Apple responds to iPod nano screen issues

[MacBytes]

Category: News and Press Releases
Link: Apple responds to iPod nano screen issues

Posted on MacBytes.com
Approved by Mudbug

[katie ta achoo]

“This is a real but minor issue involving a vendor quality problem in a small number of units,” said Schiller. “In fact, this issue has affected less than 1/10 of 1 percent of the total iPod nano units that we’ve shipped. It is not a design issue.”

Wow. I didn't know it was less than .1%!
I thought it was like EVERY NANO IN THE COUNTRY. Wow.

These nano owners are REALLY vocal about it!! (and rightfully so)

[TheMonarch]

Sweet. I want a nano even more now...

[rockthecasbah]

good what they are doing for the broken screen...but they are just like screw you and your whining about the screen, get a damn case...doesn't seem very nice

[TheMonarch]

Originally Posted by rockthecasbah

good what they are doing for the broken screen...but they are just like screw you and your whining about the screen, get a damn case...doesn't seem very nice

I agree about the scratch thing. I believe that apple can fix this, I mean, they fixed the scratching issues Blue-Ray...

[CrackedButter]

Being told to get a case is wrong, they should of bundled one with the nano when being purchased.

I didn't need to buy a case for my mini or 3G when they came out. Their screens were rock solid.

[Superhob]

I, for one, am glad to see Apple respond quickly and in a decisive manner. Most other companies would try to ignore a similar issue, even if they acknowledged its existence.

As far as the screen getting scratched, people can't expect the Nano to be scratch resistant. Every electronic item I've owned has, to one extent or another, been prone to scratching. My phone has many scratches, my pda certainly does, hell, even my car has scratches. I think I'll sue LG, Palm, and Honda ,respectively, for failing to create products which are scratch resistant.

People complaining about the broken screen have a legitimate case and Apple is going to replace their Nanos, but the screen scratch whiners need to get a life, get a case and listen to more music on their ipods... Just my 2 cents...

[Earendil]

Originally Posted by Superhob

I, for one, am glad to see Apple respond quickly and in a decisive manner. Most other companies would try to ignore a similar issue, even if they acknowledged its existence.

As far as the screen getting scratched, people can't expect the Nano to be scratch resistant. Every electronic item I've owned has, to one extent or another, been prone to scratching. My phone has many scratches, my pda certainly does, hell, even my car has scratches. I think I'll sue LG, Palm, and Honda ,respectively, for failing to create products which are scratch resistant.

People complaining about the broken screen have a legitimate case and Apple is going to replace their Nanos, but the screen scratch whiners need to get a life, get a case and listen to more music on their ipods... Just my 2 cents...

Exactly. If Apple were making the screens out of something new that wasn't tested enough, then I see reason to complain. But they are made out of the same material as the 4G ipods. Are the 4G iPod owners complaining? I don't see a reason for people to complain about the Nano, sucks for it to be scratched, but what is Apple going to do? Replace every iPod with a scratched screen? Ha!

~Earendil

[LaMerVipere]

i don't see why apple had to use such scratch-prone materials again, like shiny plastic and shiny chrome

the mini proved that you don't need those materials in order for a device to be an iPod and beautiful too

[ibook30]

Originally Posted by LaMerVipere

i don't see why apple had to use such scratch-prone materials again, like shiny plastic and shiny chrome

the mini proved that you don't need those materials in order for a device to be an iPod and beautiful too

True. Absolutely, they could have made something new and different.

But - they didn't- they revamped a previous design- and it looks good. But I don't want mine all scratched up from light use. My ipods live a pretty nice life, and to see the use of the screen be compromised by scratches would bother me. I want Apple to aspire to make things that are 100% satisfying. I am very happy with their products, but I'd run for the hills if they got complacent.

[24C]

Glad to see a positive response from Apple acknowledging a screen problem, and those percentages mean a lot of Nanos have been sold. Obviously behind the scenes Apple will be looking at upgrading the scratch resistance in future products, if not in the Nano.

Maybe now the press will forward these comments as much as the complaints.

[Trowaman]

Originally Posted by CrackedButter

Being told to get a case is wrong, they should of bundled one with the nano when being purchased.

I didn't need to buy a case for my mini or 3G when they came out. Their screens were rock solid.

back in my day when i bought iPods we got cases.

and docks

and firewire cables

and wall adapter.


Yeah, all those things I consider standard for an iPod and you get none of them now (except the wall adapters for regular iPods, maybe U2, I don't feel like finding out now)

I DEMAND ACCESSORIES AS A STANDARD!

[The Man]

I have to say, I have zero scratches on my mini screen. I keep it in a sock and from the countless times of taking it out and inserting it, the screen seems very scratch resistant. The mini does have a seperate plastic screen, while the 4G and nano iPods have a thin layer of plastic covered all over the body, I believe. I think the plastic from the 4G and nano iPod is different from the mini screen.

Looking at my Apple Wireless mouse and iBook shell, I can't say that the plastics Apple has used in their other products are really scratch prone. The current iBook shell isn't transparent, though, and my previous transparent shell (2001) iBook does exhibit considerably more scratches. But overall, good plastics - although build quality of the iBook isn't the best. The transparent shell of my Apple mouse seems very hard. Can anyone tell me if the iPod plastic is different from the Apple mouse plastic? Is the iPod shell softer?

I think Apple will now better think about the plastics they'll use for their products, especially for their mass produced iPods.

[Savage Henry]

I think what's struck Apple is the speed at which it has turned from an extremely sought after must have kit for loyal and new fans into something that potential purchases are now wary of even to think about buying.

Apple are having to nip this in the bud before the bad vibes carry on into the holiday season ignites the consumers. At the kind of margins these things make Apple does not want any of these sitting on the shelves during ither Tgiving or Xmas.

[1macker1]

1 in 10 is a huge number when it comes to quality control. It's not that big when u look at it like that, esp. since they are selling tons of these things

Originally Posted by katie ta achoo

Wow. I didn't know it was less than .1%!
I thought it was like EVERY NANO IN THE COUNTRY. Wow.

These nano owners are REALLY vocal about it!! (and rightfully so)

[mrgreen4242]

Originally Posted by Savage Henry

I think what's struck Apple is the speed at which it has turned from an extremely sought after must have kit for loyal and new fans into something that potential purchases are now wary of even to think about buying.

Apple are having to nip this in the bud before the bad vibes carry on into the holiday season ignites the consumers. At the kind of margins these things make Apple does not want any of these sitting on the shelves during ither Tgiving or Xmas.

That's exactly it. Even they don't actually DO anything about it, if they can spin the media stories to make people think it is a very limited problem and they are taking care of those effected then they can still be the winner in this one.

They really do need to bundle some accessories with the iPods, though. Just some cheap, basic stuff. A clear vinyl skin that covers the screen and easily scratched plastic parts (buy them at a huge discount from some manufacturer in exchange for a) buying 100,000,000 at a time and b) putting that brand name on the iPod box/ads - "highest quality protection provided by XXX Case Company), and a few of those 1 time use iKlear polish wipes (get them for free as samples from iKlear and also put that name on the box/ads) to buff out small scratches.

Those two would make people very happy and feel much more secure buying an iPod, and would cost probably $1 per unit or something trivial like that. An A/C adaptor would be nice, too. I don't care all that much about the dock, personally, but the A/C adaptor being a 'sold seperately' item baffles me.

[Qunchuy]

Originally Posted by mrgreen4242

...the A/C adaptor being a 'sold seperately' item baffles me.

An iPod isn't very useful without a computer to connect to. An AC adapter is unnecessary for me, and I'm happy not to have needed to pay for one.

Actually, I prefer the convenience of charging things using my computer. I bought a USB-powered charger for my cell phone. Now when I'm traveling, I only need to use a single power outlet for my iBook, which in turn charges my cell phone and Palm Zire (albeit more slowly than its AC brick can).

[mrgreen4242]

Originally Posted by Qunchuy

An iPod isn't very useful without a computer to connect to. An AC adapter is unnecessary for me, and I'm happy not to have needed to pay for one.

Actually, I prefer the convenience of charging things using my computer. I bought a USB-powered charger for my cell phone. Now when I'm traveling, I only need to use a single power outlet for my iBook, which in turn charges my cell phone and Palm Zire (albeit more slowly than its AC brick can).

Ya, but I, and a lot of people would like one to have at work, vacations, etc...

[2nyRiggz]

so they know that there is a problem with it and they are telling me to get a case...thats a load of bull-ish-ness

so apple is telling me tough luck get a case. apple should at least ship a cheap apple-ish case with the product if they knew this thing couldn't take the pocket adventures.

I love apple products but i won't stand up for them when they are in the wrong. my solution for myself is not to put my nano(which is black) in any pocket...i'm using the bandaid strap until the tubes come out.

Anybody heard of this invisible cover for the nano? also i hope they make black nano tubes.

More Times!

[suntzu]

Originally Posted by 2nyRiggz

so they know that there is a problem with it and they are telling me to get a case...thats a load of bull-ish-ness

so apple is telling me tough luck get a case. apple should at least ship a cheap apple-ish case with the product if they knew this thing couldn't take the pocket adventures.

I think the point is that some people think the scratches (not the cracked screens) are a problem for some people and not others. So for those people who think it's a problem, buy a case.

I for one don't mind that mine has scratches. My previous iPod had tons of scratches on the front and back. To me the "damage" on the iPod showed that even with it looking like this, it still worked like a champ. It also showed how much use I was getting out of my $260.

[MacRumors]

Macworld reports that Apple is acknowledging a limited problem with some iPod nano screens causing them to break easily:

This is a real but minor issue involving a vendor quality problem in a small number of units,” Schiller told MacCentral. “In fact, this issue has affected less than 1/10 of 1 percent of the total iPod nano units that we’ve shipped. It is not a design issue.”

Affected users are asked to call AppleCare for iPod replacement.

A separate issue which has received a lot of press has been complaints that the iPod nano screen is very easily scratchable. Apple reports, however, that the Nano is made of the same materials as the recent 4th generation iPod.

[Steven1621]

one of my friend's who has a nano showed me all the scratchs it has aquired in the few days that he has had it. the scratching problem is true. (note: his is a black)

[_bnkr612]

All iPods get scratched.

The issue to be addressed is the weak screen casing issue...

[MacTruck]

Originally Posted by _bnkr612

All iPods get scratched.

Isn't that the problem though? I had my nano 1 freakin day and the whole back was totally scratched up. Lay it down on a table, got some dust or dirt on that table even a little and you get a scratch. Put it in your pocket with the headphones and you get more scratches. The back of my nano is ugly now and I have babied it. Now the front is like new. WHY? Because I left the plastic on it that came with it and never took it off. It acts as a screen protector. I just cut off the little tab at the bottom of it. My 60gb is scratched to hell on the front but on the back I put some clear tape on it to keep it nice. The tape is scratched to hell but I know the metal is nice. One little scratch on the screen though and it warps the information on the screen so that its unreadable. I wish they would get their act together. The ipod is such a great product but comeon make it more durable apple.

[johnnyjibbs]

There's going to be an article on the BBC Six O'clock news which is currently airing on BBC One now. It'll probably be on as the last news item, in about 10 minutes' time, but it was one of the headlines at the start! You can see it live on the internet via the BBC News website (select the "see news in video" button at the top).