EU Orders Mp3, Mobile Phone Makers to Put a Cap on the Volume Dial
EU Orders Mp3, Mobile Phone Makers to Put a Cap on the Volume Dial
Posted 09/28/2009 at 1:58pm
| by Pulkit Chandna
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European Commission's consumer protection unit has chalked out a new plan under which MP3 and mobile phone makers will be required to throttle device volume in a bid to save millions from the risk of deafness. However, millions of MP3 and mobile phone users will have to bear that risk for another two years - the amount of time EU has earmarked for manufacturers to come up with new devices.
New devices will ship with their sound levels capped at 80 decibels. But the consumer will be free to tinker with the factory settings. "If consumers chose to over-ride the default settings they can, but there will be clear warnings so they know the risks they are taking," said Meglena Kuneva, the head of European Commission’s consumer protection unit.
Image Credit: HealthJockey
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lunchbox73
September 29, 2009 at 4:59am
Yet another reason why I'm a Libertarian. This idiotic law isn't here in the states but we've got plenty of our own.
LVmonkey
September 29, 2009 at 8:52am
This could be awesome. I mean, back in the day i had a walkman that had an adjustable top limit to the volume. I miss that because now that i'm rocking an ipod the volume difference between songs can be huge. You stick it on random and one minute your turning up the volume cause its way to low then the next random song hits and your eardrums are blown out.
I tried to "standardize" the volume through an itunes option... and well... that sucked, didn't work yet took my itunes three times longer to do anything with the music files.
That (if adjustable) would be great so i could up the low limit of the volume and set the max volume limit up so all of it would be somewhat the same volume.
I was also thinking that it would be a great addition to a media player on the pc (VLC?)...as i live in an apartment and the volume on many movies goes REALLY low for actors talking to RETARDED loud for atmospheric music. Great for when it's late at night, your watching a flick and you want your neighbours to hate you forever.
Either way, I'm for an ajustable max limit on the volume just ot standardise the overall volume... not sure if this would be implemented as well though.
nekollx
September 29, 2009 at 8:53am
if only it was this way, theywill just cap the hardwear to 80db. Oh how i wish you could standarize the db.
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Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
fullur
January 02, 2010 at 10:51am
Yeah it is kind of a pain, but leveling the audio on your music collection can save you a lot of headaches, both real and figurative.
I would like to say this law is just idiotic. Unfortunately, it is not just idiotic, it is also typical of the EU and member countries. How about you let your people decide for themselves whether the products they are buying are adequate.
nekollx
January 04, 2010 at 10:22am
i haven't found any good ones. Rember i'm talking about in the same program. One show maybe "soft" then the next file, opned in the same program, makes me go deaf.
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Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
mesiah
September 28, 2009 at 8:16pm
Next on the agenda:
1.) Limit maximum speed of all automobiles to 7kph therefore negating 99% of all fatal injuries.
2.) Limit the size of a large pizza to 12" in an attempt to increase Italian life expectancy.
3.) Planes will not be allowed to fly more than 10 meters from the ground and must have an inflatable cushion on their underbelly.
4.) All steak knives must be replaced with butter knives and all steaks must be replaced with chicken.
5.) Fund this and all other EU programs by suing as many foreign companies as we can.
AntiHero
September 28, 2009 at 8:28pm
Don't let them see that steak idea! I love my steak. Next they will make illegal for game meat.
However, i think anyone who is dumb enough to put their volume up enough to cause damage is an idiot, and deserves the discomfort.
I don't like Microsoft, I associate with it.
I Jedi
September 28, 2009 at 5:29pm
Thank god on this one, guys. I'm so happy that the government is finally taking my health into consideration, and deciding what is best for me.
SuperiorBeing
September 28, 2009 at 3:45pm
You can't limit headphones on mp3 player to a certain decibel range, because the difference in impedance changess the volume level, and higher quality headphones with higher impedance are generally quieter.
CorbanT
September 28, 2009 at 3:01pm
God forbid actually educating people to the point that they can decide for themselves.
How hard can it be?
6 second lesson plan:
Teacher: "Does it hurt your ears?"
Student: "Yes."
Teacher: "Then it's too loud. Turn it down unless you want to be hard of hearing by age 30."
nekollx
September 28, 2009 at 3:12pm
"WHAT? SPEAK LOUDER!"
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
gendoikari1
September 28, 2009 at 2:39pm
The stereotypical European is a whining sissy. I thought that they try to break free from stereotypes, not confirm them.
bikerbub
September 28, 2009 at 2:37pm
maybe it will be like on the ipod volume limiter. you control it from your computer, but when you turn it off, it displays a warning like "YOU'RE GONNA BE DEAF IF YOU DO THIS." kinda stuff.
nekollx
September 28, 2009 at 2:25pm
how easy will this tinkering be though? The EU sure is getting in everybody's bidness now ain't they?
------------------------------
Coming soon to Lulu.com --Tokusatsu Heroes--
Five teenagers, one alien ghost, a robot, and the fate of the world.
I Jedi
September 28, 2009 at 5:30pm
The EU knows what's best for you. Don't question their authority.
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