It’s a slow news day on Christmas and there’s not much to report except that Apple apparently patented a software that automatically lowers the volume of your iPod. The patent application says that the software is designed to keep track of your volume levels and how long you’ve been listening to your music. Based on this information it then determines which sound levels are damaging to your eardrums. The iPod automatically lowers the volume when it reaches the “dangerous” levels. Of course a patent is just a patent, and there’s no way to tell if they intend to include it in the next generation of iPods for sure. If that’s what they’re planning, I hope there’s an option to turn off the auto-volume lowering. The earbuds that come with the iPod suck, and I have to keep it playing near the max volume if I want to hear anything while I’m walking around a noisy place.

[via engadget]