Windows 11 Tests Bluetooth Audio Sharing That Connects Two Headsets at Once (theverge.com) 25
Microsoft is bringing shared audio to Windows 11, allowing you to stream audio across two pairs of wireless headphones, speakers, earbuds, or hearing aids. From a report: The feature is built using the Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) audio codec, and it's rolling out in preview to Windows 11 Insiders in the Dev and Beta channels. Shared audio comes in handy if you're watching a movie on a laptop with your friend or family member, or just want to show them new music that you can both stream inside your own wireless headsets. You can use shared audio by connecting Bluetooth LE-supported devices to your Windows 11 PC and then selecting the Shared audio (preview) button in your quick settings menu. Microsoft introduced an LE Audio feature on Windows 11 in August, enabling higher audio quality while using a wireless headset in a game or call.
Late to the party again ? (Score:4, Informative)
Copying features already available in other operating systems .... tut tut.
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I'm not understanding this party... Could someone explain? A usage scenario or two would probably suffice.
Maybe I can't capish because my usage scenario is too contradictory? My most promiscuous Bluetooth device is a Cheero TouchBone, and I am always using it to keep things quiet. For my situation things suddenly went pear-shaped when I starting using that feature with too many phones and computers at the same time. In the happier days of yore, I could just turn on another computer (or smartphone) and the T
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I think you misunderstand. This is about a source sending audio to two outputs at once, e.g. two people, each using their own headphones, listening to whatever's playing on one PC at the same time. It's not about an output being paired with multiple sources and connecting to the 'wrong' one. My AirPods do that too, but annoyingly they also do it while they're in the charging case.
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No, I think I understand that, but I'm having trouble understanding WHY you would want to.
Well, actually one usage scenario has come to mind. You might want to dance together with someone, but in silence as far as the rest of the room goes. But this would seem to be a case where you really do want to dance like no one is watching, because if anyone is watching then it will probably appear quite strange.
They're just doing this to be jerks (Score:3)
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Back in my day, we had to accidentally unplug our headphones while watching porn vids in a public place.
Now stay off my lawn!
Even a single BT headset connection sucks (Score:2)
I won't use a pure BT headset for work, because the connection is too flaky, and the range is too short. If I walk into the next room, it starts to quickly degrade. Thankfully, most of the good wireless headsets also come with a dongle that uses a proprietary RF technology for communication. These wireless-but-not-BT headsets have a much higher connection quality, and can keep the connection live as far as 100 feet away, even through multiple walls.
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I think you may just have some shit hardware. I have no problem with Bluetooth headsets in my entire house (covering 3 stories). My connection does drop if I walk all the way to the shed though.
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It's possible. I've tried headsets from Microsoft, Jabra, and Logitech, all over $100. Maybe that's too cheap, I don't know, but it doesn't seem cheap to me. I won't pay hundreds for a headset. The Microsoft and Logitech headsets were both dual-connection: BlueTooth or dongle. Using the dongle, they worked great, with BlueTooth, not so great.
Re: Even a single BT headset connection sucks (Score:2)
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These cheap earphones/headphones work through walls, and outside the house? I'm not buying it.
Re: Even a single BT headset connection sucks (Score:2)
Benefit is headsets (Score:2)
No thanks. (Score:2)
I rather this feature not be possible. Opens the door to far too many privacy violations.
when do we get the other way around (Score:1)
Two headsets? (Score:2)
I can't even get Windows 11 to handle one correctly.
Is this new? (Score:2)
Granted, I've only given the article a cursory glance, but is this really saying "you can connect two bluetooth headsets and have the same audio in them"? As in, windows will allow streaming the same audio to multiple output devices?
Because, if so, we've been doing it for years with software like VoiceMeeter on windows, bluetooth or not (assuming your bluetooth headsets *actually* connects to a windows machine without issues), and obviously it's been a thing in other OSes as well. Is that what the great Mic
They should make one device work first (Score:2)
I have a bunch of bluetooth headphones. More than half can not play audio from Windows 11 at all, although they show up as connected. Including a fancy Bose QuietComfort. Some play, but take 20-30s to be recognized as an audio device. They all work fine with Linux Mint.
Two people listening to the same thing? (Score:2)
Definite DCMA violation there.
What do you mean, "I was using the analogue hole to listen to [sound] with the person in the same room as me."
Into the tumbrel ; off to the guillotine.
Didn't people foresee this? Back when a 4-digit UID actually meant something? In the late 1990s?