Zune user files suit against Microsoft over alleged ear damage
By Ryan Block 
posted February 2nd 2008 12:51PM
posted February 2nd 2008 12:51PM
According to Zune user Joel Geddis, way back in 2006 his first gen player spontaneously reset and blasted an ear-shattering noise through the earbuds, resulting in permanent "fluid leakage from [his] ear canal, impaired hearing, and incessant ringing and discomfort." Sound like the stuff of a lawsuit? That'd be correct. Like many others, Joel is beating the war drum in an attempt to raise some awareness of his pending product liability and personal injury suit against Toshiba (who made the first Zune's hardware) and Microsoft. See, this is why we warn people to put in ear-plugs before putting on their headphones -- otherwise you might damage your hearing.
I have to wonder just how long it was between the electric shock he received to when the Zune was able to shut down, start back up, go to a audio file, and start playing it.
I would have been yanking at cables as soon as I got the shock in the ear(s).
Zune!
How could you do this! our relationship is OVER!!!
Your avatar says otherwise.
i have a sansa and it wil sometimes when im listening to it it will turn up really high or low
Just to clarify...
The blast of noise happened as the device rebooted - not after - and overrode the default or user-set volume. This same device reset flaw is reported elsewhere on the web.
Hell, he might even have a case against the artist he was listening to! Every album is mastered at a different level, if his recordings were transferred to the Zune at the original mastered levels vs. all tracks transferred at a standardized mastering level...
I.E. John Prine's music is mastered at a much, much lower level than say, AC/DC or the Offspring.
A jump from one into the other can be quite startling...
Just saying...
My iPod - despite the 'volume levelling' iTunes claims - still plays back Ben Folds, out of all the artists I have including some of a decidedly more 'loud' nature, at volumes that prevent me from putting any of his tracks in playlists on shuffle.
"Well gum tootie old shawl? WHAT?"
Here's a link to the full complaint along with contact info to report a similar claim: http://microsoftzuneinjuries.com
Stop posting site spam.
I'm calling that link out, because:
1) This is exactly what it says word for word: "In November of 2006, I received an electric shock through the earbuds of my Microsoft Zune. Simultaneously, the Zune software reset and emitted a very loud noise through the earbuds.
Since the incident, I've suffered blood and fluid leakage from my ear canal, impaired hearing, and incessant ringing and discomfort.
I've been treated with vitamins, steroids, pain killers, sleep aids, anti-depressants, and other medications. All, to no avail." - I have a hard time believing that a 12V Zune could emit such a shock. If you actually did get a shock, I doubt it was the Zune. And what makes the Zune any more different than the other PMP's in the market?
2) This site was probably another one of those anti-MS sites, just to make the Zune look bad
3) Tons of iPod fans/Apple loyalists will come to make up their own "injury" and say Zune and Microsoft = bad.
4) I've heard of many injuries with the iPod as well. There was even an Engadget post about a guy shocked with lightning while mowing the lawn. Is it the iPod's fault too? Or just plain bad luck? Naw, let's blame products.
So that link really shows nothing.
How loud could it have possibly been? I pumped my volume as loud as could (on the Zune and the song itself) and it was definately uncomftorable, but unless he sat there listening to it all day I don't see how it could mess up his ears that badly.
This sounds a little unbelievable. This person received an electrical shock from the player then the Zune reset itself, which seem passable. However, upon resetting the Zune increased its volume, and then played a random noise. It could be suspect that this person has a middle ear infection and should see an ear specialist.
Holy crap. That's really horrible. I hope there's some way he can get his ears fixed, but it doesn't sound likely...
My toshiba laptop sometimes for no reason whatsoever just blasts the music for a second whenever I'm listening to an Mp3 on the computer. It always scares the shit out of me and it's quite loud.
I don't have a hard time believing this story, and yes, I know it's apples to oranges.
They should forbid Microsoft of making any products. Seems there is always something wrong with their products. It's just waiting till humanity dies of a Microsoft error.
This has gone from hard to believe to impossible. The site:
http://microsoftzuneinjuries.com/ claims that the Zune is "Shocking" people. The zune runs on less than 12V and at very low amperages. It's just not possible for the battery in the zune to cause a shock serious enough to damage your ear.
If this guy was making his own charging cable and connected this cable too his headphones then maybe.
Ear damage from sound is very believable, but occurs over time, not in an instant. AND physical damage "blood and fluid leakage from my ear canal" is just nuts.
BTW, I'm an ipod user, I would use a Zune if they were free, but this is over-the-top crazy.
Judging by the tattoos, it apparently causes brain damage too.
he's trying to sue Microsoft and Toshiba...two companies who produced the HD-DVD. can't you see? this is obviously a ploy to take these companies' extra money that could be spent towards a prosperous future for HD-DVD.
/sarcasm
What a retart. Seriously. Americans these days, all they want to do is sue for ANY REASON. If the court checked his mortgage debts they would find he is just scraping past each month and is about to declare bankruptcy.
In the version of Microsoft Windows XP on my laptop, if you adjust the output volume by dragging the slider in the Volume Control window, the system plays a beep at FULL volume when the mouse is released (even if the final desired volume level is extremely low). That equates to a very loud sound through headphones. I hurt my ears several times that way; hopefully the damage wasn't permanent.
I hope this guy wins his lawsuit against M$.