Fast User Switching and mac audio (Tiger) - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

cliche · 08-26-2005, 06:06 AM

I've recently "switched" to a mac, and have some queries about audio with fast user switching. My girlfriend and I both use the computer, and share a Skype account (using SkypeIn so overseas friends and family can easily contact us). The way I've tried to set it up is 3 accounts: one for each of us, and a third to run Skype. This saves running two copies of the application, and also prevents voicemail fragmentation (it downloads voicemails to whichever user is logged in at the time).

However, and this is my main question: How do I let sounds from the "Skype" user play whilst another user is logged in and using the system? Skype isn't the only app. affected - if I play music in iTunes it stops when I switch users (though the song continues to advance, suggesting it's trying to play but the sound isn't being output to the speakers).

Any ideas?

shazbotus · 10-15-2005, 05:30 PM

Why do you need this sort of feature? Shouldn't you just play iTunes with the current user? As for the Skype, I understand the reasoning, but that may just be one of the limitations you will have to face. Look up the app named Growl that handles application notifications, and it can be set to send notifications universally (sent to all users...ie a Growl notification from a background user will show in the foreground)

martinguerre · 10-16-2005, 09:04 PM

i really don't think it can be done.

part of user switching is memory protection. whatever you have as user A can't be fucked up by user B...and i have to assume that this is going to prevent output of any ongoing process in a user account to another account.

the flip side is it's easy to go back and forth?

you could always try asking at the genius bar at an apple store...those folks have come up with some pretty odd solutions to some problems i've had.

cliche · 10-18-2005, 05:52 PM

Solution I came up with in the end (hacky I know) was to run Skype as a root process - it seems root processes attach to the user currently in operation, so it appears as a normal app to the "Skype" user but is never detached from making sounds.
Another solution would be to run the whole thing under Panther...
I had a quick look at Growl (only a quick one though) and couldn't find any easy way of letting it pop up messages for all users - they seemed to just appear on the "Skype" user screen. I might have another look.

martinguerre · 10-19-2005, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cliche

Solution I came up with in the end (hacky I know) was to run Skype as a root process - it seems root processes attach to the user currently in operation, so it appears as a normal app to the "Skype" user but is never detached from making sounds.
Another solution would be to run the whole thing under Panther...
I had a quick look at Growl (only a quick one though) and couldn't find any easy way of letting it pop up messages for all users - they seemed to just appear on the "Skype" user screen. I might have another look.

smart...i didn't know roots did that. guess i never ran one that made sounds.

how would panther change it? That's what i'm running, and itunes cuts out when i switch users.

cliche · 10-19-2005, 07:35 AM

I've not used Panther myself (I'm fairly recent to the Mac scene) but I was told it allowed sounds to cross over between users. Perhaps that's been changed in one of the panther updates?

You probably already know - but there are many ways of getting the progs to run as root - I have setuid the Skype binary (Skype.app/Contents/MacOS/Skype) as root (chown root Skype && chmod +s Skype - commands to be given from a root shell - sudo bash). I'm sure it would work with iTunes also. The other easy way is to set up an applescript or automator action to run the binary via "sudo" for you - better if you only want this behaviour to occur some of the time.

martinguerre · 10-19-2005, 04:47 PM

i think, don't know, that the memory protection is the same...but i suspect the root process hack that you figured out would work the same as well.

i don't really root any processes, just on the fact that i only use my account anyhow...the only other acc. i have is "guest" for folks who ask to borrow my comp in class to check email or that sort of thing. but i will have to remember that sound carries over...never know when that comes in handy.

08-26-2005, 06:06 AM	#1 (permalink)
cliche Rookie Location: Oxford, UK	Fast User Switching and mac audio (Tiger) I've recently "switched" to a mac, and have some queries about audio with fast user switching. My girlfriend and I both use the computer, and share a Skype account (using SkypeIn so overseas friends and family can easily contact us). The way I've tried to set it up is 3 accounts: one for each of us, and a third to run Skype. This saves running two copies of the application, and also prevents voicemail fragmentation (it downloads voicemails to whichever user is logged in at the time). However, and this is my main question: How do I let sounds from the "Skype" user play whilst another user is logged in and using the system? Skype isn't the only app. affected - if I play music in iTunes it stops when I switch users (though the song continues to advance, suggesting it's trying to play but the sound isn't being output to the speakers). Any ideas? __________________ I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)

10-16-2005, 09:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
martinguerre whosoever Location: New England	i really don't think it can be done. part of user switching is memory protection. whatever you have as user A can't be fucked up by user B...and i have to assume that this is going to prevent output of any ongoing process in a user account to another account. the flip side is it's easy to go back and forth? you could always try asking at the genius bar at an apple store...those folks have come up with some pretty odd solutions to some problems i've had. __________________ For God so loved creation, that God sent God's only Son that whosoever believed should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

10-18-2005, 05:52 PM	#4 (permalink)
cliche Rookie Location: Oxford, UK	Solution I came up with in the end (hacky I know) was to run Skype as a root process - it seems root processes attach to the user currently in operation, so it appears as a normal app to the "Skype" user but is never detached from making sounds. Another solution would be to run the whole thing under Panther... I had a quick look at Growl (only a quick one though) and couldn't find any easy way of letting it pop up messages for all users - they seemed to just appear on the "Skype" user screen. I might have another look. __________________ I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)

10-19-2005, 07:35 AM	#6 (permalink)
cliche Rookie Location: Oxford, UK	I've not used Panther myself (I'm fairly recent to the Mac scene) but I was told it allowed sounds to cross over between users. Perhaps that's been changed in one of the panther updates? You probably already know - but there are many ways of getting the progs to run as root - I have setuid the Skype binary (Skype.app/Contents/MacOS/Skype) as root (chown root Skype && chmod +s Skype - commands to be given from a root shell - sudo bash). I'm sure it would work with iTunes also. The other easy way is to set up an applescript or automator action to run the binary via "sudo" for you - better if you only want this behaviour to occur some of the time. __________________ I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)

10-19-2005, 04:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
martinguerre whosoever Location: New England	i think, don't know, that the memory protection is the same...but i suspect the root process hack that you figured out would work the same as well. i don't really root any processes, just on the fact that i only use my account anyhow...the only other acc. i have is "guest" for folks who ask to borrow my comp in class to check email or that sort of thing. but i will have to remember that sound carries over...never know when that comes in handy. __________________ For God so loved creation, that God sent God's only Son that whosoever believed should not perish, but have everlasting life. -John 3:16

10-15-2005, 05:30 PM	#2 (permalink)
shazbotus Tilted Location: Orlando, FL	Why do you need this sort of feature? Shouldn't you just play iTunes with the current user? As for the Skype, I understand the reasoning, but that may just be one of the limitations you will have to face. Look up the app named Growl that handles application notifications, and it can be set to send notifications universally (sent to all users...ie a Growl notification from a background user will show in the foreground)