Amid growing concerns about the risks of hearing loss, Apple Computer has
introduced a software update for iPods that lets parents set maximum volume limits on the device.
The software update is available as a free download for the iPod
nano and fifth generation iPod. It allows users to set volume caps on the iPod and lock it with a combination code.
A class action lawsuit was filed against Apple in a federal court in California in January. The suit 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—nearly equal to a jet plane takeoff.
