[epm]

Since I'm struggling with the built-in media player on my 9630, I did a search for 3rd party mp3 players. I didn't see anything that really jumped out - they all were a few years old, and were missing features, like being able to control the volume with the BB volume buttons, etc. Can anyone recommend a good 3rd party mp3 player?

Thanks!

[wu-wei]

I like xplayer from shape services. Free unless you are a podcast junkie. But I've sorted my problems with the native player, so I'm back to that instead.

Just curious, what struggles are you having?

[epm]

In a nutshell, if I pause an mp3 playback, exit the media player, then relaunch the media player, it's not saving where I paused the playback, so I've got to pick through the albums again to figure out where I was.

I'll check out xplayer, thanks!

[SteveO86]

Also FlipSide, Berrytunes, are 2 other bigger ones.

[wu-wei]

An easy solution for you is to not exit the media player with the escape key, just put it in the background with the end call key, then jump back in using the application switcher.

I don't know that any of the 3rd party media players will save pause info between runs either....but only because I've never tried it myself. They might have that functionality.

Good luck.

[daphne]

Originally Posted by epm

In a nutshell, if I pause an mp3 playback, exit the media player, then relaunch the media player, it's not saving where I paused the playback, so I've got to pick through the albums again to figure out where I was.

I'll check out xplayer, thanks!

Instead of exiting the media player, you could use app switcher instead.

Heh... I was too slow. What wu-wei said.

[DJ Double-Shot]

I've tried Mobiola xPlayer Lite v 1.9, and a couple of others. So far, the BB Media Player is the easiest to use with my rather large file database (over 900 MP3 and rising). I am trying to talk a friend into making a media player that is just as easy to use as the BB stock player, but more DJ useful. She writes programs in JAVA already.

If anyone comes up with the real deal I would be interested in what it is.

[epm]

Hmmm, a couple of responses about the app switcher. I was exiting the app using the end call key, but I'd just relaunch the app when I wanted to use it again. What's the app switcher?

On my Curve, I could use the end call key, then when I'd relaunch the app, I'd be right back where I left off. Even with the Tour, about 10% of the time, this works, but I can't figure out what I'm doing when it works vs. when it doesn't.

Thanks!

[wu-wei]

If you press and hold the Alt key then hit the escape key (the back-looping arrow next to the end call key), then you'll experience the app switcher - one of the hidden gems of the BlackBerry OS.

Many people, including RIM co-CEO Mike Lazardis, have this mapped to a convenience key in order to allow for quick app jumping and to fully leverage the BlackBerry's ability to run multiple tasks.

Just as a forewarning, certain apps always run - they include Phone, Browser, Messages, BlackBerry Messenger, and of course a shortcut to the Home Screen.

When you move the media player to the background, you'll see "Now Playing..." in the app switcher - that's the one you want to switch back to. In fact, "Now Playing..." should show up in most system menus if the media player is paused in the background.

Yet another shortcut is to use the mute key to pause and resume....

I hope these suggestions help you out to some degree.

[SteveO86]

In later OS's (5.0) holding down the menu key for 3 seconds should bring up the app switcher.

[epm]

OK, this is really cool, thanks everyone. Seems to resolve my problem. That app switcher is pretty handy, I've got it on a convenience key.

Thanks again!

[wu-wei]

Originally Posted by SteveO86

In later OS's (5.0) holding down the menu key for 3 seconds should bring up the app switcher.

Very cool tip - thanks!

[epm]

So as a follow-up to this, the app switcher does help, but for some reason, at times the app switcher will be cleared except for the default applications. I'm not seeing anything that should be affecting it, it's almost like it times out and clears everything running in the background.

[protomor]

I'm gonna try out xPlayer. The rest of the players suggested just don't work well at all. All else fails, I might just make my own.