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iTunes Match streaming with gaps between songs since ios7.1 update

Hi - I foolishly made the mistake of installing the 7.1 update on all my ios devices yesterday morning! Since then when I stream music from iTunes Match I get a gap between each track. Not a problem when listening to studio albums but a total nightmare when it comes to listening to live concert recordings, of which I have many.


My iMac seems to be unaffected and streams live music seamlessly but all three ios devices have this same problem. If I download the recording to the device it plays seamlessly but that rather defeats the aim of having all my music in the cloud without the need to store it on a device. I have been in touch with Apple who don't have any answers but seem to think the update may have changed the way ios now interacts with iTunes Match. They are looking in to it and will come back to me.


Have been through multiple reboots and iTunes Match re-installs etc without any joy. I have also had the same problem when trying to stream over a cellular network and another wireless network.


Is anyone else experiencing this problem? I'd welcome any help or suggestions...thanks.

iPad (4th gen) Wi-Fi, iOS 7.1

Posted on Mar 13, 2014 10:17 AM

Reply
103 replies

Apr 9, 2014 1:03 AM in response to ianb11

Hi all


I have re-loaded iTunes Match on all three of my IOS devices this morning and tested some random live albums. I have quite a large collection of live recording, most of which are not in the iTunes store so I checked a couple that are in the store and a couple that are not. For me, the problem remains.


I will provide an update when I hear further from Apple.

Apr 9, 2014 1:15 AM in response to rayworth15

Well apparently your mileage may vary.

All the tests I did were live albums not available on iTunes but uploaded to iTunes Match. I no longer have gaps.

Did you clear the cache as I described earlier?

Turning iTunes Match off and back on doesn't clear the cache.

Go to Settings -> General -> Usage -> Storage. Scroll down till you find Music (it may be far down). Hit the Edit button and delete the All Music entry.

Apr 18, 2014 8:08 AM in response to magnard

Hi everyone


I did promise an update as soon as I heard back from the Executive Relations Manager at Apple. Not good news I’m afraid.


They accept there are now gaps when streaming on IOS7.1 but all they will say is that iTunes Match is operating as it should within IOS7.1! They were not even prepared to respond to me with a written explanation I could post here. In short, a pathetic response and a complete waste of my time.


I had a very productive initial conversation with a Senior Technical Specialist who acknowledged the problem but it’s obvious from the call I have had today that they aren’t interested in doing anything about it.


Where Apple is concerned it would seem that even when the customer is right they are not worth listening to.


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Apr 18, 2014 12:19 AM in response to ianb11

I'm cancelling my subscription and asking for a refund, with reference to this thread. As the vast majority of classical music and a good chunk of popular music cannot be streamed, iTunes Match isn't fit for purpose. I'll just store locally and sync like I used to. If I don't get the refund class action might be needed?

Apr 18, 2014 8:49 AM in response to rayworth15

Well, this censorship nonsense sure is silly. I'll chime in and paste your orignal email to Tim below to make a point:


Dear Mr Cook


Further to my earlier email I have today been told that even though I am correct that iTunes Match no longer streams music seamlessly on all IOS7.1 devices, you’re not going to do anything about it. A customer-focused organization would already be working towards a solution, not trying to sweep the problem under the carpet.


To clarify, the reason this change is such a problem when streaming ‘live’ recordings is that the gaps of three or more seconds that now exist between each track played on all IOS7.1 devices, completely destroy the listening experience. You now have to download a ‘live’ album to listen to it without gaps – a very poor solution for those of us with large music collections and limited space on our IOS devices.


It’s so disappointing because I had such a productive initial conversation with Alan Walsh (EMEIA Senior Specialist). Alan immediately recognized the problem and the impact of the problem on people streaming ‘live’ music. I know that he escalated this issue and can only assume that someone who understands nothing about listening to ‘live’ music has decided they can’t be bothered to address the problem. I say ‘assume’ because that is all I can do – no one at Apple wants to tell me why you have done this.


Claire Coughlan (Executive Relations, EMEIA), who rang me today, has certainly tried to be helpful but essentially the message she was forced to communicate to me was‘you are absolutely right about this problem, we don’t plan to do anything about it and I can’t tell you why’! I actually felt sorry for her that she had been put in such a ridiculous position.


I also find it very odd that your executive relations managers are only allowed to provide a response by phone. I would have thought it not unreasonable to expect the courtesy of a written response and explanation to my written complaint.


Whilst iTunes Match provides basic cloud storage for my music I can no longer stream music from my account without gaps between tracks – a point you now openly accept. I look forward to receiving a detailed written explanation as to why you are providing a significantly diminished iTunes Match service for IOS7.1 devices (the Apple tv and iMac remain unaffected by these changes) and I would be interested to hear what you will be prepared to offer me in the way of compensation for the reduced service you now provide.


The fact that I even have to ask for compensation says a lot about the lack of customer focus in your organization. It would seem that, where Apple is concerned, even when the customer is right they are not worth listening to.

Apr 18, 2014 8:52 AM in response to Community User

Additionally, the more people that email Mr. Cook, the better. This is an abusrd issue from a company whose recent success is the result of a music product. Apple = Music, or at least used to. The iPod saved Apple. Through iOS 6, Apple had a great music app. Now, in iOS 7, Apple ruined the music app, and is now stooping so low as to claim gapless playback isn't intended with Match? What a load of bulls**t. Steve would never have been okay with this.


FWIW, rayworth15, since you already had a support ticket open, I'd try as hard as humanly possible to escalate it above the rep who told you what he told you. There's no way that's right, and giving Apple the benefit of the doubt, maybe you just got stuck with a *cough* bad apple.

iTunes Match streaming with gaps between songs since ios7.1 update

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