On Being Subject to the Tyranny of the EU
After updating my iPod with one of Apple’s never-ending software releases I noticed the volume was lower than it used to be. The change was so dramatic that I could now hear the music in the gym over the music in my ears - I could also hear the people working out next to me and the sound of their machines. When I work out I like to zone out as well - to put myself in the depths of my music and the exertion I’m putting out.
Confused, because the sound level had previously been fine, I bought a new pair of Bose in-ear phones thinking it was the quality of the connection. Nope. After doing a bit of research I figured out that because my iPod had been bought in the EU and the EU Commission recently issued a new ruling on the “dangerous” volume levels on iPods the new software update automatically fixed the sound at a much lower level than previously allowed for iPods from the EU. And there’s no way to undo it - there was a piece of software for older iPods that allowed you to subvert the fix but nothing for the new generation of iPods.
I’m a US citizen but the sound levels on my iPod are subject to the restrictions of the EU, which sucks. So I’ve transferred a fair amount of music over to my iPhone which I’ll now be using to workout while my Ipod sits and gathers dust.
Wow. This is interesting. I had no idea that EU did that. Bomb Brussels!
Comment by VonKwon — August 12, 2008 @ 1:39 am
Agh, I hate the Commission sometimes, and I live 500m from its headquarters in Brussels.
Anyway, have a go with this.
Comment by Jon Worth — August 15, 2008 @ 12:17 am