Hey.... that was it! Thanks a million
This is a bit odd though.. i can play videos (with audio) fine with my ringer turned off normally on my phone. In fact when i play videos on my phone (using the phone as the UI) while connected to AppRadio, it will also play with the audio fine. I guess there's something in the EC Touch app and the Photos app in AR that checks to see if the ringer is off and if so, mute the audio.
I think its a bug personally ... a low-priority one, but a bug nonetheless...
Thanks again for the help!!