iPod Update to Address Volume-Level Concerns

aardwolf64 writes "In an apparent response to the hearing loss lawsuit against Apple, the company has released an update to the iPod nano and 5th generation iPod that allows the user to set the maximum volume level. Parents can even set a lock code that prevents the volume from going above a certain amount." Apple also has instructions at their site on how to implement the changes

How about an update that checks the user's IQ

[glebd]

-- and switches the iPod off if the user is too stupid?

Re:Darn, I was hoping I could _increase_ it...

[Your Pal Dave]

It would be nice (and probably profitable) if somebody came out with an inexpensive SPL meter which could be used to test individual earphones in order to determine a safe maximum setting. Something simple with red, yellow and green LEDs for instance.

Hell, Apple stores could have a proper SPL meter which customers could use to setup their ipods.

iPod needs a lower 'low'

[smenor]

My principal complaint with the iPod's volume control is that it isn't fine-grained enough.

When there's a lot of ambient noise, the granularity isn't a big deal.

It really bugs me if I'm in a quiet environment, though. There's a sharp jump from 0 volume to a level that's already uncomfortably loud for me.

Re:1st post?

[TheComputerMutt.ca]

I don't care what the reason is, a feature like this is a good thing. I've been wanting something like this for a while. I'm caution when using my Nano, but sometimes when I'm distracted I might turn it up to dangerous levels. I've already patched my iPod and set this, and I'm very happy with how it works. Younger children may not realize the risk, so the parental lock feature is very useful as well.

And no, not first post.

Re:Yes but...

[ColaMan]

The problem with earphones is that you miss a lot of physical cues that the music is too loud.
For example :

If you're sitting in front of your stereo and your innards are thumping in time to the music, you get the idea that it's probably a little loud. You don't get this physical effect wearing earphones.

If the person next to you at a party is moving their lips but you can't hear them, you get the idea that it's a little loud. With earphones, you think "Oh, I've just got earphones in."

All these kinds of missed cues help you to tell when the volume's too loud. If you played music back in a room at the level you normally can achieve with earphones, you'd have people cringing.

Re:iPod needs a lower 'low'

[useruser]

I just downloaded the update, and was happy to find that upon setting a low maximum volume (about 10%), the control granularity has actually increased: the far right of the bar is now 10%, allowing me to carefully adjust it between 0 and 10%.

No, this is just for the politicians

[Bueller_007]

They already had more than enough protection against hearing damage:

#1. The click wheel lets you change the volume from full to mute with one quick turn of the thumb.
#2. The "Hold" switch prevents the volume from changing when it's in your pocket.
#3. The "Sound Check" option, which normalizes the volume of all the songs.
#4. If you're among the white-earphone-wearing masses, the headphones that come with the iPod are so crappily designed that they fall right out of your ears if you take off the little black felt "earphone covers".

Actually, I thought France's problem with the iPod's sound system was that it came bundled with in-ear headphones. The iPod headphones are actually quite good if you leave the little black felt things on them, but the second you take them off (which most people seem to do), they fall half way out of your ear canal and the music sounds super soft and tinny. Then you have to crank the volume and jam them back in.

At any rate, this is just to make some politicians happy. You can easily accomplish the same affect as the new Volume Lock using just #1, #2 and #3. The only really new feature is that the volume can be controlled with a combination, which is touted on the website as a "parental control" option. Parental control? Oh, please.

The only other reason I can see for this is that update is that it gives Apple a simple way (i.e. through internet firmware updates) to control the max dB levels for every iPod in every country, just in case there are any hearing-protection laws passed.

Did anyone actually install this update?

[Keyslapper]

Cause I did.

Guess what? No Volume Limit.

Ok, I skimmed over the documentation first time round, and it was late, but now I'm looking at the Apple site directions, verifying my iPod software version (20G iPod w/Color Display, v1.2.1) and there's no bloody Volume Limit.

Now, I know I don't need it - unlike many people these days, I at least try to take responsibility for my own actions. I don't leave it loud enough to be uncomfortable - generally low enough that I can hear people talking around me. Still, I'm a nerd, and more importantly, a parent and uncle. My daughter, niece, and nephew all have shuffles, so I should at least know how to work it for them, and of course, I was just plain curious how the new bell worked.

So, did anyone else go looking for it? Did you find it?

Useful for my situation

[WolfZombie]

I use my iPod mostly for sitting in traffic, and right now I have a tape adapter to connect it with my stereo. With the volume too loud, it gives a lot of distortion through the stereo, with it about 85% it sounds perfect. The problem is 85% is too loud for headphones, so when I use it outside of the car I have to change the volume. With the volume indicator not having a numeric value, it is nearly impossible to find that perfect tape adapter volume. Now I can set that as my limit and my problem is solved.

I know this wasn't their intention with this update, but it should work great in solving my problem for my situation.

Now if they would just have an update where you could turn the backlight on by pressing a button without it changing the menu selection/volume/song...