I Dream of Silence From My Web Browser?

BRAINBUZ asks: "I'm finding more and more web-pages are blasting sound at me. Everyone who chooses to blast sound at me seems to manage to make their sound files much louder than what I was trying to listen to. I am finding this to be even more annoying than popups -- at least with pop-ups I could click the X and be done with it, pages with sound don't give an option to turn it off without closing the browser, or muting all sound. When I can, I avoid sites with sound, but just today I was checking my balance on one of my credit cards only to have some awful noise nearly blow out my speakers from one of their ads, for themselves. Opera has a feature to turn off sound in web pages, which doesn't work on most noisy pages. Haven't been able to find a similar option in Firefox or IE. The next killer feature, what I really want from my browser, is the ability to shut every web site up. I get security warnings from my browsers all of the time, why can't I get a warning about every media file (whether it be audio, video, flash, ActiveX or Java based) on the page that wants to play and the option to play or not play them?"

Comments

FlashMute

[Anonymous Coward]

FlashMute - cross-browser Flash muting.

Most of these are flash...

[Matt Perry]

Most of these sounds come from Flash objects. You can block Flash with FlashBlock. It puts a play button where the Flash object is. As an alternative, I would recommend using NoScript. It allows you to block JavaScript, Flash, Java, and other plugins and then whitelist sites that you go to all of the time. You can enable Flash, Java, and plugins by clicking to play like with FlashBlock. If you are just visiting for a moment then you can temporarily enable for that site just for your browser session. I've found that this fixes all of the sound issues that you are talking about.

only to have some awful noise nearly blow out my speakers from one of their ads, for themselves.

Then install AdBlock and the AdBlock Filterset.G Updater. Ads that play sounds are yet another reason in a long list why I block ads myself. Some people don't agree with blocking ads. Well, make up your own mind on what to do. Personally I take the approach that several bad advertisers ruin it for everyone so I block them all.

Re:Most of these are flash...

[dschuetz]

Most of these sounds come from Flash objects. You can block Flash with FlashBlock. It puts a play button where the Flash object is.

Of course, then, you either get no flash, or when you explicitly play the flash, you still get blasted away.

I asked about this ages (I think maybe even two years ago) for Mozilla. There's even a bug filed for it [and, OMB, it was filed almost exactly six years ago ]. It's got 53 votes, maybe it needs more: Bug 24418 - Allow user to turn on and off rendering of video/audio (disable sound).

What'd really be nice is a volume control in an easily-accessed space on the browser, so you could, if you want, leave the browser sounds enabled, but at a mix level you're comfortable with.

2 soundcards maybe???

[baton]

If the reason you dont want sounds is because your say listening to music via another app you could get a 2nd sound output device (say a cheap usb 'soundcard') make that primary ound output and not plug anything into it. Then set your sound app to use the other soundcard that has speakers on it.

You shouldn't have to goto these lengths to do it, but it would work.

Re:2 soundcards maybe???

[adamofgreyskull]

Because then you couldn't scare the shit out of someone plugging speakers into the wrong soundcard by looping a loudass WAV of "AWOOOOGAH!! DO NOT TOUCH ME THERE HUMAN!!!!" through it.

Re:disconnect your speakers

[bob whoops]

There is something I want to hear most of the time. My music.

Re:disconnect your speakers

[ResidntGeek]

It's not YOUR music, it's the RIAA's music! You're DAMN lucky they allow you to listen, even if you paid for it! Count your blessings!

Re:Your bank?

[ClamIAm]

I would assume that this is your bank.

Only one way to find out. Get the name of the president of the bank, stand directly outside of his office with a megaphone, and shout "Mr. Phillips! WOULD YOU LIKE A BIGGER PENIS?"

Re:Your bank?

[timmyf2371]

An alternative to simply writing to your bank; you could use one of those Birthday cards which plays an annoying and repetitive tune when opened, and simply compose a clear and concise letter within letting the bank know how annoying sound can be when trying to work or relax. You'd also have the added advantage that the advisor dealing with your complaint would be able to fully appreciate just how frustrating unexpected and unwanted noise can be.