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Apple release new 'Volume Limit' feature for iPod

docs.info.apple.com — Apple's new software update for iPod adds a setting where you can choose your maximum volume and set a combonation to avoid the kids changing it!

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  • dleifelohcs, on 10/12/2007, -17/+33Dupe, but this one's at least relevant and well written, and a link straight to the source.

    Digged
    • longman2g, on 10/12/2007, -1/+38that is the way it should be. It shouldn't be see who can find something new the fastest, but also who can put a coherent thought together. Some of the titles/subtitles people make are just stupid/biased and there is no need to have them. I don't consider it a dupe unless it has already made it to the front page.
    • mason.parker, on 10/12/2007, -26/+4This is sorta offtopic but WHY did someone choose to bury dleifelohcs comment? What is this, MySpace?!?
    • longman2g, on 10/12/2007, -5/+7because there is no need to see someone typing dupe, its off topic from the article, takes up space, and it just doesn't matter that someone else posted it first--see my previous comment on that last reason.
    • mason.parker, on 10/12/2007, -8/+3OK. The 'dupe' and 'digged' I guess is not necessary but the rest of the comment was short but to the point I guess.

      I'm slowly losing faith in my argument.

      You did clarify something about criteria for being a true duplicate. I wondered if people only counted if it's on the front page. It's a lot of working going through the queue. I guess I can look for a real day job now.
    • longman2g, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1I say people should still go through the queue to see if an article has already been posted. If it has, evaluate whether its description accurately describes the page and topic which was discussed. If yes, then check to see if it links to the actual site instead of a blog linking to the site. If yes, then you have no right for resubmitting a page, someone else beat you to it and did their job properly. But if any of those are no, then go right ahead and submit your article.
  • tehJR, on 10/12/2007, -3/+17http://www.apple.com/sound/
  • ndm007, on 10/12/2007, -2/+11Yeah, I saw the dupe's but thought a link to Apple's official article was more useful in explaining it.
  • tvaughn05, on 10/12/2007, -6/+3Apparently it doesn't work on Mini's...:-(
    • monkeymad2, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3You want your volume to be limited?
      or is it "for the kids"?
      And it's only 5th Gen and nano's that it has any effect on,
      Unlike the radio remote where only the radio part doesn't work, tried it on a 4th gen.
  • tsupersonic, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2Does this work on the 4G iPods too?
  • dominolover, on 10/12/2007, -0/+16Sadly, this wont work on the older iPod's.

    From Apple: ''The new 1.1.1 software update for iPod nano and Fifth Generation iPod''

    I guess they just dont care about the hearing of users with older iPods :|
    • longman2g, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1maybe the programming on the older ipods makes it much more complicated for this to work and they haven't gotten to it yet.
    • SystemHasFailed, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7No they can add it. And actually my understanding is that given the DSPs in the older iPod it's even easier than in the 5th gen.

      They're just not going to because they want to encourage the sale of the new iPod. Standard practice with Apple until enough people bitch to get it added to the older models. And even then they do so begrudgingly.
    • mGee, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5Um'.. I don't understand why the volume needs to be limited.... in fact it's already too low. I have to boost the volume of mine.

      Of course, you can limit the volume by just turning it down. But that wouldn't be fun would it.
    • sych0, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5mGee, Im assuming its so kids dont go deaf. Perhaps you're already deaf as my photo ipod is plenty loud. ;)
    • craigtheguru, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I bet this is tied to the programmability of the later iPods. For example, these latest models also feature controls for the iPod Hi-Fi and iPod Radio Remote. All of these use custom iPod menus.
    • drtroll, on 10/12/2007, -4/+0whats the point of the volume control. If you cant hear the music its a huge waste of money. Why buy an expensive ipod if you cant enjoy it.
    • michaelstone, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2"They're just not going to because they want to encourage the sale of the new iPod. Standard practice with Apple until enough people bitch to get it added to the older models. And even then they do so begrudgingly."

      Really? A company whose aim it is to make money is trying to get people to buy something from them? You're kidding, right? There's no way that would EVER happen.
  • chrisbtig, on 10/12/2007, -6/+11I don't need to install the software update because my iPod already has a "volume limit" feature... it's my own frackin' common sense!!
    • mdd4696, on 10/12/2007, -2/+16I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally hit the scroll wheel without music playing and had my ear drums abused when it starts.
    • Omega697, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9That's what the "hold" button is for.
    • Eschel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I agree on the accidental deafening. I'm pretty disapointed that they didn't include an update for the earlier versions of the iPod. I've got a 4th gen and would like the ability to put my own cap on volume.
    • arnaudh, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Spoken like someone who doesn't have kids.
    • SystemHasFailed, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6You and *I* as adults have common sense.. kids don't. They really do NOT get that subjecting their ears to 100db really will cause them to need hearing aids later - maybe 20 years later - but still. That is why the volume cap is needed. I mean, most parents who do buy iPods for their kids are probably buying them for teenagers and it's nice to think they'll 'do the right thing'.. Still, they don't neccesarily have the sense to know exactly what is and is not "too loud".

    • CheeseheadDave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4When I plug my iPod into my car adapter, it disables the volume control and I have to use the volume control on the adapter instead. Sometimes my wife or I forget this and turn it up anyway. Later, if I plug in headphones and forget that the volume was turned up, I get blasted. This would be a nice bit of insurance.
    • alphamerik, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I wish *adults* could use their common sense when listening to music. I hate when I am on the T and some jerk-off in a suite has his iPod cranked full volume+ listening to Eminem, or the Latino lady has hers cranked up on electronica. Really, no one else wants to listen to their music, _even if we like it_. Its annoying and distracting. If you want to go home and jam an ice-pick in your head go for it. Same goes for those idiots who scroll through their ring-tone collection on their cell-phones. STFU already.
  • VegaObscura3, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4Seems a bit pointless... if you don't want it up really high then don't turn it up really high O.o
    • DarkEnder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6It's made so a parent could control the volume of the music that their child is listening to. There were news articles about how loud mp3 players could be damaging ears, and this is Apple's solution.
  • ndm007, on 10/12/2007, -9/+7**Typo: Combonation = Combination.
    • romman00, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1its ok im OC about those things too :D
  • binky79, on 10/12/2007, -5/+4why is this even necessary? I'm not sure about everybody else, but i can tell when something is too loud. And when it is, i dont go to apple looking for a patch. I turn it down. Is this a difficult concept? My truck can go like 110 mph, I dont go that fast everywhere I go.
    • u3b3rg33k, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5why? because people are stupid and we have too many lawyers (or at least too many people that use them).
    • LoungeActx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+5they are getting sued both in the US and in France for letting the volume level exceed "safe" listening volume. To be honest, these people are just trying to make a quick buck. This is the reason why we have sooooo many warning labels on pretty obvious things. Ex: Don't ingest antifreeze. (no ***** sherlock.)
    • binky79, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2You can get just as deaf listening to loud music in your car, at home, at any bar or club i've ever been to. What about concerts? Living close to an airport? Having a child? I guess i need to call me a lawyer.
    • arnaudh, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2One word: kids.
    • opti, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I play my iPod through a car adapter all the time. I hate having to set the volume to "just about two-thirds of maximum, but maybe a little more, like 70% of max..." to get precisely line-level output. (too high and I get bad clipping). It would be great to know that when the volume is maxed, I'm getting line-level output.
  • Jolene, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Maybe this has something to do with that case about the guy that claimed he was able to lose his hearing by listening to his Ipod too loud (but never stated that he actualy did). I don't remember hearing how that case turned out (No pun intended). Maybe this is their answer to it?

    I won't be updating my Ipod though, I've got linux running on it, so updating the stock OS will wipe the linux off...
  • kevin45, on 10/12/2007, -21/+1Pretty lame.
  • rcktwnmad, on 10/12/2007, -19/+3Because teens listen to it too loud, myself included, haha. This gives parents a way to restrict how loud it is. Pretty gay.
    • Jolene, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Yeah, I'm sure many parents of Ipod owning teens keep track of updates that allow these type of restrictions. ; )
    • u3b3rg33k, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7i'd be willing to bet most kids know more about computers than their parents, and can probably just reset the ipod and turn it off.
    • mxpxpx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6are you going say hey mom, theres a new patch, here take my ipod and set the comb for the volume.
    • binky79, on 10/12/2007, -2/+31 word "Darwin"
  • scaaven2, on 10/12/2007, -11/+1combonation
  • j0keR, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3Apple just did this as a liability, I'm sure you all know that France forced Apple to do this automatically... And because teen hearing loss has become an issue here as well.
  • porkmonkeys, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1was this the only thing they changed in this update? or are there any more features?
    • thatoldsoul, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Apparently there were "bug fixes" as well.
  • Dinosaurus, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Personally I've hurt my ears countless times by having the volume adjusted too high on my 2G iPod after turning it on. Most of the time while working out, hitting the volume too high by accident. A volume governer feature would be quite handy IMHO.
    • Jolene, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Does the 2G not have a hold button so you can't bump it up while working out?

      By the way, this update is only for Nanos and 5Gs.
    • Dinosaurus, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Yes, the hold button works fine. However, when you first start up the unit and start playing a song you won't hear any music until the iPod loads enough data into the memory chips to start playing. A lot of times you think the volume is down at 0 because you don't hear anything and you'll pump it way up (this is while you are not looking at the unit so you don't see the volume bar because you are concentrating on other things... the girl on the treadmill in front of you)... so then the music starts blaring. Now you may say this is a user issue because I should be looking at the display, but to me the button design of the iPod lends itself so well to non-looking-at-the-display use that most of the time I am in the habit of not using the display, skipping songs, volume, even skipping ahead in songs doesn't require the use of the display.
  • Spatulated, on 10/12/2007, -1/+6let kids blow out their ears, if you don't let kids mess up, they will be stupid forever
  • EvilMinx, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3I have an eight year old child who has an ipod.
    I think it’s good that parents can protect their children’s ears.
    Dig.
    • Jolene, on 10/12/2007, -0/+38 and already has an Ipod? Wow... I could see a use there I guess, but I mean how many younger kids actualy have Ipods?

      What kind of music does an 8 year old listen to anyways...?
    • Omega697, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3Here's a groundbreaking idea:

      Instead of trying to force your child to do correct things via technology, why not sit down and have a talk with them and explain to them why it's a bad idea to listen to your iPod on full blast.

      God forbid we actually speak to our children or teach them anything.
    • mxpxpx, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1kidz bop
    • Jolene, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Omega697: Did you always do what your parents told you to? Wait... Let me re-phrase that. 'DO you always do what your parents tell you to?' No, exactly. Sometimes it dosn't work. Thats where things like this could come in handy. Though it isn't very practical in this case since you could easily just restore the Ipod and it would probably remove the lock...
    • EvilMinx, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1My 8 year old saved his money to buy an ipod.
      He actually got one before me.
      I also have talked to him about volume control, but unfortunatly he doesnt listen to everything I tell him.
      Being eight and all he thinks his mom is not very cool. But that is what parenting is all about.
  • dbpigeon, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I know some people who need this. One of my friends got a headache listening to music to loud. I don't see how it even sounds good when its really loud, especially on headphones.
  • whiteghetto, on 10/12/2007, -6/+1this really makes me mad.
    they already have a volume control.
    if you turn it up to loud, how is that apples fault?
    if your kid turns it up to loud, maybe you should be a better parent.
  • AnGryTreE, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Let the iPod hacking begin!;)
    You might find this editorial of interest regarding the whole issue and specifically teens and mp3 players: http://www.pcworld.ca/news/column/047a5aab0a01040800f0541ddce172e5/pg1.htm
  • TheIguana, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Good! I have seen far to many kids who push their iPods volume to the max.

    Iggy
  • HMTKSteve, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Dupe of http://www.digg.com/apple/A_volume_limit_for_the_iPod_-_but_with_a_conceptual_flaw_
  • lane.montgomery, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1I like this because I listen to my iPod at work with external speakers. Every now and then a song comes on really loud and I would rather not have my music blasted so every cubicle can hear it.
  • recipher, on 10/12/2007, -7/+1Also called the moron feature.
  • leobaby, on 10/12/2007, -8/+2

    You spell like a fifth grader... combonation grr....

  • hinten, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2Personal responsibility be damned, please Apple, protect and feed me.

    Can I sue Sony for making me deaf from listening to their Walkmans (or is it Walkmen?) in the eighties? Funny enough, I had a prof in college that swore that this generation would go deaf from listening to car stereos that were too loud.

    I want volume limits in the constitution and while they are at it, put speed limiters in there as well.
  • caylorb, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4I think it's a great thing, obvisouly you don't have to use it, but for some people it's nice. And I know most kids are smarter with computers than their parents, but at least Apple's trying. I know way too many kids who listen to their ipod and I can hear it when standing several feet away.
  • deepsub, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3As a fomer kid who wouldn't turn down their Walkman and now has a ~8Khz ringing in both ears all the time, this is good thing.
    • HackWithRamzi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I also have tinnitus (chronic ringing of the ears). It sucks.
  • blacklilyninja, on 10/12/2007, -6/+0its for one iPod (nano) and its just a volume limiter. WHY IS THIS NEWS??? it even made local radio in the small town I live in. WHO really cares? It like knowing what Ringo Starr had for lunch. ... mind you... I am still mad at apple for not including a ringo starr with my MacBookPro.(reference to other story in headlines today that IS more important-aka apple vs apple)
  • DonWilson, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Does it fix my freaking iPod that can't display what's playing on the device???
    • sporktek, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Nope. I'm sorry, there is no fix for the iPod shuffle.

      I kid, I KID!
    • kortiz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1haha, that was sweet
    • Passionista, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0it seems to me that they've crippled the shuffle. the max volume is lower than it used to be. it doesn't play loud enough in my car anymore.

      has anyone else noticed this or have I just become a little paranoid?
  • CheeseheadDave, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1But does it fix the bug on the 60GB units where video freezes after 30 seconds?
    • webwalker, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Not a bug in the ipod, its a bug in the mp4 wrapper around the h.264 used by slipshod codec developers like videora.

      I spent months being ***** about this until someone with some programming mojo explained it to me. Nota Bene: Images encoded with Handbrake (h.264b13) have the MP4 wrapper constructed correctly. I watched three videos I encoded this way last night on my 60gb ipod.

      What I'm more racked about is the fact that the updater refers to the volume limiter and "big fixes" but because the creepy bastards at Apple don't publish a changelog, the only way to know what they have changed is to install the patch and pray they didn't break something else. Grrrr. For Pete's sake, even MSFT publishes changelogs....
    • CheeseheadDave, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Although why does it only affect the 60GB model and not the 30GB model?
    • vannoy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I just installed the new new firmware on my 5g 60gig and have not had the 30 second freeze on any videos made using Videora..
  • Ray_Justice, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0Nice. Now they just need to add a volume lock. The only thing I really use my iPod for is listening to podcasts in my vehicle. I use the iTrip Nano FM transmitter and there is a specific volume level that it works best at (about 60%). And every time i go to switch songs i end up accidentally changing the level and then i have to set it just right again so it sounds the best with no distortion or anything.
  • thefilmguy, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1I wonder if this new update will work with older Ipods (1-3 gen).
  • jerrygofixit, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2Combonernation! Gotta luv teh interwebers n there crazee wordololology...
  • ahhell, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2So very sad that a company has to release a "patch" that protects the consumers from themselves.

  • hadem, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I am glad that Apple did it this way instead of just limiting how far we can turn the volume up on our iPods.
  • stephen2417, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0I understand Apple's viewpoint on this, but today's kids are smarter than people think. If there's a limit, chances are they are going to find a way around it.
    As the article says, if you forgot the combination, just restore the iPod, even though that sounds harsh, kids will do it. Maybe they should add a password for restoring next.
    • ronaldpoi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Then i though: "What the..." If i had kids i'm pretty sure they will restore it... As someone overhere said, the best volume control is "common sense" anyway...
  • Zodzilla, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'm glad that this feature is here. This is a godsend for anyone that's ever been on an airplane trying to listen to their music. When I was younger I used to continuously turn the volume up when I was flying without realising that it was potentially damaging to my ears. Luckily I'm not hard of hearing (yet) so now I know better then to raise the volume when in a noisy area. But this feature is really for those who do turn up their volume in noisy areas and don't realise it's doing possibly permanent eardrum damage. It's also really good for parents who want to control the volume of their kids' players as kids don't know any better.
    I also can't see why people are freaking out about this addition because that's what it is an _addition_, it's an option that you can turn off and on and doesn't subtract anything from your previous listening experience, so why do people complain?
    Now if there was only some way to prevent idiots for turning their radios up to max volume when they're in their stupid SUV's...
  • zbeast, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1What type of kid would you give a $400 dollar ipod to that's too stupid to turn
    something down when it's ears ring or it hurts.
    I hope ipods don't end up like portable CD players.
    Portable CD players have had the reverse problem for years.
    There output levels are so slow there almost useless.
    I often had to resort to using output booster amp to get the music up to a reasonable listening level.

    I'm all for them offering you a soft choice controls but please don't set the max volume lower permanently in the hardware design. it would be a mistake.



  • DonWilson, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3This update fixed my 30gb Video iPod regarding it's "Now Playing" screen :D
  • Ilyanep, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1Hmm...how come nobody told me about a freaking update for the firmware?!

    Jeez.

    And I don't need a max volume -- I listen on 1/3 volume anyways.
  • Drahknon, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Yay.
  • ryan, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2This isn't just for stupid teenagers. I find the feature of great use. The iPod has a tendency to switch volume levels around if in a bag or a pocket, so I find this a great way to circumvent that problem. I've already had my e2c buds turn up to the max on me because of slippery hands and the click wheel. It wasn't very pleasant.
  • madholepunch, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4WHAT? COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?
    • EricAnderton, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3O_o

      Wow, that's some pretty serious hearing damage if it's affecting your vision.
  • iWorks, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2Will not apply this... I live with my iPod on 11!
  • rebrad, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Looks like you can have a guaranteed payoff if you have an old iPod and a good lawyer. Have a happy court day.
  • sych0, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1undugg due to lack of ipod photo support
  • tomi, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1Volume limit
    Bug fixes

    Hmm, anyone know if the whole video pausing after 30s bug is fixed?
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