While Apple a Louisiana man is suing Apple and asking that company alter its iPod in order that users cannot play music at dangerous noise levels, the RNID (royal national institute for the deaf) has raised concerns that music fans are cracking codes already present on MP3 players that ensure that digital music players can not be played to loud.

The group has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the problems associated with playing music to loud.

RNID director of communications Brian Lamb said: “There are ways that noise limiters on some MP3 players can be overridden. We are seriously concerned that if the anecdotal evidence we have that people are cracking these codes is true, then it could become a widespread problem.”

“RNID’s Don’t Lose the Music Campaign is very interested in working with manufacturers to ensure that warnings, regarding the risk of listening to MP3 players too loudly, are made more prominent both on and in the packaging of their products,” he added.

RNID senior audiologist Angela King said: “There is a danger that long-term use of personal music players at high volume will permanently damage people’s hearing. RNID’s Don’t Lose the Music Campaign is urging people to be aware of the risks so they can continue to enjoy music for longer. Noise filters for in-ear headphones are available from many high street stores and regular breaks should be taken from listening.”

macworld.co.uk

Morphy Richards’ 29201 DAB handheld radio features half-a-gigabyte of memory for storing MP3 tracks downloaded from your PC. There are 18 station presets on hand on DAB digital radio Band III and FM, plus a handy autotune feature for seeking out stations.

The Morphy Richards 29201 handheld DAB radio measures in at 80 x 22 x 62 mm and runs off two “AA”-size batteries. A central four-way controller changes stations and adjusts the volume, while four other buttons are used to access menus and other functions.

The Morphy Richards 29201 pocket handheld radio is finished in white is available to buy now at around GBP149.99

radio-now.co.uk

Samsung was anounced new MP3 players for European market. It’s 2GB Samsung YP-T8Q and YP-U1Q. The latest editions in their T8 and U1 line have all the same goodness you’ve come to expect from the duo (including MP3, WMA, OGG, and WAV support, voice recording, MP4 video playback on the T8Q, etc.), just now with a capacity a little more in line with the competition.

Samsung YP-T8Q features:

Copy files directly to the memory of the players.
Video, audio and photo playback.
1.8-inch colour TFT LCD screen.
5 built-in colour video games.

Samsung YPU1Q features:

LCD screen that displays battery life, track number, artist names and song titles.
Rechargeable Li-polymer battery.
Supports drag and drop in Windows or Mac OS.

The Samsung YP-T8Q (2GB), and Samsung YP-U1Q are available now in the UK for ?189 and ?119 respectively. The new MP3 players released for Europe, but Samsung’s been pretty good about bringing their YEPP digital audio players here to the USA.

Samsung.com