iOS - Chromecast integration with MPNowPlayingInfoCenter to provide lock screen controls

Question

I'm developing an iOS Obj-C app that uses the GoogleCast Framework.

I am trying to get the lock screen controls working via MPNowPlayingInfoCenter

I have added the correct permissions to my app to support backgrounding.

I am initialising the cast device like so:

self.chromeCastDeviceManager = [[GCKDeviceManager alloc] initWithDevice:self.selectedChromeCastDevice clientPackageName:[info objectForKey:@"CFBundleIdentifier"] ignoreAppStateNotifications:YES];

When I launch the media on the receiver, I try to init the MPNowPlayingInfoCenter when I get a successful playback response.

NSInteger result = [_castControlChannel play]; 

if (!result) {
    //launch has worked
    [[UIApplication sharedApplication] beginReceivingRemoteControlEvents];

     Class playingInfoCenter = NSClassFromString(@"MPNowPlayingInfoCenter");

     if (playingInfoCenter) {

         NSDictionary *songInfo = [NSDictionary dictionaryWithObjectsAndKeys:
                                   @"Test artist", MPMediaItemPropertyArtist,
                                   @"Test title", MPMediaItemPropertyTitle,
                                   @"Test Album", MPMediaItemPropertyAlbumTitle,
                                   nil];
         [[MPNowPlayingInfoCenter defaultCenter] setNowPlayingInfo:songInfo];
     }
}

I'm starting to believe that MPNowPlayingInfoCenter only provides controls for media sessions when they're loaded in via AVKit/ AVFoundation? Am I correct in saying this?

If that is true, I could probably create an AVKit/ AVFoundation a NSInteger long with the play method on the Chromecast. Then force the AVPlayer to be hidden and silent. I can then catch the media controls and redirect to the Chromecast?

I assume the Youtube app on iOS does it this way? Both Netflix and Spotify both don't support the lockscreen controls when casting to a chromecast.

Spotify has this feature also, I am itching to find whats the trick to it, are there any new developments on the matter? — Georgi Boyadzhiev, May 09 '17 at 14:54

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Jul 10 '17 at 17:17

I have developed a solution to present the player controls in the lock screen. I am using some hacks to work, like method_exchangeImplementations and a mute sound to play and mock the player.

I have also replied in this post Does google chromecast iOS SDK support lock screen controls?

So far it works ok, but probably still needs improvement.

Take a look at https://github.com/peantunes/google-cast-ios-lock-screen

iOS - Chromecast integration with MPNowPlayingInfoCenter to provide lock screen controls

1 Answers1