Report: Apple working on auto-volume control for iPods

Apple is developing a volume control device for its iPods that would automatically calculate how long a person has been listening and at what volume, before gradually reducing the sound level, all in an effort to protect users' hearing, according to the London-based Daily Mail.

Citing a new patent application, the report--to which Apple declined to comment--says the "device will also calculate the amount of 'quiet time' between when the iPod is turned off and when it is restarted, allowing the volume to be increased again to a safe level."

In February 2006, a Louisiana man filed a class action suit against Apple, saying the computer maker failed to take adequate steps to prevent hearing loss among iPod users. That was followed by warnings from politicians and researchers on hearing-loss hazards related to MP3 player use.

Apple responded by releasing a free software update for some iPods that lets listeners set a maximum volume limit. But we haven't heard much on the matter since.

Let's turn to rocker Pete Townshend for his foreshadowing quote: "I have unwittingly helped to invent and refine a type of music that makes its principal components deaf," he said on his Web site two years ago. "Hearing loss is a terrible thing because it cannot be repaired. If you use an iPod or anything like it, or your child uses one, you MAY be OK...But my intuition tells me there is terrible trouble ahead."

[BgFOOT323]

okay...

This is all well and good, but what will happen when I use my iPod with my FM transmitter, which requires the volume to be up all the way?

[nmcphers]

Optional

I assume it would take the form of an optional setting.

[alchemistmuffin]

acutally, sounds like something for the next iPhone

You know, I think the auto-volume will be first introduced for <br />the 2nd generation iPhone, as it might be considered one of the <br />three sensors for the iPhone: The ambiant sensor, the proximity <br />sensor, and accelerometer sensor<br /><br />Then by fall comes, iPod is updated with the auto-volume <br />control.<br /><br />all the function of auto-volume will probably be avalible to all <br />ipod or iPhone owner by software update, or not

[cidman2001]

Remember the movie "The Jerk".....

Steve Jobs...I mean Steve Martin invented a handle for glasses (The Optigrab)that sold millions and made him rich. Then they found out it made people irreversibly cross-eyed. The class-action suit that followed sent him back to being a "poor black man"....<br /><br />Seems there could be a lesson there!

[derekrobert]

Litigious Americans...

What that guy did was like buy a muscle car and then sue the maker cause it went too fast...but I guess in America there's money to be had for anything and everything.....

[nicmart]

Pete can't write

Townshend wrote: ""I have unwittingly helped to invent and <br />refine a type of music that makes its principal components <br />deaf."<br /><br />What might he mean by the "principal components" of "music"? <br />Harmony and rhythm go deaf? Or does he mean that musicians <br />are the "principal components" of music, which would be a very <br />awkward of putting it. Maybe he means the listeners are the <br />"principal components of music," but then music can be played <br />without an audience, so listeners aren't principal. I suspect he <br />means that the "principal components" are ears, but ears are a <br />principal component of hearing, not music. (The brain is <br />another component.)<br /><br />Pete should be wary of venturing beyond the simple confines of <br />rock music. He plays music that, if listened to at excessive <br />volume, causes deafness. He has continued to play it for many <br />years after his own hearing loss, so his health admonition is <br />tempered by the fact that he continues to earn a handsome <br />living from the music that makes people deaf.<br /><br />What type of music doesn't cause deafness when listened to at <br />excessive volume for too long?

[Penguinisto]

Maybe it wasn't Pete?

I can easily see some schmuck hearing the word "constituents" and mis-transcribing it into "components"<br /><br />Meh. so goes communications, eh?<br /><br />/P

[DarkHawke]

No thanks, "Dad," I don't need your "help."

I hope that this, if put into the iPod/iPhone firmware, will only be an OPTION, or at least if it's turned on by default one can then turn it off! I get the whole lawsuit thing, and I lament that there are so few judges in this country that have the guts to laugh candy-a$$ stuff like this out of their courtrooms. However, I as most folks achieved at least legal adulthood at age 18. From that point on, I'm responsible for my own actions and, yes, big ol' failures as well. I'm not deafening myself with my DAP, and I resent the implication that I'm so stupid that I'd do so if it weren't for this lawsuit or the kind offices of Apple, Inc.

[Astinsan]

Are we really this helpless?

Ok I get it... <br /><br />Hearing loss is bad. I do recall (when I purchased my ipod gen 3)the manual saying something to the fact that you could experience hearing loss at high volumes. (It was in the patronizing apple talk though... something sorta like) "we want you to enjoy our player for years to come. Please remember to keep the music at a low volume." not exact but I remember reading something like it.<br /><br />Are we all so helpless that we can't figure that out? I mean if a faucet had hot water running from it your going to react and make a choice. If you take off the headphones and can't hear... isn't it obvious?<br /><br />These lawsuits should be thrown out of court. <br />If it goes through they better sue the gun companies for selling firearms that may kill someone. We should sue the rock queries for selling rock that may cause back problems. We should sue starbucks for selling a liquid that could potentially burn you.

[galacticcruiser]

A patent for it? This is ridiculous

Why does Apple need to file a patent for something so obvious (in terms of how one might want to implement it). This is ridiculous, not altruistic...

[Penguinisto]

The answer is easy...

...they filed it to prevent getting sued when/if they decide to put such an option in place. <br /><br />That's the sad part of software patents... can't build jack these days without some patent troll getting a sneak peek, filing a patent for it, and launching a lawsuit at the barest scent of money.<br /><br />/P

[nicmart]

Bite the hand

The proverb warns that 'You should not bite the hand that feeds <br />you.' But maybe you should, if it prevents you from feeding <br />yourself. -- Thomas Szasz (szasz.com)

[Lee in San Diego]

It is true!

It was reported in a newspaper so it must be true! Furthermore <br />you have no choice in this matter; the iPod volume level will <br />gradually decrease until it is zero and then you have to turn off <br />the iPod to reset it! I will never buy anything from Apple and <br />Steve Jobs is the anti-Christ. /snark<br /><br />Why don't you wait until Apple announces something before <br />slamming it? You have absolutely no facts about the implementation of the technology.

[Alex Alexzander]

Leave Choice Where it Belongs

Fanboy alert!<br /><br />He can voice his opinion now. And so will I. Let's limit all cars to 55 MPH so we idiots don't drive too fast. Stop selling salt, it's bad for us. Do you really need sugar? It sure tastes good, but ultimately it's bad for us. Are we going to see a court case there, and then see companies making tea spoons with holes in them so we don't scoop too much sugar into our coffee? <br /><br />We don't need training wheels for head phones. Kids today know what they are doing. Like all Americans, they don't go to the dentist until it hurts, but that's their choice, not a company's choice or the government's choice. It's ours. <br /><br />-Alex Alexzander

[elkatz]

What about content?

How about a "content-nanny" which makes sure the user is listening to "approved" music.<br />Maybe I could sue Apple because I wasted so much time listening to lousy music.<br />Tort reform, anyone?

[imacpwr]

Americans & Lawsuits: it's "Liebeck v. McDonald's" over and over..

quote: "Louisiana man filed a class action suit against Apple, <br />saying the computer maker failed to take adequate steps to <br />prevent hearing loss among iPod users."<br /><br />At what point are Americans expected to take responsibility for <br />their own actions...?!? And when is the American government <br />finally going to step in and stop lawyers from flooding the <br />courts with frivolous lawsuits? <br /><br />Every time one of these "frivolous lawsuits" hits the headlines in <br />the global media the world starts laughing over Americans and <br />the lack of "common sense" that exists there. As an American <br />living in Europe I'm constantly reminded of "*Liebeck v. <br />McDonald's" and asked, Is everyone REALLY that stupid in <br />America...?!? In defense of idiots who, attempt to operate a <br />vehicle while a paper cup filled with boiling hot coffee is lodged <br />between their legs, I explain to them that the problem is in the <br />court system and not the morons who lack common sense. It's <br />far to easy for sleazy lawyers out to make a quick buck off of <br />those who lack that all important "common sense" to bring these <br />lawsuits to litigation.

[basraw]

Don't forget French lawsuit that turned into a Bill ---Jean-François Mattei

Post subject: 29 June 1996 &gt; -François Mattei = **** <br /><br />In an attempt to prevent hearing loss in young people, France passed a law last month limiting the noise levels of personal stereos. Once it comes into effect later this year, the output of all personal stereos sold in France will be capped at 100 decibels. They will also have to carry a notice warning that listening at full volume for a prolonged period can damage hearing.<br />The ruling, the first of its kind in the world, has provoked outrage among personal stereo importers, who say there is no international consensus on how to measure sound from such equipment. More surprisingly, some hearing specialists have also criticised it. They say there is little scientific evidence that young people's hearing suffers as a result of listening to loud music. They also fear that the law may push the trade in ear-splitting machines underground. "The law was passed out of emotion rather than reason because reassuring worried mothers is a way to win votes," says Christian Meyer-Bisch, a French audiologist who has studied the effects of loud music on hearing.<br />The new legislation was the brainchild of two French deputies, Jean-François Mattei and Jean-Pierre Cave, who are also doctors. Mattei contends that loud music has become a public health issue because it is "creating a generation of deaf people". He points out that whereas machine workers are protected by strict rules on noise exposure, up to now there has been nothing to protect people from "leisure" noise such as music, which can be just as harmful.

[xine97]

Clarification on Liebeck v. McDonald's

While I agree that on the whole Americans are over litigous, I studied this case in a Business Law class and felt I needed to clarify a few points:<br /><br />1) She was not operating the vehicle at the time she suffered third degree burns<br />2) McDonald's had received hundreds of complaints regarding burns prior to her injury but had not reduced the holding temperature of the coffee<br />3) She had offered to settle the case for $20,000 but McDonald's refused

[lilythedog]

Useless technology

Even if you use Apple's lousy earbuds, there can be a huge <br />variation in the output volume level depending on how well they fit <br />in your ears. This technology is inspired by nothing else but <br />litigation-sensivity.

[Peter Bonte]

This was world news for some reason.

Here in Belgium it was mentioned in the papers and evening new <br />on TV, they hardly never bring Apple or tech news but this one <br />made it. ??

[Nodack]

What? I can't hear you.

Hearing loss will happen as you get older and if you listen to <br />music a lot, hearing loss will probably happen sooner than later.<br /><br />Take responsibility for your own actions and listen to music in <br />moderation. Give your ears breaks from time to time.<br /><br />I'm not thrilled with Apple's new auto volume device and will turn <br />it off when it get's implemented. Apple is probably doing it <br />because of the sue happy people.

[jscott418]

Too stupid to take care of ourselves

I guess we are just too stupid to save our own hearing. We have to have someone do it for us.<br />You know Pete Townsend of The Who said it best. That is was not the concerts that made him lose hearing. It was the headphones cranked up that did it. I guess we will have a generation or two of fat,deaf,stupid, self centered people who will blame everyone but themselves for their problems.