Microsoft Has Copied the Best Windows Audio App (theverge.com) 41
In the latest test build of Windows 11, a new volume mixer can be enabled that looks a lot like EarTrumpet. The Verge's Tom Warren reports: The new Windows 11 feature provides quick access from the taskbar to switch audio outputs and control individual app volumes. That's exactly what EarTrumpet was built for nearly five years ago. The awesome utility has improved audio in Windows for years, and I once called it "the Windows 10 volume control app Microsoft should have created." How ironic.
Former Microsoft engineer Dave Amenta and Microsoft MVP Rafael Rivera created EarTrumpet, and Rivera pointed out the similarities of Microsoft's new Windows 11 feature on Twitter this week. "Oh snap. Microsoft is catching up to EarTrumpet," said Rivera. [...]
The operating system has long needed improvements here, and Windows users shouldn't really have to resort to third-party tools that put another volume icon in your system tray. Microsoft's implementation isn't as quick and easy as EarTrumpet, but there's still time for the company to refine it before launch.
Former Microsoft engineer Dave Amenta and Microsoft MVP Rafael Rivera created EarTrumpet, and Rivera pointed out the similarities of Microsoft's new Windows 11 feature on Twitter this week. "Oh snap. Microsoft is catching up to EarTrumpet," said Rivera. [...]
The operating system has long needed improvements here, and Windows users shouldn't really have to resort to third-party tools that put another volume icon in your system tray. Microsoft's implementation isn't as quick and easy as EarTrumpet, but there's still time for the company to refine it before launch.
Re: (Score:1, Funny)
you just violated your own sig!
Stealing ideas? (Score:5, Funny)
That's not how it works, nor the goal. (Score:4, Insightful)
They will make Linux (more) terrible to use by shoveling Windows shit in to every available orifice - hence Poettering.
Re: (Score:2)
That's why I'm going to go back to Devuan. I went to Ubuntu in order to get support for Linux gaming including Steam and Civ VI, and then both "responsible" companies proved they were irresponsible and refused to help me with their software exploding.
Ubuntu is becoming more and more of a shit show anyway, #donotwant snap, period. Having the browser be a snap is just stupid. It does not benefit the user in literally any way, and snap is so crap that it actually causes a bunch of problems.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
You can get pretty good results doing Debian without systemd, or at least there were instructions for that last I looked. But Devuan has worked out the hassles already.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
It just complicates things for no real benefit. In many cases you still need plenty of config complexity but instead of a big mean init script it's now spread out over a bunch of different files, usually in stupid locations, and with a bunch of new bugs. This is one I just came across recently [github.com]. It went unfixed for years and instead of fixing it, they just locked the bug so nobody could complain and you can't even see all the complaints unless you log in because they "minimized" some of them.
I can see where
Re: That's not how it works, nor the goal. (Score:1)
Parallel initialization of services?
Re: That's not how it works, nor the goal. (Score:1)
Re: That's not how it works, nor the goal. (Score:1)
Re: (Score:2)
If you had been around in my day, you would know there are several options for parallel init. However, the reality is that parallel init offers only a few seconds of speedup on a modern system, so IDGAF that it cuts my boot time in half. My POST is just as long, who cares? Also, systemd and its stupid network manager seem to have trouble getting a DHCP address in a timely fashion on my bridged interface. I used the fruity little commands for creating the configuration and everything. Give me back ifupdown,
Re: That's not how it works, nor the goal. (Score:1)
I care (and I'm not the only one ;p)
Re: That's not how it works, nor the goal. (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
If I wanted that, I would use flatpak, not snap. Firefox does sandboxing and I run noscript &c, which is not as good as also having another sandbox for the browser but ain't too shabby. I might use a flatpak for Firefox on my upcoming install.
Re: (Score:1)
Re: (Score:3)
Linux is one step away from moving all of /etc into a single flat database.
Re: (Score:2)
We can call it "the registry"!
Re: (Score:2)
Maybe one day Linux will have a sound system that works as well as windows'
Re: Stealing ideas? (Score:2)
Of all the things that Microsoft has copied... (Score:5, Insightful)
Of all the things that Microsoft has copied, this has to be the least interesting. EarTrumpet basically copied Microsoft's sliders from the Windows mixer, but put them in the system tray. Now Microsoft has supposedly copied their own feature back by putting the mixer in the system tray? That is not particularly revolutionary. They have been doing that for many other settings, so why should volume controls be anything special?
Re: (Score:2)
If Microsoft didn't use any of EarTrumpet's code then why would they give compensation to anyone? Considering that they already have their own code for putting a slider in the interface for the system volume, then what makes you think they would be unable to replicate this code for the individual apps?
Re: (Score:2)
I'm even pretty sure a previous version of Windows (Vista? 7?) had the mixer in the system tray. Then at some point they've hidden it. So it's a complete non-story.
It's handy when you need to mute or adjust a particular app but I haven't found needing it that often.
Re: (Score:2)
But Apple does this all the time, so when it seems like Microsoft does so as well, we need to spend a lot of attention to it to deflect from Apple.
Re: (Score:1)
The feature already exists in another but fairly easy place to get to. Just Win+G gives you these controls for gamers.
Re: (Score:1)
Waste of time (Score:2)
eh its The Verge (Score:2)
these dumb fucks cant tell the difference between zip ties and tweezers so who gives a toss on what they think it looks like
Careful now (Score:2)
If you make configuring audio as easy as it should be, people will just use it for teh p1racy. Better to avoid and obfuscate.
WinAmp? (Score:1)
bt audio delay (Score:2)
maybe some day ms will fix the 300ms bluetooth audio delay on videos. android does not have this problem.
Ads...ads (Score:1)
I'm sure microsoft will improve this software by adding unsolicited, in-your-face ads, or even better make higher tier where you can control specific apps for $5/month.
old slashdot borg icon (Score:1)