Yes, the $1,100 Earbuds Sound Pretty Awesome

Most subjects in study set volume to damaging level

(NEWSER) - Most young people listen to their iPods at levels that will damage hearing over time, a new study shows. Researchers measured the output of an iPod while college-age students listened to music in a lab setting, and they found 55% of the subjects set the volume higher than 85 decibels—sufficient to cause hearing loss, with prolonged exposure. More»

New price structure points to unveiling of new model today

(NEWSER) - Apple’s online store today briefly flashed new, lower prices for the company’s current slate of iPods, a likely indication that a new model will be unveiled at today’s invite-only event, the Wall Street Journal reports. The site was then down for a period for updating. The 16-gig Touch went from $299 to $249; an 8-gig Nano dropped from $149 to $129; and the 120-gig iPod classic was advertised for $229, down from $249. More»

(NEWSER) - Apple today unveiled the newest iteration of its iPod Shuffle, which is just 1.8 inches by 0.3 inches, can speak titles in 14 languages, and holds 1000 songs, Macworld reports. Smaller than a AA battery, it’s half the size of the last version, but more functional. The device retails for $79, the Wall Street Journal adds. More»

Headsets may interfere with heart devices

(NEWSER) - Headphones used with digital music players may interfere with pacemakers and internal defibrillators, scientists discovered in research contradicting reports from the US government. “Exposure of a defibrillator to the headphones can temporarily deactivate the defibrillator,” the lead researcher said. Draping the headphones over the chest caused hindrance in 15% of pacemaker patients and 30% of defibrillator patients, the Daily Telegraph reports. More»

Video game retailer will no longer sell Microsoft's feeble mp3 player

(NEWSER) - GameStop, a national chain of video game stores, has announced it will no longer carry Microsoft’s floundering Zune digital media player, TheStreet.com reports. "We have decided to exit the Zune category because it just did not have the appeal we had anticipated," a spokesman said of the iPod competitor, on shelves since late 2006. Microsoft seemed unfazed. More»