CASE STUDIES

Seamless Audio Streaming to Wearable Devices

Customer

Largest content creator and national media network, Singapore

Background

The company is a leading player in the media and entertainment industry, specializing in content creation, distribution, and audience engagement. With a strong presence in digital and broadcast media, it provides innovative solutions that enhance content delivery and optimize viewer experiences.

Problem Statement

The client wanted to take its audio mobile app experience to the next level by building companion apps for Apple and Android smartwatches. The goal was to give users seamless access to their favorite content on wearable devices, but the journey wasn’t straightforward.

They faced several technical challenges: Triton’s audio streaming wasn’t supported on Android wearable devices, syncing app behavior between mobile and wearables across various connection scenarios was complex, and handling audio output switching between devices added another layer of difficulty.

To top it off, extending Adobe Analytics to wearables was tricky, given the lack of library support. On top of these hurdles, the solution had to perform smoothly on a wide range of devices, including older models with limited resources. The client needed an experienced partner to navigate these challenges and bring their vision to life.

Solutions

Leveraged deep expertise in relevant frameworks such as SwiftUI, WatchConnectivity, and CloudKit for WatchOS and Horologist Framework and Data Layer API for WearOS.
Built custom solutions for audio streaming on WearOS using Media3, MediaController, and MediaSession libraries, and optimally integrated the Triton player for WatchOS.
Designed a robust sync mechanism to ensure seamless app behavior between the music streaming mobile app and wearable companion apps in various scenarios:

Sync over Bluetooth/Wi-Fi.
Sync when wearable devices go out of range and reconnect.
Independent and connected mode sync for downloaded podcasts.
LTE-enabled wearable devices switching to cellular networks.

Developed intelligent audio device management to handle complex scenarios such as switching between mobile speakers, wired headphones, Bluetooth pods, and wearable device outputs.
Accounted for scenarios where the wearable device went out of range and reconnected, ensuring a smooth user experience.
Extended Adobe Analytics to wearable devices by reusing mobile libraries for WearOS and creating a piggyback solution for WatchOS via the mobile app.
Optimized the app for performance on devices with low CPU/memory resources, allowing wearables to act as remote controls or status interfaces for the mobile app.
Collaborated with the client teams across various music streaming apps (Mobile, Wearables, CarPlay/Android Auto, and Mobile Drive Mode) to ensure consistency and reusability of code.
Contributed to UI/UX design through active collaboration with client’s UX designers.

Business Impact

Delivered a seamless wearable experience, enabling users to access the music streaming features on their Apple and Android smartwatches.
Overcame technical limitations to bring audio streaming to WearOS devices.
Ensured smooth sync and functionality across devices, even in challenging connectivity scenarios.
Enhanced user engagement with cutting-edge technology and an efficient user experience.
Strengthened the client’s position as a leader in the media technology space by expanding its platform’s reach to wearable devices.
Enabled the solution to support a wide range of devices, including Apple Watch SE, SE2, Series 3-9, Ultra 1 & 2, and Samsung Galaxy Watches (versions 4, 5, 6).

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