Apple to Auto Adjust Maximum iPod Volume?

MacRumors · 04:44 PM

DailyMail.co.uk reports on a recent Apple patent application that describes how Apple could automatically adjust maximum volumes on their iPod devices to help protect the listeners from developing any long-term hearing damage.

Quote:

A new patent reveals that the next iPods and iPhones could automatically calculate how long a person has been listening and at what volume, before gradually reducing the sound level.

The maximum safe level would be determined by how loud the iPod had been playing and the amount of quiet time since last play. This is not the first time that this potential problem has been in the news.

In February 2006, a man sued Apple over the risk for iPod-related hearing loss. Apple addressed this potential issue in a software update in March 2006 which allowed users to set their own personal maximum volume limit.

Article Link

P-Worm · Dec 24, 2007, 03:39 PM

Great idea. If the volume gets lowered gradually, the listener wouldn't notice, but their hearing could be saved.

P-Worm

Harpo · Dec 24, 2007, 03:39 PM

I feel like that could get annoying. Sometimes you need to go deaf for a few seconds to hear your music.

They should just package sound isolating headphones with the iPod instead.

Mac-Addict · Dec 24, 2007, 03:41 PM

I never have my volume up that loud, my eyesight is already buggered, I seriously want my hearing later on in life.

EricNau · Dec 24, 2007, 03:43 PM

This would be a great optional feature on all iPods, as long as the user could turn it on/off (or the user's parents with a passcode), very much like the current volume limiter.

Scarlet Fever · Dec 24, 2007, 03:44 PM

Why? Volume changes with different earbuds, and not everyone uses the Apple ones. And what if you're driving it through a set of speakers? I don't want my music being turned down when I'm playing it at a party.

I can't see this as being a good thing.

JMax1 · Dec 24, 2007, 03:44 PM

bologna to the lawsuit...

Eraserhead · 04:11 PM

I think it should be a matter of user preference and intelligence to pick a suitable volume. Of course given that this is the Daily Mail it isn't necessarily a reliable source

.

TheSpaz · Dec 24, 2007, 03:48 PM

"In February 2006, a mac sued Apple over the risk for iPod-related hearing loss. Apple addressed this potential issue in a software update in March 2006 which allowed users to set their own personal maximum volume limit."

I didn't know Macs could sue Apple. Interesting.

mikes63737 · Dec 24, 2007, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

In February 2006, a mac sued Apple over the risk for iPod-related hearing loss.

Macs can sue? Is iSue included this the new iLife '08?

Edit: Damn... TheSpaz beat me to it...

superleccy · Dec 24, 2007, 03:50 PM

Curious source for a rumour! I'm surprised The Daily Mail isn't trying to pin the blame for hearing loss on asylum seekers, teenage pregnancies and general declining moral standards.

SL

koobcamuk · Dec 24, 2007, 03:51 PM

I think this is ridiculous. It's up to us to choose how long we want to listen. What happens if we have the headphone jack connected to a car stereo?

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

In February 2006, a mac sued Apple over the risk for iPod-related hearing loss. Apple addressed this potential issue in a software update in March 2006 which allowed users to set their own personal maximum volume limit.

Nice slip up!

EDIT: About 2 people beat me to it.

TheSpaz · Dec 24, 2007, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mikes63737

Macs can sue? Is iSue included this the new iLife '08?

I beat you to it! Haha! *rubs it in your face*

33scottie33 · Dec 24, 2007, 03:56 PM

The maximum volume level is a lot like the maximum speed your car can go. If you want to drive at 120mph, you take full responsibility, not the manufacturer.

aitikin · Dec 24, 2007, 03:56 PM

I think that if they were to do this, there'd probably be a (allbeit difficult) way to disable such a setting. I feel this is like putting a band-aid on broken bone. It doesn't really fix the problem, it just seems to me that the problem lies in people trying to drown everything out with music. All in all, I feel this part of the loudness wars is exactly what will cause extreme hearing loss by the time this generation is 35. Loss into the range of 1K-6K, which is just ridiculous...

lazyrighteye · Dec 24, 2007, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MacRumors

In February 2006, a mac sued Apple over the risk for iPod-related hearing loss. Apple addressed this potential issue in a software update in March 2006 which allowed users to set their own personal maximum volume limit.

A "mac" or a "man?"

Regardless, this is a thoughtful feature I would like to see left as a user-controlled option.
While ear fatigue is definitely a legit issue, it might not be so good to have the volume eventually decrease if (say) you're playing an iPod/iPhone through a home system.

My $ says if this feature does see the light of day, it will most certainly be a user-controlled option.
Toggle On. Toggle Off.

lazyrighteye · Dec 24, 2007, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aitikin

I think that if they were to do this, there'd probably be a (allbeit difficult) way to disable such a setting. I feel this is like putting a band-aid on broken bone. It doesn't really fix the problem, it just seems to me that the problem lies in people trying to drown everything out with music. All in all, I feel this part of the loudness wars is exactly what will cause extreme hearing loss by the time this generation is 35. Loss into the range of 1K-6K, which is just ridiculous...

What if this generation is already 35?!?

Prof. · Dec 24, 2007, 04:02 PM

This isn't a rumor. Why is there a question mark on the front page? Apple comfirmed it yesterday on the evening news.

Prof.

Stella · Dec 24, 2007, 04:10 PM

Hopefully this feature won't be mandatory. Highly annoying otherwise.

If I want to f??? up my hearing - that is my choice, not Apple.

japanime · Dec 24, 2007, 04:10 PM

The Mac was simply responding to Apple's challenge: "Sosumi."

luminosity · Dec 24, 2007, 04:11 PM

I think it is important. An entire generation (or two, or three) is being raised on devices that just happen to be causing long-term hearing loss. It's as much out of ignorance as anything else. The ultra-fine hairs in the ear aren't something that grow back or recover like other body parts do.

MattJessop · Dec 24, 2007, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superleccy

Curious source for a rumour! I'm surprised The Daily Mail isn't trying to pin the blame for hearing loss on asylum seekers, teenage pregnancies and general declining moral standards.

SL

Well, they probably tried to, but had a rare moment of sensibility and came to their senses. I personally am calling Satan, i think he might want to know that hell has frozen over.

Anyway, Apple controlling things for the sake of the user experience is entirely what they've been doing for the last 20 years. No point complaining that this is a bad move for Apple, they seem to have coped well recently

MacFly123 · Dec 24, 2007, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EricNau

This would be a great optional feature on all iPods, as long as the user could turn it on/off (or the user's parents with a passcode), very much like the current volume limiter.

Ya, if it wasn't able to be turned off this would REALLY PISS ME OFF. Why can't people take responsibility for their own decisions DAMN it. If you want to go deaf, GO DEAF! Why do idiots have to sue someone?

iMikeT · Dec 24, 2007, 04:30 PM

They're my own g-damn ears... I'll choose when they go deaf and when they don't.

But seriously, "a mac sued Apple"?

iHerzeleid · Dec 24, 2007, 04:44 PM

is the mac that sued Apple, Too $hort? Lol...

(hopefully someone gets my pop culture reference)

Dec 24, 2007, 03:39 PM	#2
P-Worm macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Salt Lake City, UT	Great idea. If the volume gets lowered gradually, the listener wouldn't notice, but their hearing could be saved. P-Worm __________________ Follow my show The Movie Audit as well as watch my other videos on my YouTube Channel!

Dec 24, 2007, 03:41 PM	#4
Mac-Addict macrumors 65816 Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: London	I never have my volume up that loud, my eyesight is already buggered, I seriously want my hearing later on in life. __________________ Aluminum 20" iMac 2.0ghz 2gb, 15" Macbook Pro 2.33ghz 3gb, D90 18-105mm 55-200mm 50mm, Silver iPod Shuffle, Black iPhone 3g 16GB

Dec 24, 2007, 03:44 PM	#6
Scarlet Fever macrumors 68040 Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bookshop!	Why? Volume changes with different earbuds, and not everyone uses the Apple ones. And what if you're driving it through a set of speakers? I don't want my music being turned down when I'm playing it at a party. I can't see this as being a good thing. __________________ i have stuff. you have stuff. we are all consumers.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:44 PM	#7
JMax1 macrumors 6502 Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Tallahassee, FL	bologna to the lawsuit... __________________ How does Pig Latin work for Canadians, eh? 17" Intel iMac, Broken G4 Powerbook, 20 GB iPod Photo, 8GB iPhone, Migilia TV Micro, and two dogs.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:45 PM	#8
Eraserhead Contributor Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Oxford, UK	I think it should be a matter of user preference and intelligence to pick a suitable volume. Of course given that this is the Daily Mail it isn't necessarily a reliable source . Last edited by Eraserhead : Dec 24, 2007 at 04:11 PM.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:39 PM	#3
Harpo macrumors member Join Date: Jun 2006	I feel like that could get annoying. Sometimes you need to go deaf for a few seconds to hear your music. They should just package sound isolating headphones with the iPod instead.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:43 PM	#5
EricNau macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sacramento, CA	This would be a great optional feature on all iPods, as long as the user could turn it on/off (or the user's parents with a passcode), very much like the current volume limiter.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:48 PM	#9
TheSpaz macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Jun 2005	"In February 2006, a mac sued Apple over the risk for iPod-related hearing loss. Apple addressed this potential issue in a software update in March 2006 which allowed users to set their own personal maximum volume limit." I didn't know Macs could sue Apple. Interesting.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:50 PM	#11
superleccy macrumors 6502a Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: England	Curious source for a rumour! I'm surprised The Daily Mail isn't trying to pin the blame for hearing loss on asylum seekers, teenage pregnancies and general declining moral standards. SL __________________ 15" MBP: 2.4GHz C2D SR; now 4GB RAM; 160GB 5400rpm HD; Matte; 20" Cinema Disp. 14" iBook G4: 1.33GHz; 768MB RAM; 80GB HD. Switched Nov '04.

Dec 24, 2007, 03:56 PM	#14
33scottie33 macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Arlington, VA	The maximum volume level is a lot like the maximum speed your car can go. If you want to drive at 120mph, you take full responsibility, not the manufacturer. __________________ 15” MBP 3.06 GHz C2D, 8GB, SSD w/24" LED CD 20" iMac \| BB Tour

Dec 24, 2007, 03:56 PM	#15
aitikin macrumors newbie Join Date: May 2006	I think that if they were to do this, there'd probably be a (allbeit difficult) way to disable such a setting. I feel this is like putting a band-aid on broken bone. It doesn't really fix the problem, it just seems to me that the problem lies in people trying to drown everything out with music. All in all, I feel this part of the loudness wars is exactly what will cause extreme hearing loss by the time this generation is 35. Loss into the range of 1K-6K, which is just ridiculous...

Dec 24, 2007, 04:02 PM	#18
Prof. macrumors 68020 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: My head	This isn't a rumor. Why is there a question mark on the front page? Apple comfirmed it yesterday on the evening news. Prof. __________________ GayForMarriage • twitter • facebook

Dec 24, 2007, 04:10 PM	#19
Stella macrumors 68040 Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada	Hopefully this feature won't be mandatory. Highly annoying otherwise. If I want to f??? up my hearing - that is my choice, not Apple.

Dec 24, 2007, 04:10 PM	#20
japanime macrumors 6502 Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Japan	The Mac was simply responding to Apple's challenge: "Sosumi."

Dec 24, 2007, 04:11 PM	#21
luminosity macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Arizona	I think it is important. An entire generation (or two, or three) is being raised on devices that just happen to be causing long-term hearing loss. It's as much out of ignorance as anything else. The ultra-fine hairs in the ear aren't something that grow back or recover like other body parts do. __________________ 17'' MBP 2.8 4 GB RAM 500 HD, 15'' MBP 2.33, 2 GB RAM 120 HD

Dec 24, 2007, 04:30 PM	#24
iMikeT macrumors 6502 Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: California	They're my own g-damn ears... I'll choose when they go deaf and when they don't. But seriously, "a mac sued Apple"?

Dec 24, 2007, 04:44 PM	#25
iHerzeleid Banned Join Date: May 2007	is the mac that sued Apple, Too $hort? Lol... (hopefully someone gets my pop culture reference)

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