[willed]

I seems to vaguely remember people complaining that the EU reduced the maximum volume of the iPod's built in amplifier, obviously for our own good. Does this still apply, and is there a way to disable it? I don't particularly want my ears to bleed, but there are several classical tracks in my collection which are too quiet otherwise in a busy street (SoundCheck seems useless btw).

Thanks.

[CatOne]

Originally posted by willed:
I seems to vaguely remember people complaining that the EU reduced the maximum volume of the iPod's built in amplifier, obviously for our own good. Does this still apply, and is there a way to disable it? I don't particularly want my ears to bleed, but there are several classical tracks in my collection which are too quiet otherwise in a busy street (SoundCheck seems useless btw).

Thanks.

I think it applied to France. You in France?

And I'd recommend you get some good earphones, maybe Etymotic ER-6's, which will reduce all the outside noise and you can listen to the music at a sane volume.

[Grrr]

Originally posted by CatOne:
I think it applied to France. You in France?

And I'd recommend you get some good earphones, maybe Etymotic ER-6's, which will reduce all the outside noise and you can listen to the music at a sane volume.

Correct, Blame France! However, Apple in their infinite wisdom decided to make sure that all iPods sold in Europe had the stupid volume reduction tweak, rather than just France.

I always wondered if it was possible to install US firmware on them to get around the issue?

[villalobos]

Originally posted by Grrr:
Correct, Blame France! However, Apple in their infinite wisdom decided to make sure that all iPods sold in Europe had the stupid volume reduction tweak, rather than just France.

I always wondered if it was possible to install US firmware on them to get around the issue?

http://homepage.mac.com/giancarloerra/ilinkpod/

[Powaqqatsi]

Originally posted by Grrr:
Correct, Blame France! However, Apple in their infinite wisdom decided to make sure that all iPods sold in Europe had the stupid volume reduction tweak, rather than just France.

I always wondered if it was possible to install US firmware on them to get around the issue?

It's not France, it's a European regulation. I have the same with my Sony MZ-E10 I bought in Germany.

That's why my iPod mini is on the road from the US

[Geobunny]

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
That's why my iPod mini is on the road from the US

Can you do that? Order it from the States if you're living in a different country? i'd love to order one from over there - for the exchange rate if nothing else! My Credit Card has a UK billing address though, will that stop me from using it?

[Grrr]

Originally posted by Powaqqatsi:
It's not France, it's a European regulation. I have the same with my Sony MZ-E10 I bought in Germany.

That's why my iPod mini is on the road from the US

There might well be an EU law that limits the volume. But France has one of its own, and its lower than other European places.
Hence articles like this all over the place.. http://www.geek.com/news/geeknews/20...1002016619.htm

As for UK residents buying an iPod from the US.. It IS a good idea, purely because they are so much cheaper there, due to the exchange rate. Apple should not be so damn greedy and drop the retail prices here.. But clearly they are in no rush to do that.
Anyway, the Apple store US wont send direct to England. Another US retailer might well send one over for an addtional shipping charge (Wont be much) HOWEVER! UK customs will sting you for import duty plus a handling fee. By which time it wont be much cheaper, if at all than buying one here in the UK.
By far the best thing to do is get a friend to send one over to you, and have the package clearly labelled as a "GIFT"
Gifts are exempt from import duty