Apple Releases Software to Set iPod Volume

This is a good thing. With the regular headphones, the volume is more than adequate.

But I wonder if I can set the volume higher than the limit. Whenever you get a big pair of studio headphones hooked up to an iPod, it doesn't seem to have enough juice to power them.

I agree. sure you don't want to damage your hearing, but the iPod would be awesome to use when practising the drums if it were loud enough to compete with them.

Also, sometimes if you get an adapter for your car (through cassette, FM, etc.) you can't get it loud enough. That's why a lot of people have resorted to third party hacks.

For normal listening through normal headphones, though, the volume's plenty loud.

This may be in response to the problems they are having overseas in Europe. They have been getting some complaints about this lately. It's a good move.

For hooking up to your stereo, you should find an adapter that interfaces with the dock port. This way, you don't have to max the volume in order to hear the music.

Now if they would just make some newer, downloadable games for iPod. :(

Now if they would just make some newer, downloadable games for iPod. :(

Have you given ipodlinux a try? ;)

I like the idea of being able to password protect your ipod. Seems like a long-needed security feature.

Without seeming too much like a Mac-whore Apple apologetic..

This may be in response to the problems they are having overseas in Europe. They have been getting some complaints about this lately. It's a good move.

Are the European iPods not set at a lower volume from the factory? I recall reading about a hack available for European iPod owners that removes the lower volume and sets it to the US standard.

I like the idea of being able to password protect your ipod. Seems like a long-needed security feature.

Hasn't that been a feature since the iPod nano? Screen Lock, I think it's called? All these people who claim they require such functionality, I must be lucky that I've got no clue why anyone would need it.

Guys, the volume control is optional. It's not like it's set out of the factory or something, so you won't be able to set the volume as high as you'd like. The iPod will still produce the same amount of volume, now you'll just have the option to restrict how high it will go.

Darn, I thought this update would allow you to crank it up to 11.

Um, doesn't the iPod have a volume control? So what use is this feature again?

Stupid Apple.....

I find it odd that the European versions of the ipod have had these "limiters" the whole time, while the American version did not.

This just reminds me of the lawsuit where the lady sued McDonald's because the coffee was hot, and burnt her when she spilt it. Here's the bottom line, if you ask me, if you're listening to something that might injure your body (You can control if it does at all, or how much), and YOU decide to make it injure you. It's your own damn fault.

Does this mean I could buy a hand gun, shoot myself in the foot, and then sue Colt because they didn't put a warning, or give me something so I couldn't injure myself? (Extreme yes, but a close analogy if you ask me.)

^ Ha.

That Apple needed to release this is silly, but it is a smart move.

"I like the idea of being able to password protect your ipod. Seems like a long-needed security feature."

Hasn't that been a feature since the iPod nano? Screen Lock, I think it's called? All these people who claim they require such functionality, I must be lucky that I've got no clue why anyone would need it.

Well, there are a lot of people who see a tiny little portable 20-60g hard drive and want to use it for more than music. It's not as conveniant as a USB thumb drive loaded with tiny apps and files, but it's a heck of a lot bigger. If I have files other than music on there, I want to be able to lock it up.

Besides, some people want to have control over the stuff they buy. We've gotten used to the idea that companies have complete control over how we use their products once we buy them- DVDs are locked up, CDs are made with virus-like rootkits, Apple restricts what devices can use iTunes music, and the list goes on and on. There was a time when, once you bought something, you could do with it as you pleased. In the face of corporate attempts to take away this control, a lot of people try to hack the software and maintain their control.

Sometimes I wish there was a "stupid people" law to protect companies and people who are sued by stupid people with lack of common sense.

I once went to a scout camp, and before we were released to hike around the large camp, a ranger had to train us. She had a list of required instructions she must give. One night at dinner, she told us not to set the pot full of hot, recently boiled water on our lap. We laughed, and asked, "why would we do that anyway?" She said, "I don't know, but ask the kid who can't children anymore because he placed the pot on his lap, and spilled it all over his legs and crotch. He later sued us and won because 'we didn't warn him about the dangers of putting a pot on our laps'." If I were the judge trying that case I would have dismissed it because that idiot kid should have known better than to set a pot of boiling water on his lap!

Same goes for: the criminal who broke into someones house by breaking a window, cut himself, and sued the homeowners for damages related to his injury--and won, or the the lady who spilt coffee on her lap and sued McDonalds.

We need a "stupid people" law so Judges can dismiss lawsuits related to lack of common sense.

Is the limiter an automatic volume-sensing limiter, or does it merely limit the amount of gain that can be added?

Hearing loss is something everyone should take seriously. We know exactly how much SPL we can safely expose ourselves to. We know exactly the type of hearing loss that occurs when we exceed safe SPL levels. The fact that electronics can be sold that can expose us to unsafe SPL levels is should be criminal.

As a highly trained audio engineer, I cannot adequately judge when my exposure to SPL has exceeded safe levels without the use of a calibrated SPL meter and a stopwatch. This is because our ears adjust themselves to SPL just like our eyes adjust themselves to bright light. The only difference being when you listen to high SPL for too long you loose your hearing.

The real "stupid people" are the ones who think hearing loss isn't serious, and that people are supposed to instinctively know the exact SPL they're exposing themselves to through "common sense". Hearing lose is a serious matter. It's incredibly stupid not to have built-in safety limiters on any portable audio device.

I'm glad to see Apple finally taking the steps to preserve the hearing of their customers.

-Ziggy Tomcich

Wow! I'm shocked to find this as one of the most voted and most comments article on Newsvine.

RDF anyone? This one ever so minor update has gotten so much coverage on not just this site but all other tech sites, that it really does amaze me how much everyone seems to follow Apple news these days. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a criticiscm.

I just haven't ever seen anything like it before. To be honest, I don't think this news release that big of a deal. So what!

Apple releases a software update for iPods that allow users to set their own volume control....hmmmm. Sounds kinda boring to me but maybe that's just me?

The large iPod in the image is not made anymore, it is an old, non-video iPod.

@ Connors

Wow! I'm shocked to find this as one of the most voted and most comments article on Newsvine.

RDF anyone?

Looks like it sucked both you in as well, bumping the comment count up... Oh Damn!! It just got me to. I just wanted to post and point out that you got sucked in, but I can't do that without adding to the comment total. A paradox, explained only by the RDF.

I agree with a "stupid people" law. Let's make a law that will ban stupid people from using ANYTHING! Don't you know if your music is too loud to turn down the volume. Don't you know that if you spill hot coffee on yourself you MIGHT get burned. Should cars stop for you if you want to walk across and interstate highway?

There are too many "stupid laws" on the books anyway to protect "stupid people". Why not be responsible and use products sensibly. Oh I just had an idea.........some lawyers might not like that!! How could they make a living without filing "stupid lawsuits"?

Thiw one time I had my nano cranked cause I didn't have the buds in my ear and just wanted some background music. Then I forgot about it the next day. Yes I am a dumb ass, but at least with this little piece of software I can little how much damage I can do to myself!