iPod 5G iPod bug

[Chef Medeski]

Sometimes I am still really surprised by the fanboism of Mac owners... the reality distortion field really got some of you good.
How can you possibly defend a screw-up like this? It is not like the package has a dent... it is a major problem for everyone that takes their iPod with them on-the-go, something that the iPod was designed for.
Basically if it didn't do it in the last incarnation, it is a design flaw. Design flaws that interfere with the main usage can't be esxcused. Everyone saying anything different is not thinking straight.

While you are completley right, there is a very different mentality going around these days that is worrisome for the entire manufaturing industry. The problem is consumer's pickiness. Whenever they see something that isn't right they expect to get either a brand new product that doesn't have this issue. Look, eveyrthing comes with their inherent flaws. If we look at the car industry it is readily seen that every little wiggle is complained about. Look, 50 years ago when cars were made, they came with problems and instead of returning them, people just dealt with it or fixed it. With the rise of warranties higher standards, people have pushed the price of products into the stratosphere, people complain that Apple takes a huge margin of 50% on their ipods, but you have to realize that they have to replac enearly 2 to 3 iPods for every one sold. So, now that 50% margin becomes ohh soo smaller. The whole expecation of every little product being perfect in every way, has made for longer production times, causing numerous delays, and higher prices cauging longer production cycles. This new of purchasing has basically squandered the practice of in house creativity and innovation and has minimized corporation's inventivness since they have to always sell full baked products. This whole mentality has corrupted and twisted the manufaturing sector and I hate it.

 

[Diatribe]

While you are completley right, there is a very different mentality going around these days that is worrisome for the entire manufaturing industry. The problem is consumer's pickiness. Whenever they see something that isn't right they expect to get either a brand new product that doesn't have this issue. Look, eveyrthing comes with their inherent flaws. If we look at the car industry it is readily seen that every little wiggle is complained about. Look, 50 years ago when cars were made, they came with problems and instead of returning them, people just dealt with it or fixed it. With the rise of warranties higher standards, people have pushed the price of products into the stratosphere, people complain that Apple takes a huge margin of 50% on their ipods, but you have to realize that they have to replac enearly 2 to 3 iPods for every one sold. So, now that 50% margin becomes ohh soo smaller. The whole expecation of every little product being perfect in every way, has made for longer production times, causing numerous delays, and higher prices cauging longer production cycles. This new of purchasing has basically squandered the practice of in house creativity and innovation and has minimized corporation's inventivness since they have to always sell full baked products. This whole mentality has corrupted and twisted the manufaturing sector and I hate it.

I totally agree with you. I for example don't understand the complaining about the scratching but anything that limits functionality is a flaw that you shouldn't have to put up with.

 

[balamw]

I totally agree with you. I for example don't understand the complaining about the scratching but anything that limits functionality is a flaw that you shouldn't have to put up with.

I know my GSM phone causes interference with other devices as I mentioned above. I also know that my old, built like a tank, HP-41CV calculator did the same if I placed it right next to an AM radio. I also know that I have not experienced this particular intreference between my known interfering GSM phone and my 5G iPod. I also don't have a scratch on my 5G, while my 4G is scratched to heck.

Why? I tend to keep my phone ~4 inches away from anything that might pick up its signals, which generally seems to be enough distance to minimize interference. And, I picked up a Martin Fields screenprotector to apply to my 5G before I removed the plastic.

As others have insinuated, the phone is particularly difficult to shield, as it needs to radiate by design, so the blame should be at least shared with the source of the interference, namely the phone. If your particular phone causes interference with other devices, as mine does, keep it away from those devices or replace the phone. Don't blame the devices.

The FCC Class 15 Part B test that the iPod and phone oth have to pass to get the stylish FCC logo on the back is a pretty hard test to pass. I have colleagues who have spent weeks trying to get a design to pass. Unfortunately it doesn't guarantee no interference, just low levels of interference or sensitivity to other devices. It generally does not include a test where an antenna is placed in very close proximity to the case of the device.

B

 

[R.Youden]

OK, I have been looking into this a bit more:

The iPod has a CE logo on its back. That no-one can deny. To achieve this the unit has to pass a number of tests. One of these is to subject the unit to GSM signals varying between 800MHz and 1GHz. To pass this test and sertify that the unit is suitable for sale in the European Union it must not show any adverse effects due to the GSM signal. It has been proven that the new iPod is effected by GSM signals so there is definitly an issue here that APPLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.

I can not see how people backup Apple when they have released a product with a design flaw. People may critisise the phone but its job is to transmit GSM signals. Apple really has to do something about this.

I will be contacting Apple soon and let people know their reply.

 

[balamw]

One of these is to subject the unit to GSM signals varying between 800MHz and 1GHz. To pass this test and sertify that the unit is suitable for sale in the European Union it must not show any adverse effects due to the GSM signal. It has been proven that the new iPod is effected by GSM signals so there is definitly an issue here that APPLE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR.

A quick google search shows that the CE mark test may be something like 2 Watts 1 meter away from the device under test. This means that my phone (Nokia 3100) which is apparently capable of 2W at 900 MHz needs to be one meter away. If the transmit power is limited to 1W (as it is at 1800 MHz) you can keep the phone 70 cm away, not 50 cm, since the power goes like the inverse square of the distance from the phone.

I did a quick test last night on the way home and did actually see the interference when I placed my phone directly next to the iPod. The volume consistently went down every time I passed a known cell boundary. (I didn't actually notice it since I was listening via the Belkin car kit.

I usually keep my phone about 10 cm away from the iPod and have not previously seen this kind of effect, though I will check it again on the way home tonight. The difference in power level at 10 cm vs. 1 cm is a factor of 100, so keeping the phone at 1 cm from the iPod produces roughly 100x100=10,000 times higher power levels at the iPod than the same phone at 1m distance. And you're surprised it causes interference?

Furthermore, the Nokia US site claims this for my phone:

For body worn operation, this phone has been tested and meets the FCC RF exposure guidelines for use with a carry case, belt clip, or holder that contains no metal and that positions the handset a minimum of 7/8 inch (2.2 cm) from the body. Use of other carry cases, belt clips, or holders may not ensure compliance with FCC RF exposure guidelines. If you do not use a body-worn accessory and are not holding the phone at the ear, position the handset a minimum of 7/8 inch (2.2 cm) from your body when the phone is switched on.

Why should you be able to place it any closer to an iPod?

B

 

[mcmillan]

I would blame the phone, not the iPod. I also own a GSM, and it interferes with everything. Speakers, TV, radio... pretty much everything that makes sound.

 

[d_and_n5000]

didn't apple say they would take back any 5G iPod for any reason, in light of the nano? Wait a bit, then take it back, because of the issue. Then, maybe you'd get a synaptics with the new one.

 

[balamw]

FWIW I repeated the experiment on the way home last night and kept the phone about 10 cm (4") away from the iPod. I never heard the telltale clicks or saw the backlight turn on as I did the night before.

I could hear the phone's interference through the speakers, via the amplifier in the Belikn Auto Kit, but it didn't seem to affect the iPod as it did when they were closer.

B