Spotify says Apple is blocking volume controls for connected devices

AppleInsider

Streaming service Spotify says iPhone users can no longer use the physical buttons to control volume when sending music over Spotify Connect to other hardware devices.

Spotify logo

Spotify's latest complaint against Apple concerns a change that the company has reportedly made to the access third-party firms have to its iPhone hardware and specifically the volume buttons.

There is no difference when using the iPhone Spotify app -- the iPhone's physical volume buttons work exactly as they ever did. However, if a user is using Spotify Connect to send music from the iPhone to a device such as a separate speaker system, the physical buttons no longer work.

"Apple has discontinued the technology that enables Spotify to control volume for connected devices using the volume buttons on the device," says Spotify's support page. "While we work with them on a solution, you can use the Spotify app to easily adjust the volume on your connected device."

According to TechCrunch, Spotify's working with Apple consists of the streamer includes claiming that this is in violation of the European Union's Digital Markets Act. Specifically, the DMA requires Apple to provide the same hardware and software features to third parties that it has for its own services.

Consequently, Spotify has reportedly asked Apple to allow it to control the volume when using Spotify Connect to send music to HomePods. However, Apple has said that it requires Spotify's app to add integration with HomePods.

In 2019, Spotify complained to the EU that Apple was denying it access to the HomePod. Spotify has also refused Apple's help in adding AirPlay 2 support, which as recently as 2023 it still says is coming.



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apple4thewin

Not Spotify again whining 

ITGUYINSD

apple4thewin said:

Not Spotify again whining 

You mean not Apple playing dictator again?  taking away access to functions that were allowed, and for no good reason, is just Apple being a bully.  
Could the fact that Spotify has more subscribers than Apple Music have something to do with it?

anonymouse

ITGUYINSD said:

apple4thewin said:

Not Spotify again whining 

You mean not Apple playing dictator again?  taking away access to functions that were allowed, and for no good reason, is just Apple being a bully.  
Could the fact that Spotify has more subscribers than Apple Music have something to do with it?

It didn't work properly and there's an API for doing this a different way that does work properly. Spotify is just too cheap and lazy to update their software to do it the right way. So, yes, this is definitely Spotify whining and much ado about nothing.

But, I guess you missed all this,

Consequently, Spotify has reportedly asked Apple to allow it to control the volume when using Spotify Connect to send music to HomePods. However, Apple has said that it requires Spotify's app to add integration with HomePods. 

In 2019, Spotify complained to the EU that Apple was denying it access to the HomePod. Spotify has also refused Apple's help in adding AirPlay 2 support, which as recently as 2023 it still says is coming. 

This is what happens when you spoil a child, they think they are entitled to everything, now, with no effort on their part, and throw a tantrum when they don't get it.

robin huber

Seems like Apple is being treated like a public utility these days. Let Apple be Apple, and if you don’t like it, create your own walled garden. 

danox

anonymouse said:

ITGUYINSD said:

apple4thewin said:

Not Spotify again whining 

You mean not Apple playing dictator again?  taking away access to functions that were allowed, and for no good reason, is just Apple being a bully.  
Could the fact that Spotify has more subscribers than Apple Music have something to do with it?

It didn't work properly and there's an API for doing this a different way that does work properly. Spotify is just too cheap and lazy to update their software to do it the right way. So, yes, this is definitely Spotify whining and much ado about nothing.

But, I guess you missed all this,

Consequently, Spotify has reportedly asked Apple to allow it to control the volume when using Spotify Connect to send music to HomePods. However, Apple has said that it requires Spotify's app to add integration with HomePods. 

In 2019, Spotify complained to the EU that Apple was denying it access to the HomePod. Spotify has also refused Apple's help in adding AirPlay 2 support, which as recently as 2023 it still says is coming. 

This is what happens when you spoil a child, they think they are entitled to everything, now, with no effort on their part, and throw a tantrum when they don't get it.

Spotify wants Apple to send fly program teams to Sweden and provide on site software support which is something Apple did for them before they Spotify went ape s—t.

davidw

ITGUYINSD said:

apple4thewin said:

Not Spotify again whining 

You mean not Apple playing dictator again?  taking away access to functions that were allowed, and for no good reason, is just Apple being a bully.  
Could the fact that Spotify has more subscribers than Apple Music have something to do with it?

You are as clueless as Spotify. The volume buttons on the Apple device are mainly use to control the volume on the device own internal speakers or external speakers that are connected using the analog audio jack. Anyone with a clue about maintaining audio quality with a digital audio stream knows that the volume of the audio should be changed after the DAC converts the digital audio to analog. Changing the volume (or any equalization) on the digital stream before it's converted to analog, will degrade the quality of the audio.

For the volume buttons on the Apple device to change the volume of the audio on a HomePod, the Apple device buttons would need to be (or is) programed to change the volume on the HomePod remotely, after the HomePod converts the digital stream to analog, with its own built in DAC. This would be true with any device with a built in DAC. (Including headphones, earbuds, speakers, stereos, CarPlay, etc..)

The normal way to control the volume on external speakers that is receiving a digital stream from an Apple device is to use "control center". But only if the external playback device is programed to use it. And it's up to the makers of the external playback device to include the remote volume control, with their software. Not Apple. Otherwise, the volume is controlled using the volume control on the external device (after it's converted to analog). 

Of course, Spotify digital audio quality is the worse of the major music streamers, that maybe Spotify don't care if it's further degraded by  having its volume changed before it's digitally streamed to another device, that has its own DAC to convert the stream back to analog. So their subscribers won't notice anyway.

Even back in the days when one uses iTunes on a computer to wirelessly steam their music library to a stereo with Wifi, it's recommended that the voulume control in iTunes be turned all the way up and only the volume control on the stereo should be used to control the audio volume. Unless your computer is connect to your stereo using the analog audio jack(s).