Mutator silences your iPhone, no exceptions (opens in new tab)

(gizmag.com)

11 pointsinvisiblefunnel13y ago22 comments

22 comments

22 comments · 10 top-level

pinko13y ago· 3 in thread

This is such a glaring weakness of the iPhone's current mute function. I can't believe we need a hacky hardware dongle to provide it.

But given that we're at that place, this is about as good a solution as I've seen for those times when you can't turn your phone off but absolutely do not want it to make noise.

shurcooL13y ago

A hardware solution to a software problem. So sad.

That said, I personally have no issues with the mute mode. I works as intended for me.

Also, this entire product lime can be made obsolete by a simple software update from Apple.

pinko13y ago

> Also, this entire product line can be made obsolete by a simple software update from Apple.

True, but it sounds like the project team might actually consider that a success, since they designed this to work around a problem they wish they didn't have.

danhixon13y ago

I agree! In the video Ron says he created out of necessity and frustration.

mdesq13y ago· 2 in thread

"In the Off position it does absolutely nothing, allowing you to use your iOS device as usual, but twist it into the On position and it mutes all sounds coming from the device apart from alarms you have set manually."

Those sound like exceptions to me.

mprovost13y ago

With those exceptions it wouldn't have prevented something like this famous example:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/nyregion/ringing-finally-s...

danhixon13y ago

Misleading headline! Alert the media! ... see what I did there?

mwc13y ago· 2 in thread

Wait, there's a problem with the mute function? Excepting alarms (from Clock.app), my iPhone is silent when it's switched to mute.

I'm guessing people have a bunch of third party apps installed that don't respect the mute button?

danhixon13y ago

Videos, Games, Siri can/do make noise when "ring/silent" switch is engaged. I usually don't have a problem but sometimes Siri launches when I don't expect her to - quit an app... wait... pling-pling-pling!

thedrbrian13y ago

Yes that's how silence works on iOS. Mute mutes thing you have no control over calls,texts etc. why the hell would I fire up a video and not want the sound?

mrmekon13y ago· 2 in thread

My 3GS has a broken Ring/Silent switch that is permanently on 'ring'. I've been trying for a year to find a reliable way to make it shut up -- I'm a 'silent always' kind of guy, and that switch failure made me hate my phone. This looks like a pretty great solution!

6d0debc07113y ago

Can you set ringtones on the iphone? If so can't you just record nothing and set that as the text acknowledgement tone?

mrmekon13y ago

You can set most, but not all, of the sounds to 'None'. There still seem to be a bunch of sounds that you can't control. And manually configuring the whole phone to be silent is quite time consuming, especially since you have to may have to do it for individual apps, which may or may not even support it.

moron4hire13y ago· 2 in thread

This one is cheaper and has more features https://dx.com/p/3-5mm-splitter-plug-2716

austingulati13y ago

It's a bit unwieldy to carry around attached to your phone even though it can achieve the same task (as well as others)

DHowett13y ago

It is also not even in the same category of things as the Mutator.

youngerdryas13y ago· 1 in thread

My phone mutes texts, I don't get it.

danhixon13y ago

It's about accidental user interactions - like when Siri launches when you don't expect - or if you forgot that you had a game running that makes sounds when you were last using your phone and you unlock it in class and the angry birds music starts playing and your teacher looks at you... and you know.

devindotcom13y ago

Do you really want this little dude sticking out of your phone 24/7? I get the feeling people will take it in and out rather than do the twist thing. And in that case, wouldn't carrying around the snipped-off end of any random 1/8" audio cable do the same thing?

jsherry13y ago

Buyer beware if you have a case on your phone - it states in the FAQ on his Kickstarter page that this will only work with low-profile cases (which is hard to gauge qualitatively).

gte910h13y ago

Just want to point out for everyone who wants that switch to be a mute button instead of a "less noise switch": I LOVE the way it works now. There are many of us out there.

AdrianRossouw13y ago

including the camera sound? thinking here of the privacy issues (ie: why all digital cameras still make the noise)

i was actually wondering that about the HTC one's video + picture functionality too.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

22 comments

22 comments · 10 top-level

pinko13y ago· 3 in thread

This is such a glaring weakness of the iPhone's current mute function. I can't believe we need a hacky hardware dongle to provide it.

But given that we're at that place, this is about as good a solution as I've seen for those times when you can't turn your phone off but absolutely do not want it to make noise.

shurcooL13y ago

A hardware solution to a software problem. So sad.

That said, I personally have no issues with the mute mode. I works as intended for me.

Also, this entire product lime can be made obsolete by a simple software update from Apple.

pinko13y ago

> Also, this entire product line can be made obsolete by a simple software update from Apple.

True, but it sounds like the project team might actually consider that a success, since they designed this to work around a problem they wish they didn't have.

danhixon13y ago

I agree! In the video Ron says he created out of necessity and frustration.

mdesq13y ago· 2 in thread

Those sound like exceptions to me.

mprovost13y ago

With those exceptions it wouldn't have prevented something like this famous example:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/13/nyregion/ringing-finally-s...

danhixon13y ago

Misleading headline! Alert the media! ... see what I did there?

mwc13y ago· 2 in thread

Wait, there's a problem with the mute function? Excepting alarms (from Clock.app), my iPhone is silent when it's switched to mute.

I'm guessing people have a bunch of third party apps installed that don't respect the mute button?

danhixon13y ago

thedrbrian13y ago

Yes that's how silence works on iOS. Mute mutes thing you have no control over calls,texts etc. why the hell would I fire up a video and not want the sound?

mrmekon13y ago· 2 in thread

6d0debc07113y ago

Can you set ringtones on the iphone? If so can't you just record nothing and set that as the text acknowledgement tone?

mrmekon13y ago

moron4hire13y ago· 2 in thread

This one is cheaper and has more features https://dx.com/p/3-5mm-splitter-plug-2716

austingulati13y ago

It's a bit unwieldy to carry around attached to your phone even though it can achieve the same task (as well as others)

DHowett13y ago

It is also not even in the same category of things as the Mutator.

youngerdryas13y ago· 1 in thread

My phone mutes texts, I don't get it.

danhixon13y ago

devindotcom13y ago

jsherry13y ago

Buyer beware if you have a case on your phone - it states in the FAQ on his Kickstarter page that this will only work with low-profile cases (which is hard to gauge qualitatively).

gte910h13y ago

Just want to point out for everyone who wants that switch to be a mute button instead of a "less noise switch": I LOVE the way it works now. There are many of us out there.

AdrianRossouw13y ago

including the camera sound? thinking here of the privacy issues (ie: why all digital cameras still make the noise)

i was actually wondering that about the HTC one's video + picture functionality too.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse