TELECOM Digest OnLine - Sorted: Apple Offers Way to Cap Volume on I Pods


Apple Offers Way to Cap Volume on I Pods


Reuters News Wire (reuters@telecom-digest.org)
Wed, 29 Mar 2006 14:50:23 -0600

Apple Computer Inc. said on Wednesday it introduced a software update
for its market-leading iPod that lets parents set maximum volume
limits on the popular music player, as concerns grow about the risks
its earphones might pose for hearing loss.

The software update, which is available as a free download for the
iPod nano and fifth generation iPod, gives users the ability to set
volume caps on the iPod and lock it with a combination code, Apple
said.

The move follows a class action lawsuit that was filed against Apple
in a federal court in California in January, which claimed that iPods
could cause hearing loss because they have the capacity to produce
sounds in excess of 104 decibels and up to 115 decibels.

The National Institute of Health said earlier in March that more
research is needed to determine whether portable music players like
the iPod increase the risk of hearing loss, in response to a
lawmaker's request for a review of the issue.

"With the increased attention in this area, we want to offer customers
an easy-to-use option to set their own personal volume limit," said
Greg Joswiak, Apple's vice president of iPod product marketing, in a
statement.

The company said iPod users can get the software upgrade as a free
download from www.apple.com/ipod/download.

It said the new volume limit feature works with any headphone or
accessory plugged into the iPod headphone jack, as well as the iPod
Radio Remote.

Apple has sold more than 42 million iPods and over 1 billion songs on
its iTunes Music Store since they were introduced.

Apple's shares rose $2.93, or 5 percent, to $61.64 on Nasdaq.

Copyright 2006 Reuters Limited.

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