Model's attempt to fix: 1) Only the first itnerval making a sound, all subsequent countdowns being silent. 2) App opening up directly to the Alarms & Reminders screen to get permissions approved without any prompting the user on what is going on.

app/src/main/java/com/hyperling/apps/infinitetimer/MainActivity.java

@@ -97,8 +97,16 @@ public class MainActivity extends AppCompatActivity {
         // Check exact alarm permission for Android 12+
         if (Build.VERSION.SDK_INT >= Build.VERSION_CODES.S && !Alert.isExactAlarmAllowed(this)) {
             if (DEBUG) Log.w(tag, "Exact alarm permission not granted, requesting...");
-            Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_REQUEST_SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM);
-            startActivity(intent);
+            new AlertDialog.Builder(MainActivity.this)
+                .setTitle("Alarm Permission Required")
+                .setMessage("To ensure the timer alerts you reliably, please grant 'Alarms & Reminders' permission in system settings.")
+                .setPositiveButton("Grant Permission", (d, w) -> {
+                    Intent intent = new Intent(Settings.ACTION_REQUEST_SCHEDULE_EXACT_ALARM);
+                    startActivity(intent);
+                })
+                .setNegativeButton("Not Now", (d, w) -> d.dismiss())
+                .setCancelable(false)
+                .show();
         }
 
         if (DEBUG){

app/src/main/java/com/hyperling/apps/infinitetimer/TimerForegroundService.java

@@ -4,7 +4,8 @@ import android.app.NotificationChannel;
 import android.app.NotificationManager;
 import android.app.Service;
 import android.content.Intent;
-import android.media.MediaPlayer;
+import android.media.Ringtone;
+import android.media.RingtoneManager;
 import android.net.Uri;
 import android.os.Build;
 import android.os.IBinder;
@@ -18,7 +19,6 @@ public class TimerForegroundService extends Service {
     private static final int NOTIFICATION_ID = 1001;
 
     private PowerManager.WakeLock wakeLock;
-    private MediaPlayer mediaPlayer;
 
     @Override
     public void onCreate() {
@@ -28,16 +28,15 @@ public class TimerForegroundService extends Service {
         // Android 8+ requires foreground service to play sound reliably while backgrounded
         startForeground(NOTIFICATION_ID, buildNotification());
         
+        // Acquire a wake lock briefly to ensure the CPU stays awake during playback
         PowerManager pm = (PowerManager) getSystemService(POWER_SERVICE);
         wakeLock = pm.newWakeLock(PowerManager.PARTIAL_WAKE_LOCK, "TimerWakeLock");
-        // Lock for up to 60 seconds to ensure audio finishes playing even if CPU sleeps
         wakeLock.acquire(60 * 1000L); 
-        
-        playSound();
     }
 
     @Override
     public int onStartCommand(Intent intent, int flags, int startId) {
+        playSound();
         return START_NOT_STICKY; // Don't restart immediately if killed
     }
 
@@ -64,18 +63,20 @@ public class TimerForegroundService extends Service {
     }
 
     private void playSound() {
-        if (mediaPlayer != null && mediaPlayer.isPlaying()) return;
-        
         try {
-            // Plays default notification sound. Replace with R.raw.your_sound if you want custom audio
             Uri uri = android.media.RingtoneManager.getDefaultUri(android.media.RingtoneManager.TYPE_NOTIFICATION);
-            mediaPlayer = MediaPlayer.create(this, uri);
-            
-            if (mediaPlayer != null) {
-                mediaPlayer.setOnCompletionListener(mp -> stopSelf()); // Stop immediately after playing
-                mediaPlayer.start();
+            Ringtone r = RingtoneManager.getRingtone(this, uri);
+            if (r != null) {
+                r.play();
+                // Allow time for sound to buffer and play before stopping
+                new android.os.Handler().postDelayed(new Runnable() {
+                    @Override
+                    public void run() {
+                        stopSelf();
+                    }
+                }, 1000); 
             } else {
-                stopSelf(); // Fallback if media player fails
+                stopSelf();
             }
         } catch (Exception e) {
             Log.e(TAG, "Failed to play sound", e);