iTunes is buggy on both HomePod and Apple TV4k

I’m seeing the same problems with both Apple TV4K and on my new HomePod...

When playing a playlist via iTunes in shuffle mode it skips 6-10 songs before landing on one that will play. Once a song has been skipped it takes it out of the line-up as though it has played it. Effectively cutting my play list in half or more.

Another issue with the HomePod is that when it finishes playing the playlist (but only half or a quarter of it in reality) it won’t play it again no matter how many times I ask it to. It responds by indicating that it will or IS playing it but no music is being played.

So far, resetting seems to help with HomePod but I’ve had to reset it about six times in the two weeks that I’ve had it. As for the Apple TV4k, no amount of resetting/rebooting it changes the behavior of skipping songs during playback.

As with most customers, my iTunes library is a mix of songs I imported from CDs I own and (mostly) songs I have purchased through iTunes.

Apple TV 4K, iOS 11.2.5

Posted on Feb 25, 2018 11:22 PM

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19 replies

Feb 26, 2018 11:27 AM in response to turingtest2

Wow....that is pretty innovative.

I have to try that.....thanks!

turingtest2

Level 10

278,061 points

Apr 1, 2018 12:53 PM in response to djb_in_SD

That sounds like a move in the right direction. 🙂

tt2

djb_in_SD Author

Level 1

18 points

Mar 10, 2018 4:17 PM in response to turingtest2

Yeah, I thought that too. But no, I'm using it exactly as you suggested in your earlier post: Remote control for HomePod, not using AirPlay

And when I do, I can choose another song from the playlist that is currently playing, change the volume, change the order of the next song up or, if I try to choose another playlist, that's when I get the message "HomePod will stop playing when my iPad is no longer nearby." I suspect that choosing a different playlist at that point, I am basically seceding control of iTunes music (small m) from HomePod to my iPad. And then Siri is no longer controlling it.

But what's really frustrating is when (before I ever tried controlling it with my other devices) I'd ask Siri to play a playlist that I know I have and it either says: "Ok, playing xxx" and then nothing plays. Or it indicates that it can't find the playlist. And a few times it actually responded to the request of a specific playlist by playing a song that was completely different from what I asked for! Don't know if you've ever watched the HBO show "Silicon Valley", but it was like a scene from one of their episodes. "Audious, play John Lennon's Imagine", and "Audious" responds by saying "Can't find John Wayne in a mansion in your playlist". 😁

I did some checking around and it seems as though that that "Airplay" symbol is in fact (unofficially) "Airplay 2" though it's not yet released.

Apple's AirPlay 2 Technology Explained - The Mac Observer

djb_in_SD Author

Level 1

18 points

Apr 1, 2018 9:17 AM in response to turingtest2

That finally seems to be the fix! I updated everything to to iOS 11.3 earlier this week and have been putting HomePod through its pace. So far it’s been working correctly. The only thing I haven’t been able to determine yet is, if it’s still skipping songs from my playlists. I’ll be looking for that over the next few days.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

And Thanks Apple (if you’re listening) for getting these issues resolved!

-djb

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iTunes is buggy on both HomePod and Apple TV4k