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Ask HN: Can we add a mute microphone multimedia key?

by yomansat on 8/18/20, 4:24 PM with 3 comments

Hello guys,

While exploring the idea of making a big USB mute button, I found out OSs (Windows/Mac at least) don't easily support the ability to mute the microphone as it does with sound output.

Multimedia keyboards have a key even for launching your email client but we now more modern needs for having a physical button to un/mute the Mic in any type of headset/built-in microphone would greatly help avoid the daily "sorry I was on mute" or taking time to find the right conference-call window for mute-by-default types of calls.

Is there a body that governs this standard like with Emojis? How would we go about adding a new multimedia button as a standard?

  • by CamNhungDinh on 8/19/20, 8:02 AM

    I think Lenovo has the mute media key that fits your needs. https://couponforless.com/store/lenovous.com

  • by verdverm on 8/18/20, 6:23 PM

    Pixelbook Go has a mute media key. I believe my Lenovo does too, though I'd have to dig that one out of the boxes to double check

  • by giantg2 on 8/19/20, 1:26 PM

    HP laptops have a mute function tied to the F8 key.