On 03/11/2011 06:40 PM, Tim Mensch wrote: > On 3/10/2011 2:06 PM, Christer Nordvik wrote: >> We really don't need many new features, we need the features already >> out there to work and Google to respond to developers about market >> issues. > An important feature still missing from Android is low, predictable > audio latency. > > There needs to be an API that will tell you exactly what the latency is, > and EVERY device should have a low-latency sound configuration that > brings the value to 20ms or lower. The new "low-latency" flag in 2.3 > guarantees 45ms, which isn't even really low in terms of latency, and as > I understand it that feature isn't even available on the Nexus S (!!). > > All those awesome interactive music apps on iOS? Impossible to do > reliably on Android right now. I don't want to have to carry around an > iPad or iPod Touch to play with music sequencers, or to play games like > Tap Tap Revenge, but that's my only option at present. > > And it's not rocket science; low latency audio has been around on > computers as old as the Atari ST, with its 8Mhz CISC CPU; with a minimum > of a 500Mhz RISC processor, getting samples to start playing in 4-5ms > shouldn't be a technical challenge, though it may require a rewrite of > the current stack.
I do agree with this. But this wouldn't exactly be a new feature. It is about consolidation and optimization, and this what is needed in Android currently. We don't need no new high level features such as OpenSL reverb and the like. Working on all this is a waste of resources in my opinion, when reliable low latency isn't here. We just need good raw input and output, the most basic thing on earth, no bells, no whistles. To me, Android provides too many high-level features, which do not necessarily belong to an application framework, especially when low level functionalities are not reliable yet. You can't build tall buildings on a fragile ground. That said, this isn't only about the Android Open Source Project. It seems like low latency can only be achieved through a close collaboration between Android developers, platform vendors and device manufacturers. And by the way, not only music apps need low latency, plenty of games could make use of it to achieve enhanced interactivity, as possible on iOS. -- Olivier -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Android Discuss" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss?hl=en.
