White Noise - Screen lock stops sound on iOS 5

[rjhardaway]

I updated White Noise to v5.0.2 last night on my iPod Touch 3G with OS 5. White Noise now turns off when the display turns off. Since I use White Noise to fall asleep, this makes White Noise worthless. Is there a fix in the works for this bug?


SOLUTION:
Through experimentation, I solved this issue. I don't know if this is considered a workaround, but it does work.

Both "Screen Lock" and "Background Audio" must be turned ON. This allows the iPod Touch display to turn off, and allows White Noise to continue playing per my Stop Sound setting.

This solution was not intuitive, since "Background Audio" applies to mixing White Noise sounds with iPod music.

[toddm]

This is not a bug in White Noise but a new design change made by Apple in iOS 5. Applications are now suspended when screen lock is engaged. This means they are put to sleep just like you had pressed the home button. Prior to iOS 5 the application was made inactive which still allowed for execution. The only solution is what you have already done which is to enable background audio. This means audio will continue to play in the background as well as when the screen is locked.

We are thinking of removing the background audio setting and just keep it always on so it won't confuse people that are use to applications running with screen lock engaged.

Cheers,
Todd

[toddm]

This might help to better explain the settings of White Noise:

Background Audio - This allows playing of audio in the background such as when you press the home button and locking of the screen (iOS 5 only)

Screen Lock - This allows for the screen lock to engage at a time specified in your general device settings. Turning it OFF will disable the screen being able to automatically lock. This is useful if you always want the app interface to always be displayed. The sleep LED clock automatically disables screen lock so the setting is not applied to that.

Auto Sleep - This will enable the sleep LED clock after 2 minutes of inactive app use.

Mix with Music - This allows for the iPod player to continue playing music with White Noise audio.

iPod Control Integration - This enables White Noise to be controlled using the iPod controls found in the multitask panel, lock screen, and headphones with controls.

[Gman]

I agree with rjhardaway, the solution is not intuitive AND it needs a solution... With a zillion downloads and people upgrading, this has and will continue to create a lot of confusion. I just upgraded my very old 3G iphone to the 4S... and for the first time am having/getting to deal with the concept of multiple open applications. I sort of understand why White Noise changed for iOS5.

But if I were the dude who got to make all the decisions, here's what I would do...

#1. Get rid of the background audio setting as you guys are thinking of doing - it's very confusing and the short descriptions (screen lock and background audio) don't really explain what they do. Just make it so that (like the iPod function) the music/white noise continues to play when you turn off the screen... that's intuitive.

#2. Add a button/setting to exit or 'kill' the app. Not just the pause button. Sometimes, I want to fully exit the app before my timer has expired and I don't want it hanging in the background -- the next time I open the app, I want my timer to start at the beginning, not to 'un-pause' from where I was.

Thanks for creating an awesome app.

[localist]

Help. I am using version 5.0.2 on iOS5 but do not have the Background Audio option under settings.

[toddm]

Oh I assume your running White Noise Lite (free version). These steps are for the full version. We are looking into having a solution for the lite version soon but it will require an update, whereas the full version does not.

[localist]

I see. Ok thanks.

[rnesson]

Hi Todd,

I see that you recently released a new version that fixes the background audio problem. I'm a developer of another app (This American Life) for which some users are experiencing the audio stopping when the screen locks on iOS5. The problem did not occur prior to iOS5. We're not able to reproduce the problem on our test devices though. I'm wondering if you have any intelligence you could share with us on what you did to fix this issue. I'd really appreciate it. You can reach me at rebecca@prx.org if you want to respond out of the forum.

Thanks,
Rebecca

[JeffB]

Can the admins pls update instructions on this issue from Oct? I am still not sure what each of the settings control.

If I have WN running at bedtime, any notification (something from my calendar, a txt message, etc) during the night will shut it down. These notifications come from work etc are generally out of my control.

How do I make sure WN continues to run all night? I am running the paid ver 5.0.3.

Thanks.

--Jeff

[Hjackson5]

It is obvious that I really want to be part of your site. I really love how you make people to have an interest in your site which helps me a lot. Thank you so much for this.

[gheffron]

I just updated the app and don't see the option in settings for background audio. I am using this for my infant at her naps and it keeps going to sleep which is turning off the speakers and waking her up. Any help is much appreciated.
Thanks!

[toddm]

gheffron the latest version removed background audio because it is now always on to remove confusion of the new screen lock policy. Let me know exactly which app your running and what version. Thanks, Todd