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Apple Offers iPod Volume Control Software [UPDATE]

Wednesday, March 29th, 2006 at 9:20 AM - by Staff

Apple announced on Wednesday the availability of an iPod software update the limits the maximum volume of the iPod. The update lets you set your own maximum volume on fifth generation iPods, and the iPod nano. Parents can also set the volume limit on their children's iPods, and then lock the maximum setting with a code. Volume limiting works with any headphone or accessory plugged into the headphone jack, as well as the iPod Radio Remote.

The new iPod software update 1.1.1 is free, and available for download at the Apple Web site.

iPod Observer tested the update on a 4GB iPod nano that was running software version 1.1. The update deleted all of the files and music that were on the iPod, and left it unmountable. Until more information about potential problems with iPod Updater 2006-03-23 is available, IPO recommends that you not apply the update.

[This article has been updated with information about possible problems with iPod Updater 2006-03-23]

19 comments from the community.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 29, 2006 10:49 am

Heh. Heh.

A new prank on the iPod...

When some hapless iPod owner's back is turned or is out of the room or just plain too busy, you really, really, really crank up the volume. Hilarity will ensue, especially when the owner gets on the cell and start consulting with a lawyer...

Heh. Heh.

Guest, pranking these boards since April 1st, 1976...

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Lavode said:

member since 03 Dec 2001 with 147 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:24 am

Can someone try this thing out on a 60 GB video iPod and report back? Does this update break video playback like the last "essential" updater did?

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Mikuro said:

member since 15 Jun 2002 with 457 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:35 am

I wish iTunes had such a feature! Or for that matter, the Mac OS itself. Seriously, this is important, especially for those of us who use headphones with our computer. Subjective tests (i.e., "is this too loud?") are just not reliable, and there are real health issues with having your music too loud.

Sounds like a good feature. I hope the problems will be worked out quickly.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 29, 2006 11:40 am

Yeah - I was thinking the same thing. They rush to put out a stupid update to keep people from turning up the volume*, but can't be bothered to fix something actually BROKEN in their lastest software.

This video thing is really starting to piss me off. I've waited long enough.

*Hint: instead of installing volume-limiting software, just try NOT TURNING IT UP TOO LOUD, MORONS.

Lavode wrote:
Can someone try this thing out on a 60 GB video iPod and report back? Does this update break video playback like the last "essential" updater did?

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rspress said:

member since 12 Nov 2002 with 29 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:20 pm

How about a little truth in advertising. This only updates the 5G iPod and the Nano. If your ipod is over a year old you get nada. Apple should call the updaters “This years model update”. While I think the lawsuit is bull anyway what is Apple thinking. Is it OK for 1G-4G owners to go deaf?

Apple is doing one thing, it is making Creatives customer support and updates look pretty good. They actually ADD features to their older players. I have a 3G iPod and Apple has not even come close to eliminating all the bugs in the 2.3 software. It is coming up on two years since it has been updated.

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Engine Joe said:

member since 29 Jun 2004 with 413 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Mar 29, 2006 12:43 pm

rspress wrote:
How about a little truth in advertising. This only updates the 5G iPod and the Nano.

A direct quote from the Apple download page for this update: "iPod Updater 2006-03-23 includes iPod Software 1.1.1 for the new iPod and new iPod Software 1.1.1 for iPod nano. iPod Updater 2006-03-23 contains the same software versions as iPod Updater 2006-01-10 for all other iPod models."

In the meantime, this IPO article says: "The update lets you set your own maximum volume on fifth generation iPods, and the iPod nano."

Doesn't seem like there's any problem with truth in advertising here...?

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Dean Lewis said:

member since 29 Sep 2001 with 162 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Mar 29, 2006 1:11 pm

"The update lets you set your own maximum volume on fifth generation iPods, and the iPod nano."

Hey, that's funny. I can do that with the volume control in the first place.

Guess what else? I rip the tags off my pillows and mattresses. I'm such a rebel!

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 29, 2006 1:40 pm

This software update is a VERY good idea (the broken-ness of the patch aside). Might help some folks save their hearing.

Yeah yeah, you say, "Just turn it down, stupid." But teens think they're INVINCIBLE, and even some older folks forget what an iPod can do to your hearing, and crank it up. Anything that prevents long-term hearing loss is a damn good idea.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 29, 2006 1:41 pm

AMEN Dean!

It astounds me that people actually think they have the right to sue because they damage their own hearing listening to their music, if your old enough to sue your old enough to know, hell I learned about sound in science class in elementary school. Whats more pathetic is the F'n lawyers who actually take these cases. As for this update I think the sound limit is a good idea (as long as it works) for parents whos children have iPods, I was always told when I was young that listening to loud music would damage my hearing but when your young and stupid nothing can hurt you. If I recall correctly, my sony walkman had much greater sound level than todays iPods, but then again I may have lost my hearing, perhaps my parents should have installed a padlock on my walkman volume control.

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Bosco said:

member since 03 Jun 2002 with 1002 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Mar 29, 2006 2:39 pm

Quote:
Pod Observer tested the update on a 4GB iPod nano that was running software version 1.1. The update deleted all of the files and music that were on the iPod, and left it unmountable.

Well, that seems to solve the excessive volume problem, right? But there is another flaw in the update. When I attach an iPod to my car stereo, I can still crank it up to deafening levels. I think Apple needs to implement DVM ("Digital Volume Management") to ensure that people do not turn their music up too loud on any device they connect to the iPod. This may involve plugging the analog hole. If I have an amp that can be cranked up to 11, the iPod should not play when connected to it. After all, we're talking about the children!

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 29, 2006 3:56 pm

I think we ought to start a class-action lawsuit against Apple for preventing us from deafening ourselves...

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Biff said:

member since 08 Apr 2004 with 1479 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:04 pm

The question is does this just limit the range of your volume control or does it enforce a maximum volume output capability? What I mean is, I have a volume level that I like which is usually fine, but once in a while there is something that comes out just extremely loud. I'm thinking of this particular Nine Inch Nails song that starts out with this INSANELY loud noise. The rest of the time the volume of what I am listening to is fine, but somehow that sound is like 2-3 times as loud as everything else. So would the iPod limit that output to my selected volume level or is this just a simple across the board volume adjustment?

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 29, 2006 4:18 pm

Back in the late '70s my toddler son was playing with my stereo amp which was turned off at the time. I had these monstrous speakers, with bass almost as large as the one in the movie Back to The Future. Apparently my son had the volume knob turned all the way up when he found the on button. The house rattled, my son was screaming, and I clawed my way toward the power button to turn it off. I guess the incident affected my son's hearing, as never seemed to listen to me.

Anyway, the point is that this patch could prevent an accidental too high volume setting. A user could always change the setting if they wanted to.

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A guest said: (hide)

Wed Mar 29, 2006 9:55 pm

Some of you people must not be parents. I can hear my 13 year old's iPod from across the room, and nothing I say makes him realize this might be a problem. I'm old enough to have lived through Led Zeppelin etc, and my ears ring all the time now. Believe me, it's not fun.

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rgshelton said:

member since 17 Jan 2006 with 7 posts, unranked, send him a message or view his profile

Thu Mar 30, 2006 11:04 am

No problems updating my 60 gig 5g. Volume setting worked as promised and no other glitches to speak of. I was going to update my 13 year old's 4 gig nano today, but may wait seeing this report (he's the one I'm concerned about with volume control). I assume that IPO used the Mac updater on the Nano, but I wonder if the Windows updater has the same issue. I haven't seen any other complaints of the update breaking Nano, so could this be an isolated event? If it's unmountable, did the restore (or an older updater restore) fix the Nano or is it totally dead?

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A guest said: (hide)

Sun Apr 02, 2006 7:40 pm

I'm a bit uncertain whether it's a flaw in the iPod updater affecting my 40Gb iPod (guess it must be a 2nd generation...) or if it's a 40 cm. error (i.e. me f***ing something up), but after acquiring the new MacBook and attaching my venerable iPod to it AND installing the latest update on the iPod, I suddenly only get about 1/2 the volume I'm used to when connecting the iPod to my stereo... Previously the volume was comparable to the other inputs (dvd, cd, tv etc), but now I get almost no sound at all... any ideas?

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A guest said: (hide)

Sun Apr 02, 2006 10:09 pm

I've had two 30g iPods killed by the latest update within the past two days. Neither could be restored with the previous updater. This update seems to be really hit or miss.

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A guest said: (hide)

Tue Apr 04, 2006 1:10 pm

I applied the 2006-03-23 update to my 60 gig 5th gen iPod. It fixed the video problem that the previous update introduced. For me, the update is working well.

I'll sure as hell wait to see what happens before applying any other updates, however.

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A guest said: (hide)

Mon Feb 26, 2007 4:06 pm

Guest wrote:
This software update is a VERY good idea. Might help some folks save their hearing.

Yeah yeah, you say, "Just turn it down, stupid." But teens think they're INVINCIBLE, and even some older folks forget what an iPod can do to your hearing, and crank it up. Anything that prevents long-term hearing loss is a damn good idea.

Um, Hello?!?!? If people don't like putting their iPod up high they wouldn't do so in the first place, and if they do do you really think their gonna stop? Besides, even if you do put it so that the maximum volume is just half what it is normally, it can still damage your hearing! I know for a fact that, yaa, the maximum volume is CRAZY dangerous, but just cause that volume is over the top doesn't mean the rest still can't damage your hearing! iPod should spend less time trying to cover their ass and more time telling people what's safe, and for how long, cause listening to it half way won't damage you half as much if you listen to it for 1 hour instead of 2.

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