I bet iPods cause cancer too.

If this is true, it certainly applies to other audio players... particularly ones capable of WiFi broadcast. And, one would think it would apply to most, if not all, personal electronics if the study was done with flash-based iPods - though the Reuters article does not clarify any of the specifics regarding hardware.

Can anyone say "corporate-sponsored reasearch?"

Is this an issue with hard drive based iPods or all? They show a little picture of a shuffle and nanos but don't explain what was used in the study. I would guess a hard drive based iPod would give more more interference.

These units have all passed FCC testing for use in homes and offices. If the levels the FCC have determined are too high, the FCC needs to re-evalute their standards.

To single out one manufacturer that is complying with established standards questions the legitimacy of this "study".

"…and in one particular instance caused the pacemaker to stop functioning entirely"

So what does one do, when testing an iPod on a 77 year old patient and his pacemaker stops! Was the 17 year old kid charged with man-slaughter?

A 17 y.o. carefully raises a serious question, and all you can do is joke? (except simdude).

I don't care about the FCC, as that's the minimum standard for high quality companies. And Apple was used because it is the monopoly in this area.

Since it is a H.S. student, Apple should look into this and see what, if anything, needs to be done, and let the public know. Apple is about high quality and best user-friendly design. If true, this is not user-friendly.

If the pacemaker fails then the isolated cells of the heart can take over and generate a slower heart rate based on their own pacemaker properties. The human body has its own builtin "pacemaker.'

Yeah, and I am sure no ther mp3 player exhibits the same behavior. It was chosen because it IS the main one.

As a physician I had to laugh when I read this story. All patients with pacemakers are advised, when possible, to keep electronic devices at least a foot away from the pacemaker. The way it singles out iPods is interesting as well. I would not be surprised if all hard drive based devices and even cell phones have this effect on pacemakers. Lastly, I don't see too many people wearing an iPod in their shirt pocket, which is were it would have to be to make any difference...and if you have a pacemaker you have already been advised not to wear your iPod that cloce to the device anyway. This study, or should we call it a science fair exhibit, is getting way more attention than it deserves.

"Dr. Edwin Kevin Heist, a cardiac electrophysiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, agrees that iPods can be a danger to patients with pacemakers.

"It's clear that iPods can affect pacing function," said Heist. "There is a possibility for a severe reaction, such as loss of consciousness."

Heist said he tells his patients that they can use any household device, including cell phones and iPods, but not to put them over their pacemaker. "Patients with a pacemaker could safely use an iPod, just don't put it over the device," he said."

http://www.healthfinder.gov/news/newsstory.asp?docID=604482

A monopoly is defined as a persistent market situation where there is only one provider of a kind of product or service. Monopolies are characterized, though this is not an accurate definition, by a lack of economic competition for the good or service that they provide.

I see a new market for Apple! The iPacer! ;)