Automattic / Automattic/pocket-casts-android

Playback time gets stuck, even though playback continues

Open
#3,408 1 comment 0 reactions 0 assignees View on GitHub
[Area] Playback [Priority] Low [Type] Bug
Dominant language
Kotlin
Stars
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Forks
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Avg merge
1d 13h
Merged PRs (30d)
143

Description

### Description

Reported in #9193070-zen:

> On many of my podcasts the podcast will get "stuck" after the audio ends and will show as "playing" but have time remaining. Below the BBC Global News podcast was "stuck" at 44 seconds.
>
> I've also experienced "skips" where the podcast hosts will be speaking and all of a sudden the app skips to the next podcast in my queue.

We've asked the user to test if the issue occurs with downloaded episodes, and it doesn't, so this may be related to Dynamic Ad Insertion.

We also asked the user about connection blockers and playback effects, but they don't appear to be using any:

> Firewall: no. VPN: no. Ad-blocker: no system wide blocker. I use uBlock but it's an extension in Firefox Mobile. When I listen on the web I often get streaming issues but I think that was related to http hosted casts.
>
> Primary wifi connection: I have observed the issue on my work wifi, my home wifi, and when on Verizon cell net. I do not use a pi-hole
> [...]
>
> I do not apply playback effects and never have

### Step-by-step reproduction instructions

We haven't been able to replicate so far

### Screenshots or screen recording

> Below the BBC Global News podcast was "stuck" at 44 seconds.

![Image](https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/920c6508-076f-414c-b23f-7ca00dff2f1d)

### Did you search for existing bug reports?

- [x] I have searched for existing bug reports.

### Device, Operating system, and Pocket Casts app version

App version : 7.79-rc-5 (9299)
Phone: Google - Pixel 7 - Pixel 7 - panther
Android version: 15 SDK 35

Contributor guide

Open the contributing guide

Research direction

The issue names no files, tests, or entry points. Start by investigating streaming playback of episodes affected by Dynamic Ad Insertion, using the reported stuck-time and unexpected-skip symptoms as checks. Done means the playback position no longer remains stuck and episodes do not skip unexpectedly, but the report currently provides no reproducible steps.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
android, kotlin
Domain
mobile
Issue type
Bug
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Needs clarification
Newbie friendliness
30/100

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