diff --git a/app/build.gradle b/app/build.gradle
index ab27ce70..22b7d9ed 100644
--- a/app/build.gradle
+++ b/app/build.gradle
@@ -15,7 +15,6 @@ apply plugin: 'com.jakewharton.hugo'
 
 repositories {
     maven { url 'https://maven.fabric.io/public' }
-    maven { url 'https://dl.bintray.com/drummer-aidan/maven' }
 }
 
 
@@ -65,6 +64,6 @@ dependencies {
     compile 'de.hdodenhof:circleimageview:1.3.0'
     compile 'com.nostra13.universalimageloader:universal-image-loader:1.9.4'
 
-    compile 'com.afollestad:material-dialogs:0.7.5.5'
+    compile 'com.afollestad:material-dialogs:0.7.6.0'
     compile 'com.afollestad:material-cab:0.1.4'
 }
diff --git a/app/src/main/java/com/kabouzeid/gramophone/service/MusicService.java b/app/src/main/java/com/kabouzeid/gramophone/service/MusicService.java
index 0dcfdae0..46df6236 100644
--- a/app/src/main/java/com/kabouzeid/gramophone/service/MusicService.java
+++ b/app/src/main/java/com/kabouzeid/gramophone/service/MusicService.java
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ public class MusicService extends Service implements MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListe
             if (intent.getAction().compareTo(AudioManager.ACTION_AUDIO_BECOMING_NOISY) == 0) {
                 wasPlayingBeforeFocusLoss = false;
                 pausePlaying(true);
+                pausePlaying(false);
             }
         }
     };
@@ -639,7 +640,7 @@ public class MusicService extends Service implements MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListe
             playerHandler.removeMessages(FADEDOWNANDPAUSE);
             playerHandler.sendEmptyMessage(FADEUPANDRESUME);
         } else {
-            player.setVolume(1f, 1f);
+            if (player != null) player.setVolume(1f, 1f);
             resume();
         }
     }
@@ -850,7 +851,8 @@ public class MusicService extends Service implements MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListe
                     } else {
                         currentDuckVolume = .2f;
                     }
-                    service.player.setVolume(currentDuckVolume, currentDuckVolume);
+                    if (service.player != null)
+                        service.player.setVolume(currentDuckVolume, currentDuckVolume);
                     break;
 
                 case UNDUCK:
@@ -860,7 +862,8 @@ public class MusicService extends Service implements MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListe
                     } else {
                         currentDuckVolume = 1.0f;
                     }
-                    service.player.setVolume(currentDuckVolume, currentDuckVolume);
+                    if (service.player != null)
+                        service.player.setVolume(currentDuckVolume, currentDuckVolume);
                     break;
 
                 case FADEDOWNANDPAUSE:
@@ -877,7 +880,8 @@ public class MusicService extends Service implements MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListe
                         service.fadingDown = false;
                         service.pausePlaying(true);
                     }
-                    service.player.setVolume(currentPlayPauseFadeVolume, currentPlayPauseFadeVolume);
+                    if (service.player != null)
+                        service.player.setVolume(currentPlayPauseFadeVolume, currentPlayPauseFadeVolume);
                     break;
 
                 case FADEUPANDRESUME:
@@ -888,7 +892,8 @@ public class MusicService extends Service implements MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListe
                     } else {
                         currentPlayPauseFadeVolume = 1.0f;
                     }
-                    service.player.setVolume(currentPlayPauseFadeVolume, currentPlayPauseFadeVolume);
+                    if (service.player != null)
+                        service.player.setVolume(currentPlayPauseFadeVolume, currentPlayPauseFadeVolume);
                     break;
 
                 case FOCUSCHANGE:
@@ -921,9 +926,6 @@ public class MusicService extends Service implements MediaPlayer.OnPreparedListe
                         case AudioManager.AUDIOFOCUS_LOSS_TRANSIENT_CAN_DUCK:
                             // Lost focus for a short time, but it's ok to keep playing
                             // at an attenuated level
-                            if (!service.isPlayerPrepared()) {
-                                service.setUpMediaPlayerIfNeeded();
-                            }
                             removeMessages(UNDUCK);
                             sendEmptyMessage(DUCK);
                             break;
diff --git a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
index 54117509..990db140 100644
--- a/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
+++ b/app/src/main/res/values/strings.xml
@@ -24,10 +24,10 @@
     <string name="songs">Songs</string>
     <string name="playlists">Playlists</string>
     <string name="nothing_playing">Nothing is playing</string>
-    <string name="unplayable_file">Sorry - an error occurred while attempting to play this song.</string>
-    <string name="biography_unavailable">Sorry, we were not able to find a matching biography for this artist.</string>
+    <string name="unplayable_file">An error occurred while attempting to play this song.</string>
+    <string name="biography_unavailable">We were not able to find a matching biography for this artist.</string>
     <string name="biography">Biography</string>
-    <string name="audio_focus_denied">We were not able to gain audio focus.</string>
+    <string name="audio_focus_denied">No audio focus.</string>
     <string name="title_activity_tag_editor">Tag editor</string>
     <string name="tag_editor">Tag editor</string>
     <string name="album">Album</string>