[Android] media controls changes #878

New Issue

2026-04-24T23:41:17+02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:17 +02:00

Originally created by @Silther on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024).

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.

Currently the media controls look something like this

It shows a button a button to change the player speed, which seems like a niche feature in the media controls
It shows forward and rewind buttons without showing how much seconds get skipped (not my preference, but not bad either)
It uses the progress bar of the whole book even if you changed your player progress bar to the chapter
It doesn't show buttons to skip to the next or last chapter

Describe the solution you'd like

1: to make it symmetric I would remove the button to change the speed (how may people need to change the speed of the book without opening the app?)
3: if the user has changed his progress bar in the in app player to chapter the same should be used in the media controls
4: I find skip buttons extremely useful to go to the next chapter or back to the beginning of the current chapter.

Describe alternatives you've considered

2: is most likely just user preference, I like it and find it handy but others may find it distracting
4: could be tied to the progress bar, if a user likes the progress bar of the whole book, he may not want chapter skip buttons

Additional context

Audible for reference

Originally created by @Silther on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024). ### Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe. Currently the media controls look something like this ![Screenshot_20240215_231907_One UI Home](https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/97352673/37f038dd-0be5-4f8f-9d7e-0993d88d5b63) 1. It shows a button a button to change the player speed, which seems like a niche feature in the media controls 2. It shows forward and rewind buttons without showing how much seconds get skipped (not my preference, but not bad either) 3. It uses the progress bar of the whole book even if you changed your player progress bar to the chapter 4. It doesn't show buttons to skip to the next or last chapter ### Describe the solution you'd like - 1: to make it symmetric I would remove the button to change the speed (how may people need to change the speed of the book without opening the app?) - 3: if the user has changed his progress bar in the in app player to chapter the same should be used in the media controls - 4: I find skip buttons extremely useful to go to the next chapter or back to the beginning of the current chapter. ### Describe alternatives you've considered - 2: is most likely just user preference, I like it and find it handy but others may find it distracting - 4: could be tied to the progress bar, if a user likes the progress bar of the whole book, he may not want chapter skip buttons ### Additional context Audible for reference ![Screenshot_20240215_231843_One UI Home](https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/97352673/ce5571f8-aaa7-4964-bbb4-89790cc4ceb9)

adam added the enhancement label 2026-04-24 23:41:17 +02:00

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:18 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024):

3 is brought up here https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/issues/239
these media controls are driven mostly by exoplayer. I'm not sure what it looks like to customize everything

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024): 3 is brought up here https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/issues/239 these media controls are driven mostly by exoplayer. I'm not sure what it looks like to customize everything

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:19 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024):

What android version is that screenshot from? That looks like it is android 12 or lower

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024): What android version is that screenshot from? That looks like it is android 12 or lower

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:19 +02:00

@Silther commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024):

What android version is that screenshot from? That looks like it is android 12 or lower

It's One UI 6.0 based on Android 14.
Unfortunately Samsung didn't use the modern Android look and instead created their own design.

@Silther commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024): > What android version is that screenshot from? That looks like it is android 12 or lower It's One UI 6.0 based on Android 14. Unfortunately Samsung didn't use the modern Android look and instead created their own design.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:20 +02:00

@Silther commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024):

How does it look on stock android?

@Silther commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024): How does it look on stock android?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:21 +02:00

@nichwall commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024):

This is how it looks on Android 14, Pixel 6a.

@nichwall commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024): This is how it looks on Android 14, Pixel 6a. ![Screenshot_20240216-075927~2.png](https://github.com/advplyr/audiobookshelf-app/assets/5686638/6a5376c6-eb1e-4cec-add2-eb58d6dde653)

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:21 +02:00

@Silther commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024):

This is how it looks on Android 14, Pixel 6a.

Interesting, I don't really understand why it shows a back skip button and One UI does not. should it all use the same android api?

@Silther commented on GitHub (Feb 16, 2024): > This is how it looks on Android 14, Pixel 6a. Interesting, I don't really understand why it shows a back skip button and One UI does not. should it all use the same android api?

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:22 +02:00

@Rdkang commented on GitHub (Mar 14, 2024):

Regarding 1.

I like having the option to control the playback speed, especially when I can't catch what the narrator is saying. I just rewind and slow it down if I need to.
Otherwise, I support everything else :)

@Rdkang commented on GitHub (Mar 14, 2024): Regarding 1. I like having the option to control the playback speed, especially when I can't catch what the narrator is saying. I just rewind and slow it down if I need to. Otherwise, I support everything else :)

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:22 +02:00

@Silther commented on GitHub (Mar 25, 2024):

I like having the option to control the playback speed, especially when I can't catch what the narrator is saying. I just rewind and slow it down if I need to.

would it be okay to have it as a setting, I believe most people wont need an direct shortcut to the speed control.

@Silther commented on GitHub (Mar 25, 2024): > I like having the option to control the playback speed, especially when I can't catch what the narrator is saying. I just rewind and slow it down if I need to. would it be okay to have it as a setting, I believe most people wont need an direct shortcut to the speed control.

adam commented

2026-04-24 23:41:23 +02:00

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Mar 25, 2024):

That playback speed is more useful for android auto which is what it was originally added for. The notification controls are shared with android auto.

@advplyr commented on GitHub (Mar 25, 2024): That playback speed is more useful for android auto which is what it was originally added for. The notification controls are shared with android auto.

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Reference: starred/audiobookshelf-app#878