With MacWorld right around the corner and few rumors about the next trick(s) up Steve Jobs’s sleeves, the latest word from Cupertino includes an iPod with automatic volume control, designed to calculate the user’s length of listening time and noise level, gradually reducing the volume as necessary. The Daily Mail reports that Apple owns a patent for the technology.

According to the report, the patent reads: "Since the damaging effect on users' hearing is both gradual and cumulative, even those users who are concerned about hearing loss may not behave in a manner that would limit or minimise such damaging effects."

The maximum volume of an iPod reaches 100 decibels, 30 above the recognized “safe” limit, with the potential to cause permanent damage after only 15 minutes. The volume control technology might be useful to other MP3 makers as well, as the Mail says some players reach 120 decibels.

Photo by The Admirality

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