Posted on Thursday, December 27 2007 @ 2:15 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
Apple is going to incorporate some new features in the iPhone to protect the hearing of iPhone users.
CNET reports Apple is working on a technology that will calculate how long a person has been listening and at what volume, before gradually reducing the sound level.
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.
