The European Commission has decided to set volume limits for MP3 players in all European Union member states, which means your Zune HD won't be able to output anything louder than 80 decibels under the default settings when the ruling goes into effect. According to Consumer Affairs Commissioner Meglena Kuneva, "It's easy to push up the sound levels on your MP3 player to damagingly loud levels, especially on busy streets or public transport.

And the evidence is that particularly young people -- who are listening to music at high volumes sometimes for hours each week -- have no idea they can be putting their hearing at risk. It can take years for the hearing damage to show, and then it is simply too late."