External Speaker Doesn't Work on Some Apps

Question

Level 2

269 points

External Speaker Doesn't Work on Some Apps

The external speaker on my iPhone doesn't seem to be working with some applications, but does with others. For example, I can put calls on speaker and hear them, and I can hear sound when I'm playing the Ocarina app, I can hear the programs on NPR Addict and music on the iPod app. But with other apps, such as bird calls on iBird West, or the sound effects on Vector Tanks, or the page flipping in Stanza, or the click track on Tempo, there's no sound at all. Yes, I attempted to turn the sound up via the buttons on the side of the iPhone. And the sound is fine using headphones.

I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but last week I bought a bluetooth unit for my truck and have occasionally listened to Pandora and other iPhone apps via Bluetooth. (I tried turning the Bluetooth off on my iPhone, but that had no effect.)

Any suggestions?

3GHz Mac Pro, Mac OS X (10.5.7), 12GB RAM

Posted on May 16, 2010 9:06 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Joe Z in VA

Level 2

457 points

May 17, 2010 5:44 AM in response to Raymond Fox

Be sure you have the silent toggle switched off so the sounds can play through the speakers. Some applications adhere to the silent toggle preventing some sounds from running but music still works.

One case I know of is playing Aurora Feint II where I hear the music running but the action has no sound to it. I thought the phone was broken or something until I forgot the silent toggle was on.

Also hold the volume key to maximum volume if you have outdoor sounds going like crazy. The speaker isn't high enough to override the ambient noise you occasionally hear that's louder than the speaker.

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Answer 2

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

May 17, 2010 6:00 AM in response to Raymond Fox

I didn't know Stanza makes noise.

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Answer 3

Raymond Fox Author

Level 2

269 points

May 17, 2010 10:56 AM in response to Joe Z in VA

Thank you Joe. You nailed it. I did, indeed, have the silent toggle switch in the off position. Doh! :}

It was the fact that some apps made sound while others didn't that threw me for a loop. Thanks for your help.

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Answer 4

Raymond Fox Author

Level 2

269 points

May 17, 2010 10:57 AM in response to Tamara

I didn't know Stanza makes noise.<</div>

Tamara, you're right. I flip back and forth between Stanza and Masterpieces, the latter of which has a page-turning sound effect.

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Answer 5

Tamara

Level 6

13,738 points

May 17, 2010 11:23 AM in response to Raymond Fox

Thanks for clarifying. I thought I was losing my marbles for a minute there 🙂.

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