iPod Nano 5th Gen

[velorush]

So I'm at home with my son last Saturday and need to get in a bike ride, so I ride rollers for a half hour, sweating profusely. My iPod is in a bento box on the top tube and yes, sweat is dripping on it, but I'm not concerned because it's got a silicone cover on it. I finish and the iPod won't cut off. I finally get it to cut off, but then it cuts back on with the dreaded white screen of death.

I plug it into the PC, iTunes pops up and tells me it has a problem and needs to restore. It tries, but then I get one of the four numbered errors (1413, etc.). I look all over the net and get some instructions on putting it in drive mode and formatting it. I do that and it still won't restore. The iTunes help tells me to uninstall then reinstall iTunes and try the restore again. This results in another of the numbered errors (fail).

Any ideas? I can access it as a drive and the restore does put a iPod Controller folder on there, but nothing else. I've been amazed at how attached I've become, but it's only six months old and I can't see shelling out another $200 if these things are this fragile.

[specialk]

Take it to an Apple Store or authorized repair center. iPods have a one year warranty, and this should be covered by it.

[velorush]

Take it to an Apple Store or authorized repair center. iPods have a one year warranty, and this should be covered by it.

As stupid as this may seem, I hadn't considered that. Most of this stuff is considered disposable - I just assumed the warranty wouldn't cover something like this. Thanks!

[BubbaVO]

that's exactly why I bought a ipod shuffle for exercising. much less expensive than the nano or the classic.

[velorush]

that's exactly why I bought a ipod shuffle for exercising. much less expensive than the nano or the classic.

That's certainly wise, but I wanted (and got) the Nike+ thingy (like a guitarist, attached it to my Asics with Velcro). I really didn't think I'd use the iPod much, but I'm amazed at how much of a hole it going down has created. The Nike+ system, no longer carrying 30 or so CDs in my car, having a radio or simple camcorder with me any time I want... it is really a useful device.

Apple store in Memphis (Germantown) opens in a couple of hours. I have a case number (thanks SpecialK!) and am going to try talking to Support on the left coast here in a second, then maybe head to Memphis and see if they can either do something with it or swap me a new one.

[cmatthes]

My son got an iTouch for Xmas that he absolutely LOVES. In March, the touch screen suddenly stopped responding. I'd heard several horror stories about what the Apple Expert Bar charges would likely be for something like this, so was a bit concerned, but made the appointment for a consult.

They couldn't have been more helpful, and replaced the unit for no charge. Since he had a specific engraving on the back, he opted to get a new one sent from China rather than taking one home that night. We got a ticket number, and in almost exactly 48 hours, his new iTouch (with the correct engraving) arrived.

They've got a helluva system going there, and I'm definitely looking at snagging one of their systems in the next year.

[DavidE]

They actually replaced one of my son's iPods that failed shortly after the warranty expired. Excellent service with his iPod, with his iPhone etc... They're really good at customer service.

[BubbaVO]

that's exactly why I bought a ipod shuffle for exercising. much less expensive than the nano or the classic.

That's certainly wise, but I wanted (and got) the Nike+ thingy (like a guitarist, attached it to my Asics with Velcro). I really didn't think I'd use the iPod much, but I'm amazed at how much of a hole it going down has created. The Nike+ system, no longer carrying 30 or so CDs in my car, having a radio or simple camcorder with me any time I want... it is really a useful device.

Apple store in Memphis (Germantown) opens in a couple of hours. I have a case number (thanks SpecialK!) and am going to try talking to Support on the left coast here in a second, then maybe head to Memphis and see if they can either do something with it or swap me a new one.

I love the iPod Classic for all the reasons you listed. But I don't use it for exercise.

I have the Nike+ thingy too. I picked up the wrist monitor with the USB thingy to put the data from my runs into the computer. I love the idea of the all in one - except I wanted some flexibility in the event of a physical hardware disaster.

Good luck!

[velorush]

Well, I just got back from Memphis (2 hr drive each way). I get there about 15 minutes early. They check me in and have my case number from my earlier call to their left coast tech support call center. My Genius comes out, asks the problem. I show her the white screen of death. In one quick move she whips it bottom up and says, "Nope, liquid damage. No warranty coverage. Sorry." I said, "That's it?" and she said, "I'm really sorry, but your iPod has been exposed to liquid, see the stain [kind of orange] in the headphone jack? That is there to indicate to us that there has been exposure to liquids and that voids the warranty."

So I asked her what could be done other than buying a new one. She said I could get 10% off a new one if I recycled that one (TN, Shelby County and Memphis sales tax total 9.25%). So, being the stupid yuppie goober that I am, I bought a new one. I tried to get her to give me 10% off a MacBook Pro and the free iPod Touch, but I'm not a college student and my daughter is only starting high school - no to the 10% off and no to the free iPod Touch. Must be great to be the seller of the cool geek stuff.

So, the warning to all you guys is, if you get the white screen of death, look at the bottom of the headphone jack to make sure the liquid exposure indicator isn't visible. Otherwise you might waste driving four hours just to buy an iPod.

BTW: I consoled myself by driving over to Martin Music's new location and playing a bunch of Teles. The GE Smith tele has a HUGE neck, but vintage fretwire. I also played a custom shop Tele that I would have bought had it not looked like it had been dragged behind my car all the way to Memphis! Lastly, I played one of the guys' working there '62 Hot Rod Strat in Sherwood green. Fabulous! I ate a Macaroni Grill Pizza Margarita driving home (tricky). So I got to play some great guitars and had a great pizza.

[specialk]

Sorry for the bum steer, velorush. I never heard that about the water damage before. Did you by chance ask for the store manager while you were there? Sometimes they can override a genius.

So the silicone cover did nothing to protect it from moisture?

[mathman]

I know it's too late but if your ipod ever gets wet don't turn it on. Stick it in rice or on a sunny window sill and maybe it will dry out and come back. If anyone ever gets their ipod wet, DON'T turn it on. Let it dry for a few days, either in rice, or in a dry area. After a few days, or a week, turn it on. You may get lucky.

I've saved a few this way.

[velorush]

It wasn't a bum steer at all SpecialK! As in the OP: I got sweat on it and it died. Apple didn't owe me anything according to their terms. I would have thought there would have been a little more consideration on their part (for a 6 month old device pitched as, among other things, an exercise aide), but I've learned a bit about their culture and am really not as inclined as I was to buy a MacBook (from today, they made $175 but perhaps lost $1,750).

Mathman, it was on when it happened and wouldn't shut down. I tried drying it out. I had no idea that it was so wet.

Here's what I've learned: the iPod is fine for exercise so long as it is kept vertical. My problem was laying it in the bento box (for non-cyclist: a stiffened canvas box that Velcros to the top tube and steering tube - you keep your energy bars, cell phone, whatever, in there) - horizontally - and the sweat ran down the earbud wires and into the jack. Had it been vertical like when I run, all would have been fine (no sweat would have made it in). $175 lesson learned.

[jaberwock]

My ipod shuffle sat at the bottom of the pool for a good 30 seconds before I noticed and dived in to get it out, let it dry out for a week and it worked perfectly; ah but no screen I hear you say; my wife's HTC Touch went down the toilet, we heard it ring sub aqueously !!!! I assumed it was toast, but dried it out in a bowl of rice, and again it worked, and is still working just fine.

[mathman]

It wasn't a bum steer at all SpecialK! As in the OP: I got sweat on it and it died. Apple didn't owe me anything according to their terms. I would have thought there would have been a little more consideration on their part (for a 6 month old device pitched as, among other things, an exercise aide), but I've learned a bit about their culture and am really not as inclined as I was to buy a MacBook (from today, they made $175 but perhaps lost $1,750).

Mathman, it was on when it happened and wouldn't shut down. I tried drying it out. I had no idea that it was so wet.

Here's what I've learned: the iPod is fine for exercise so long as it is kept vertical. My problem was laying it in the bento box (for non-cyclist: a stiffened canvas box that Velcros to the top tube and steering tube - you keep your energy bars, cell phone, whatever, in there) - horizontally - and the sweat ran down the earbud wires and into the jack. Had it been vertical like when I run, all would have been fine (no sweat would have made it in). $175 lesson learned.

Yea, I was sorta adding to the cautionary tale. You probably should have asked to talk to someone higher. I do bet if you said you were buying a mac they would have given you one.

Try drying it out a few days. It may come back.

Actually, right now if you are a student or teacher, you can buy a mac and get a free ipod touch.

Free ipod with mac

[Armitage]

Electronics and moisture... it's usually over.

[Brooks]

i love the ipods, but the shuffles are fragile, i've replaced 2 or 3 w/ warranty coverage. my advice is to do what i do; don't excercise

[HAMERMAN]

I have a ipod classic. Knowing that it's hard drive based I only use it indoors. It's great being able to bring it to work every day for both music and as a portable hard drive.

For outdoor duty I listen to my cell phone, in particular when mowing the lawn. I use a push mower and my lawn is all hill so I sweat like crazy (really gotta get a tractor one day!). I quickly got in the habit of keeping the phone in a snack size zip lock bag. The snack size is about half the size of a sandwich bag so it fits pretty nicely. Since the headphone cord has to come out somewhere you couldn't drop it in a pool or anything like that but short of that it really does the trick.

I wonder if you could (hypothetically speaking of course) use clear nail polish or something like that to prevent the headphone jack from being able to turn color? :-)

[doody]

I have a ipod classic. Knowing that it's hard drive based I only use it indoors. It's great being able to bring it to work every day for both music and as a portable hard drive.

For outdoor duty I listen to my cell phone, in particular when mowing the lawn. I use a push mower and my lawn is all hill so I sweat like crazy (really gotta get a tractor one day!). I quickly got in the habit of keeping the phone in a snack size zip lock bag. The snack size is about half the size of a sandwich bag so it fits pretty nicely. Since the headphone cord has to come out somewhere you couldn't drop it in a pool or anything like that but short of that it really does the trick.

I wonder if you could (hypothetically speaking of course) use clear nail polish or something like that to prevent the headphone jack from being able to turn color? :-)

or you could use a bluetooth headset and not have to worry about it at all.

[Feynman]

[velorush]

or you could use a bluetooth headset and not have to worry about it at all.

That really is the most compelling reason so far for ponying up the additional $125 for a 32Gb Touch. But in the end I told myself, $175 is enough - if the $300 Touch goes down, these guys aren't going to be any more responsive.

[chap]

I'm not much of an Apple fan but I bought my first Apple product ... an iTouch. I had to return it two weeks later because it intermittently did not turn on. When I brought it back, they were not overly surprised.

But being the cutting edge company that Apple is ... their latest releases being nearly revolutionary and trend setting... it doesn't surprise me that they have these kinds of issues.

iPhone 4 looks killer though I'm waiting till more Android options come to Canada.

[Turdus]

My son got an Itouch. Within a week, he was showing it to a buddy, butter fingerd the unit, and it landed face down on the pavement. The screen was cracked. I figured I could get a new case. Apple ended up charging me $200. Gots to be careful with them things.

[Hamer Bass Head]

since you're essentially screwed anyway, why don't you dunk the damned thing in the strongest ethanol you can get at the drugstore, and then shake it out real good and put it for 3-4 days in a sealed tupperware container with uncooked rice, someplace warm maybe in the sun? That brought my philips back but alas I am unable to charge the battery.... at least you can still use it as a big memory stick; maybe...