http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/ Engadget Comments for http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 12:58PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 1:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 3rd 2008 3:12AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 1:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
That had to suck.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 3:00PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
And you know what? It should have a safety feature not to reset at full volume. Sounds like something stupid with the firmware.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 7:17PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
And of course, I would love to know what headphones, Einstein there was wearing, because, while yes, even if this scenario somehow happened, and yes it can be quite loud, how long did he continue to play it at that volume to cause a situation that caused "fluid-leakage."

"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"

Sounds to me more like somebody who is trying to make a few bucks on interviews and such, while hoping for a "settlement" with Toshiba and Microsoft.

]]>Feb 4th 2008 9:15AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 1:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Youre the douche, if it reset and blasted his ears then microsoft is accountable. This seems like good use of the legal system, more than cam be said for the golddiggers out there.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 1:10PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 2:07PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
And, seriously, to all those Zune owners, when has your Zune even been nearly *that* loud? One time I accidently had my Zune off of hold and the volume button was accidently pressed all the way up to 20 from like 5 or 6 in a very, very short timespan--certainly not enough to allow adaptation to the considerably louder noise--and it wasn't *that* loud, though very annoying.
*loudly yells* And my hearing is perfect.
--*someone whispers*
*loudly yells* What?
--You're yelling.
*loudly yells* Oh....perhaps not so perfect after all...
]]>Feb 2nd 2008 10:04PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
The title is a little misleading. I was all ready to post a comment on how much of a douche the suit filer was, but after reading he has a good case if this did actually happen. I sure as hell would sue if my hearing got permanently damaged because of their product.

]]>Feb 3rd 2008 3:11AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
When you turn off an amplifier at home, you hear a small pop when it turns off - this is due to a voltage surge. When my iPod restarts it makes a very quiet pop as well - also from a small voltage surge.

Now, if there was a glitch in the Zune, or if it just 'popped' louder than usual, then this guy's got a case.]]>Feb 3rd 2008 6:28AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
When you turn off an amplifier at home, you hear a small pop when it turns off - this is due to a voltage surge. When my iPod restarts it makes a very quiet pop as well - also from a small voltage surge.

Now, if there was a glitch in the Zune, or if it just 'popped' louder than usual, then this guy's got a case.
]]>Feb 3rd 2008 6:29AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/this is a sham lawsuit because you've never had something like this happen upon reset of the player.
The default, INTENDED behavior of a Zune player after reset is totally irrelevant; obviously in this case the player's hardware or software malfunctioned and sent some terrible feedback noise into his earbuds.

more armchair analysts....]]>Mar 7th 2008 3:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Of course, I would think that problems like this aren't just limited to the Zune, just about any PMP could be defective and do something of this nature.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:12PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
It's a teaser from the Zune website before its release.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y1CtgYD0t8]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:15PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/nevermind, douche bag.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:38PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/The default volume of Zune is 7 (range from 1 - 20, 20 being the loudest), doesn't matter if you reset it, reboot it, or turn it on for the first time, the default volume value is 7. And it is nowhere loud to the point of damaging your hearing...]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:25PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Common sense > stupidity, in the real world

Common sense ]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:32PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Well, technically it depends on what headphones you're using. With low impedance IEMs, you can get a very loud sound off of a very low volume setting. Of course, you'd expect that, especially as the Zune is a very good source component, so...]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 3:09PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 8:34PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
I was just thinking that. I can't imagine any player on the market actually being able to go up that loud as he said it did. Of course...there's always that slight chance it could have been a fluke.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:33PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 1:35PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
I've never seen any writer on Engadget say that before and I've been reading this blog for a considerably long time >.>


Seriously, though, you shouldn't put your headphone/earbuds in before you start playing music because if it IS too loud, this happens... It's less trouble to restart a song than lose your hearing.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:37PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Don't get me wrong, I do love this blog and all of its various DAP coverage, though. :)]]>Feb 2nd 2008 4:49PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 4:51PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
I know when you have to explain humor, it dies a little.


Is anyone else having problems with the "reply" button? I get sent to another page, but without a comment box...]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:53PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/It all just kinda went...WOOSH right on over your head hu? It's ok.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 1:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 2:02PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Yeah, I remember the same thing with first gens iPods, that is why they have that volume limit and the unbearable low maximum volume with standard earphones.]]>Feb 3rd 2008 8:13AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Yes the reply function is broken.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 2:03PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 2:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 7:13PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/31/reacts-guitar-hero-pedals-mean-youre-potentially-taking-this-t/#comments
]]>Feb 2nd 2008 2:11PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Did that guy win? I can't remember.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 2:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://forums.zune.net/108363/ShowPost.aspx

Someone posted a nice table of how long and what decibel it would take to cause hearing damage.
85 db
8 hours
88 dB
4 hours The Zune is Rated here 88-89 dB
91 db
2 hours
94 db
1 hour Hairdryer ,City Bus
97 db
30 minutes
100 db
15 minutes
103 db
7.5 minutes
106 dB
3.75 min (< 4min)
109 dB
1.875 min (< 2min)
112 dB
.9375 min (~1 min)
115 dB
.46875 min (~30 sec) Concert, Leaf blower Small Fireworks This would mean your standing right next to the concert speakers.

I was in the military and fired a few AT-4's in my day. (Rocket propelled 84mm anti tank round.) There's a regulation as to how many you can fire per day because they can give the user a concussion (yes, from the sound pressure). When I was new, my sergeant wanted to make sure I did it right and kneeled next to me while I shot it off of my shoulder. He fell down like Wile E Coyote and get a loose tooth knocked out. Neither one of us had permanent hearing damage...]]>Feb 2nd 2008 2:26PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 2:27PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
yeah i'm a fanboy btw. they're better cause they're louder. (jokesies)]]>Feb 2nd 2008 3:16PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
- Monty Python]]>Feb 2nd 2008 3:30PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 3:46PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/Feb 2nd 2008 4:50PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/
Using a Zune will cause permanent ear damage, so Microsoft should recall all 5,000 of them that were sold and give those users iPods instead.
That would never happen to an iPod user because they're made by Apple and Apple can do no wrong.

I've had my say......Haa-ha.]]>Feb 2nd 2008 4:55PMhttp://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/http://www.engadget.com/2008/02/02/zune-user-files-suit-against-microsoft-over-alleged-ear-damage/]]>Feb 2nd 2008 4:59PM