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Ask HN: Why does my audio flicker off when closing the Amazon app on iPhone?

by kalu on 8/16/21, 1:36 AM with 2 comments

Suppose I’m using my iPhone to listen to a podcast on Spotify and shop for a new book on Amazon at the same time. When I close the Amazon app my audio will abruptly turn off for a second or two and then resume. Have others experienced this same issue? If so, is Amazon doing this intentionally to get information about my paired devices or the other apps I’m using ?

  • by thesuperbigfrog on 8/16/21, 2:11 AM

    I suspect it is due to Alexa integration of the Amazon app.

    (I am an Android user, so I do not have an iPhone to test the idea against.)

    If you have the Amazon app open and say, "Alexa, where is my stuff?", does the Amazon app go to the Your Orders page? If so, then the iOS Amazon app has Alexa integration similar to the Android Amazon app.

    I am guessing that closing the Amazon app removes the Alexa listener functionality and might be causing the pause you are seeing.