https://bugs.kde.org/show_bug.cgi?id=436383
Bug ID: 436383
Summary: give more control and visibility to user which
microphone is being used and how sensitive it is
Product: plasmashell
Version: 5.21.4
Platform: Other
OS: Linux
Status: REPORTED
Severity: normal
Priority: NOR
Component: System Tray
Assignee: plasma-b...@kde.org
Reporter: mkleins...@gmail.com
CC: mate...@gmail.com
Target Milestone: 1.0
When I am on conference talk and others don't hear me well it is not blatantly
obvious in KDE what mic is being used (built-in mic or headset mic) and if I
should get closer to the laptop or adjust microphone at the headset.
Several situations demand better user control (in addition to the automation),
it is about security and confidentiality:
Consider for now only built-in laptop microphone and combo audio jack
(microphone, speaker). Ignore for now bluetooth and usb microphones/headsets.
Some laptops have a way to notify kernel if audio jack is plugged.
1) Sometimes laptops kernel do not detect (due to hardware limitation or bug in
kernel) the plugged standard 3.5 mm combo audio jack (in/out
headphone/microphone) ,
so the OS cannot switch the default audio out/in source/sink.
2) sometimes audio combo jack headset/microphone is bad, weak or buggy and user
wants to make sure or test he/she is talking to the active microphone in the
headset and wants to disable built-in microphone
3) user wants to have a confidence he/she is not being spied on or she does not
want to make an easy mistake due to confusing user interface (many marriages
have been broken by disclosing the secrets by mistake). User can easily unplug
headset to make sure microphone is NOT being used. However the user cannot
easily unplug (without hardware kill switch) the built-in microphone. The user
has never the confidence the built-in laptop microphone is not being used
possibly due to software bug or virus, confusion or mistake. Especially if
there is an automatic switching source mechanism in place when audio jack is
plugged in the confusion and doubt can creep in what source is being used.
All those situations could be handled if both audio sources/microphones
(built-in one and combo audio jack mic) are available in the system tray audio
volume all the time (and especially if the audio jack is plugged) and what is
switched (if possible) is only the default audio source/mic. Also volume meter
with mute and mic boost checkbox for each mic in audio volume applet/widget
(including bluetooth and usb mics) would be great too. To avoid confusion the
checkbox mute must be next to the explicitly stated location: Built-in/internal
microphone at all times, and another checkbox next to the "audio jack"
microphone/headset (when plugged in) at least when the headset/microphone is
plugged in (if possible to detect). I would avoid displaying name such as
"Digital microphone" in audio volume applet/widget. (as it is doing now to
me).What matters to me is where the mic is , not what type it is. The name
"External" is not good as well as there can be multiple bluetooth or usb
microphones/headsets, but the 'audio jack' headset is just one.
+35dB boost checkbox next to those microphones would be great next to the
volume meter for each mic (including usb and bluetooth mics).
Some feature can be put in systemsettings/pulse/audio
Linux/KDE Plasma:
(available in About System)
KDE Plasma Version: 5.21.4-0ubuntu1
KDE Frameworks Version: plasma-framework 5.80.0-0ubuntu1
Qt Version: 5.15.2+dfsg-5
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