Native Media Engine Optimization & Live Activities R&D for a Global Fitness Platform
Challenge
The client operates a high-traffic React Native application that relies heavily on video content for workout guidance. While the core app structure was cross-platform, the video player required a high-performance native implementation. The client faced specific technical bottlenecks:
- Audio Conflicts: Users could not listen to their own music (Spotify/Apple Music) while listening to the in-app voice guidance.
- UX Gaps: Missing standard iOS media features like AirPlay and Picture-in-Picture (PiP), which are critical for home workouts.
- Innovation Block: The team wanted to implement iOS Live Activities and Dynamic Island features but lacked the specific native expertise to integrate these with their React Native architecture.
The client operates a high-traffic React Native application that relies heavily on video content for workout guidance. While the core app structure was cross-platform, the video player required a high-performance native implementation. The client faced specific technical bottlenecks:
- Audio Conflicts: Users could not listen to their own music (Spotify/Apple Music) while listening to the in-app voice guidance.
- UX Gaps: Missing standard iOS media features like AirPlay and Picture-in-Picture (PiP), which are critical for home workouts.
- Innovation Block: The team wanted to implement iOS Live Activities and Dynamic Island features but lacked the specific native expertise to integrate these with their React Native architecture.
Solution
We focused on two distinct workstreams: fixing the media experience and architecting future engagement features.
A. Advanced Media Player Engineering
We refactored the native video module to ensure it behaved like a first-class iOS citizen.
- Audio Session Management: We re-engineered the AVAudioSession configuration. This enabled "ducking" and mixing, allowing users to play background music from streaming platforms while simultaneously hearing the app’s voice-over instructions without interruption.
- Control Center Integration: Fixed synchronization issues between the app and the iOS Control Center, ensuring play/pause/seek commands worked correctly from the lock screen.
- AirPlay Implementation: Built the infrastructure to cast workout videos to Apple TV/Smart TVs, a highly requested feature for gym-free environments.
- Picture-in-Picture (PiP): Enabled PiP support, allowing users to minimize the workout video and check other apps (e.g., replying to a text) without pausing their training session.
B. Live Activities & Dynamic Island R&D
Since the main app is React Native, triggering and updating native Live Activities requires a specific bridge architecture.
- Feasibility Study: Conducted research on the limitations and capabilities of ActivityKit within a hybrid environment.
- Implementation Plan: Delivered a detailed technical roadmap for implementing custom advanced Live Activities (e.g., showing rest timers or workout progress on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island).
- Proof of Concept: Validated the data flow required to pass workout state from the JS bundle to the native iOS widget.
We focused on two distinct workstreams: fixing the media experience and architecting future engagement features.
A. Advanced Media Player Engineering
We refactored the native video module to ensure it behaved like a first-class iOS citizen.
- Audio Session Management: We re-engineered the AVAudioSession configuration. This enabled "ducking" and mixing, allowing users to play background music from streaming platforms while simultaneously hearing the app’s voice-over instructions without interruption.
- Control Center Integration: Fixed synchronization issues between the app and the iOS Control Center, ensuring play/pause/seek commands worked correctly from the lock screen.
- AirPlay Implementation: Built the infrastructure to cast workout videos to Apple TV/Smart TVs, a highly requested feature for gym-free environments.
- Picture-in-Picture (PiP): Enabled PiP support, allowing users to minimize the workout video and check other apps (e.g., replying to a text) without pausing their training session.
B. Live Activities & Dynamic Island R&D
Since the main app is React Native, triggering and updating native Live Activities requires a specific bridge architecture.
- Feasibility Study: Conducted research on the limitations and capabilities of ActivityKit within a hybrid environment.
- Implementation Plan: Delivered a detailed technical roadmap for implementing custom advanced Live Activities (e.g., showing rest timers or workout progress on the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island).
- Proof of Concept: Validated the data flow required to pass workout state from the JS bundle to the native iOS widget.
Results
In just 8 weeks, our intervention resolved long-standing technical debt and unlocked new capabilities.
- Fixed Critical UX Bugs: Solved the #1 user complaint regarding simultaneous music and workout playback, directly improving user retention.
- Modernized Feature Set: By delivering AirPlay and PiP, the app reached feature parity with top-tier streaming competitors.
- Future-Proofing: The client received a "blueprint" for Live Activities, allowing their internal team to implement engagement-boosting Lock Screen widgets in subsequent updates without further R&D overhead.
In just 8 weeks, our intervention resolved long-standing technical debt and unlocked new capabilities.
- Fixed Critical UX Bugs: Solved the #1 user complaint regarding simultaneous music and workout playback, directly improving user retention.
- Modernized Feature Set: By delivering AirPlay and PiP, the app reached feature parity with top-tier streaming competitors.
- Future-Proofing: The client received a "blueprint" for Live Activities, allowing their internal team to implement engagement-boosting Lock Screen widgets in subsequent updates without further R&D overhead.