are complaining about that. If you were to change it, you would then get complaints from the other side. To me, if I have the mute ON, I want no sounds to come out of my phone at all. Just hearing this complaint causes me to feel frustration for you. [import]uid: 31262 topic_id: 13672 reply_id: 50267[/import]

#5

I agree with you aaaron. I think if there’s a way to detect the switch being set to mute then display a warning, that would be the best… but a one-time warning popup for everyone would probably do the trick too.

I think if I simply mention the possibility of the app being rejected by Apple to the client they will not push the issue any farther.

I can also add a note to the iTunes Store description. [import]uid: 42286 topic_id: 13672 reply_id: 50294[/import]

#6

This reminds me of many of those ridiculous disclaimers companies were forced to put on their products to protect themselves from customers like these. Like how every coffee you buy says “contents may be hot”. Seems like common sense but sense isn’t so common nowadays. [import]uid: 31262 topic_id: 13672 reply_id: 50321[/import]

#7

Yeah, it’s down to what’s worse:

1.) complaints about something that is logical obvious ui pattern
2.) knee-jerk reactions from a client who pays REALLY well

It comes down to strategic diplomacy, ultimately. :slight_smile:

Thanks again everyone for your replies. [import]uid: 42286 topic_id: 13672 reply_id: 50332[/import]

#8

Is there a way to detect if the ringer switch is set to mute, and/or if the volume on the phone is set to zero? [import]uid: 56879 topic_id: 13672 reply_id: 50457[/import]

#9

You will need to use Audio Sessions to get the property.
http://developer.anscamobile.com/forum/2011/06/05/new-audiosession-properties

Look for the ‘backdoor trick’.
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