How unsurprising that the nanny-state of France would require Apple to protect users from themselves. We wouldn't want people to take responsibility for their own livelihoods now would we?

Of course if Apple really cared, they wouldn't package the units with such cheap-quality headphones. Then again, Apple doesn't actually want to provide a premium product, just give that perception.

Apple is going to be telling people at what volume they can listen to music?! Now, this might be a different story if the max volume on the IPOD was just capped at something smaller, but to actually determine how long a user has been listening and turn the volumne down against their will is something else entirely. I hope Apple never builds a car ("you've been driving too fast for too long, your speed will now be reduced to what we deem appropriate levels"). Personal sovereignty be damned.

I can see it now: thousands of iPod users thinking that they're going deaf as their music gets quieter and quieter! :)