1. A method for controlling audio output rendered from a computing system, the method comprising: the computing system playing an audio stream which is rendered as audio output having at least one controllable attribute, the audio output being rendered through an audio output device connected to the computing system; the computing system receiving an event, the event comprising an incoming telephone call; and the computing system, in response to the incoming telephone call, altering an audio state of the audio output by changing the at least one controllable attribute of the audio output.