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Ask HN: Why can't modern smartphones play music smoothly?

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Re: Ask HN: Why can't modern smartphones play music smoothly?

#31

I'm perplexed how you're talking about this like it's a common problem people have had, something that's been ongoing for years. There is no stuttering problem on audio playback on any of the smart phones you've listed. And there hasn't been any stuttering problem since the initial launch of the first generation iPhone. The last time I remember any stuttering on any phone I've owned was maybe the Motorola Rokr twenty…

this was my take on reading it as well. my first thought was that it sounds like a bluetooth device. the only time I ever have issues is because of how shitty bluetooth is. when I use wired headphones, I never have issues

Even bluetooth now days is often fine if not buying bargain basement products.

I use pretty much exclusively bluetooth for audio between PCs/phone/TV and both earphones and speakers, and my car's stereo is the only bluetooth connection I have that ever has connection/lag issues at all (and even then it's infrequent enough that I still choose it over plugging a USB cable in between phone and car).

Re: Ask HN: Why can't modern smartphones play music smoothly?

#34
I use Android, not iPhone, but the only time I have stuttering issues is when I'm using Bluetooth headphones/earphones or speakers. When I'm using the physical jack, there is never an issue.

So my assumption has always been that the problem is Bluetooth. Perhaps RF interference or something.

Re: Ask HN: Why can't modern smartphones play music smoothly?

#35
post #14

Can’t say I’ve heard this. Audible app over Bluetooth to my car has issues between chapters/tracks. But it’s probably fair to blame Audible’s software for not handling this edge case very well (since I don’t encounter the same when switching tracks in other apps in the same setup). Maybe your issues are something similar, and specific to a particular case you have rather than a general issue with modern smartphones.

Could also be your car, I know mine has issues and sometimes even errors out to a Windows XP message[1].

Although since you mention Audible, it might be about the length of the tracks or something like that.

[1] https://imgur.com/CG6FwO9

Re: Ask HN: Why can't modern smartphones play music smoothly?

#36
Turn off any multi-hundred watt 2.4Ghz transmitters you might have in the house. Like the microwave.

I jest, but at the same time I don't. Like everyone else on this thread, I'm like "stutters? What is it, 1999 and I'm using a Pentium II to play my 28kbps MP3?" Ergo, if you're not using a hard-wired headphone connection, my only thought in this modern age is radio interference.

Re: Ask HN: Why can't modern smartphones play music smoothly?

#37
What "modern smartphone" cannot "play music smoothly"?

If you mean, "can't stream smoothly" - check your connection and your service choice (eg Paramount+ always seems to have problems for me ... regardless of the connection or device)

But "play music smoothly" has been a core feature (with nary a problem) since the first iPhone

Every one I have had runs all the audio I have ever wanted to run with no issue - 4G, 6S+, 8+, 11, SE, 14, and 15

My dad's and mother-in-law's Pixel 7 also have no issues

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