Apple patents adaptive volume controls based on environment, not quality of your music

by Ross Miller Jan 22nd 2009 @ 9:07PM

Ever walk through a crowd with your headphones on, only to find your music drowned out by the uproar? A recent Apple patent proposes dynamic volume adjustment based on your local surroundings. According to the filing, a sound sensor would be used to detect ambient noise and adapt accordingly. It says user volume controls are accounted for, so passing by a construction site likely won't cause your jams to be pumped up to an ear-shattering 11. Although it sounds more likely than some of the company's other patents, don't get your hopes up for seeing this any time soon. Hit up the read link for more details.

[Via Electronista]

Filed under: Apple, iPhone OS

Tags: apple, audio, auto-tune, iphone, iphone os, iphoneos, ipod, mac, patent

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Neutral

SoCoolCurt (PSN: KillaKornbread - XBL: SoCoolCurt) @ Jan 23rd 2009 12:00AM

sounds cool to me. i think some cars stereos do this now (i think i saw a commercial for something like this). i would love for my Zune to adjust it's volume automatically when im walking to class. its typically louder outside than when i walk into a building. would be nice for it to adjust automatically without me having to pull it out of my pocket (and risk dropping it).

Neutral

youngcalihottie @ Jan 23rd 2009 3:48PM

how can they patent this? it already exists.

Neutral

John @ Jan 23rd 2009 5:32AM

I call prior art.

This patent is ridicious, lake many other from Apple.

Neutral

Mark @ Jan 23rd 2009 8:19AM

My BMW has this so I think it will be difficult for Apple to get a patent on it. In fact my 1999 BMW had this technology. If you drove faster and the wind noise increased, or if you were driving on a loud road, the volume would increase on the stereo.

Neutral

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