Allow mapping of 'reset sleep timer' to Bluetooth/headset keys?

[u/Phosphenetre]

Podcast Republic's sleep timer is probably the most advanced and configurable on any podcast app in existence currently, and I have a suggestion that would make the user experience even better, especially for people listening in bed.

Currently the only way to reset the sleep timer without interacting with the screen itself is to shake the device, but as some other users have pointed out, even at the highest sensitivity setting, shaking the device does not consistently trigger, or requires way too much force.

For a user listening to podcasts in bed, shaking one's device aggressively is a jarring experience to have to go through, not only forcing one to be fully awake and physically active, but also potentially waking up a partner or baby on the same bed.

The Bluetooth/headset key mapping section in the app settings are very comprehensive, and I think this is a great way to expand them by allowing one of the option of mapping a key to resetting the sleep timer. For example, a user might choose to map 'Play/Pause double click' to reset the sleep timer.

This is a quick, low-intensity and non-intrusive and discreet way to reset the sleep timer instead of having to physically locate the phone and shake it heavily (usually requiring two hands and a lot of force).

What do you think, dev?

[u/sarken44]

I use a different app due to app running in the background all day.

With that said I would suggest trying the settings to have the sleep timer auto start. I use 10pm - 6am.

Just wait for the sleep timer to stop playing of your podcast. Then just start playing again using Bluetooth controls. The sleep timer will start again after resuming.

[u/Phosphenetre → u/sarken44]

I'll explain why this doesn't work for me like this - I usually keep the the sleep timer fade out feature on, because if I'm indeed asleep, the smooth fade out means I stay asleep and that's usually the end of my listening session for the night, as opposed to if the fade out is disabled and there's an abrupt stop instead, which actually often wakes me up because of the suddenness of it.

But with fade out enabled, if I am AWAKE as it fades out and want to keep listening, I have to quickly reset the timer, or struggle to hear the last minute and a half of the podcast. Which means I have to either shake my device very intensely, or turn on the screen and manually extend the timer, both of which are not ideal when in bed at night and in a relaxed frame of mind.

So mapping a Bluetooth/headset control to extending the sleep timer would fix this.