Microsoft refreshes its audio feature for Windows 11 – Times of India

Microsoft keeps working on new features and lets a few actually test them. These features are usually accessible in test builds. One such feature in the latest test build of Windows 11 is a sound mixer that is similar to EarTrumpet, a popular third-party audio tool for Windows.
What is the feature?
This audio-related feature on Windows 11 can be quickly accessed from the taskbar and allows users to switch audio outputs as well as control individual app volumes. This is exactly what EarTrumpet does.
It was built nearly five years ago by ex-Microsoft employees: Former Microsoft engineer Dave Amenta and Microsoft MVP Rafael Rivera. In a tweet, Rivera pointed out the similarities between EarTrumpet and Microsoft’s new Windows 11 audio. “Oh snap. Microsoft is catching up to EarTrumpet,” said Rivera.

Microsoft has not spoken about it or even highlighted much in Windows 11 test builds probably because it is still in early testing stages. As per a report by The Verge, the feature is hidden under an experimental flag. It is to be noted that several experimental features are spotted in test builds weeks before Microsoft officially announces them.
The report also says that “Microsoft’s implementation isn’t as quick and easy as EarTrumpet,” — something that Rivera points out in one of the replies on his tweet. Replying to a comment, “No more hitting WIN+G to do this for me,” Rivera said, “EarTrumpet still has the quickest access in the west.”

This is not a new trend that OS developers have incorporated a certain functionality taking a tip from third-party apps or services. While people may dub this as copying, it actually benefits customers because now they won’t have to rely on a third-party app in getting something they like. Not only PC operating systems, the industry has seen a lot of features being ‘copied’ in smartphone OS (iOS and Android).