Apple Officially Ends iPod Nano Replacement Program, but Still Honoring Requests

[MacRumors]

Apple recently removed its first-generation iPod nano replacement program from its support website, over five years after it started.

MacRumors contacted a few Apple Authorized Service Providers that confirmed the program has indeed ended, and we were advised to contact Apple directly. Apple's support team initially informed us the program is no longer in place, but a senior AppleCare advisor honored the program after we escalated our request.

In other words, if you still have a twelve-year-old iPod nano, you may be in luck still, but it could take some persistence to reach the right person.

The replacement program was launched worldwide in November 2011 after Apple determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the first-generation iPod nano may overheat and pose a safety risk. The manufacturing defect is limited to iPod nano models sold between September 2005 and December 2006.

Article Link: Apple Officially Ends iPod Nano Replacement Program, but Still Honoring Requests

 

[brandscill]

Yet if you have a 2011 MBP with a failed graphics card you're out of luck!

 

[nutmac]

Perhaps I am reading too much into this, but perhaps this is one of the first steps toward discontinuing iPod nano?

 

[machpost]

My 1st generation Nano was part of the recall and they sent me the tiny, postage stamp-sized 6th generation Nano as a replacement. While I was glad to get a new iPod with larger capacity and an FM radio, I kind of miss my 1st gen.

 

[SteveJobs2.0]

Goodbye little Nano, I remember when it was just the two of us, Mano a Mano.

 

[Joe Rossignol]

I'm curious if anyone still has one of these, and if so, do share a picture!

 

[keysofanxiety]

Perhaps I am reading too much into this, but perhaps this is one of the first steps toward discontinuing iPod nano?

Don't worry! Think of it this way: Apple didn't discontinue the iPhone when they dropped support for the original.

If you're wondering about other/future products, Apple's EOL timeframe is generally around 5 years from the date that the product was last manufactured.

 

[Saturnine]

You know, my iPhone 7 can do everything my 1st and 2nd gen iPod nanos could do but, for some reason, I miss the simplicity of having a music player so small and well built, with a perfectly simple interface.

 

[jmh600cbr]

truly a great device

 

[V.K.]

I have one of those. It actually still works which is pretty amazing. It's plugged into my bedside clock which has a dock to plug in a 30pin iPod/iPhone and use iTunes music as an alarm sound. I didn't know about a battery replacement program. Doesn't matter to me though as it's always plugged into the clock.

 

[AngerDanger]

I'm curious if anyone still has one of these, and if so, do share a picture!

I agree. I'm always glad to see what I consider the most beautiful iPod.

Unfortunately, I don't know where it is at the moment, so the closest thing I have is a 320x240 video… from nine years ago:

 

[keysofanxiety]

You know, my iPhone 7 can do everything my 1st and 2nd gen iPod nanos could do but, for some reason, I miss the simplicity of having a music player so small and well built, with a perfectly simple interface.

I know exactly what you mean. The iPod is almost a microcosm for everything Apple does best. It's designed for one task only, but does it very, very well.

Whereas other products technically did 'a lot more', but did nothing as competently as the iPod. I liken it to having both a touchscreen interface and a mouse & keyboard interface on the same operating system (if you could imagine such a ridiculous thing!) It does both tasks, but excels at neither.

 

[displayblock]

I didn't know about a battery replacement program. Doesn't matter to me though as it's always plugged into the clock.

Even if it's charging 24/7, that won't stop it from swelling and exploding in your sleep some random night. It's a miniscule risk, but enough of a risk that Apple ran a replacement program for over half a decade.

 

[v0lume4]

I had an iPod nano (just like the one pictured!) and sent it in for a replacement nano because I was young and short-sighted and wanted some quick cash (I sold the replacement on Amazon for like $140).

Now that I'm older, I really regret have doing that. I even have the box for the iPod nano, but I don't have the iPod. Dang.

 

[MrGuder]

I still have my original iPod classic. That was my first Apple product. I used to wait 5 mins for iTunes to open using Windows XP, when I finally got a Mac Mini and iTunes opened in 2 seconds my jaw dropped cause I never thought it would open the fast.

 

[Westside guy]

The replacement program was launched worldwide in November 2011 after Apple determined that, in very rare cases, the battery in the first-generation iPod nano may overheat and pose a safety risk.

In other words - even when it comes to the problems with the Galaxy Note 7, it was another case of Samsung copying Apple.

I'm guessing there won't be a lawsuit this time, though...

 

[smacrumon]

Move along. Nope, Apple never makes devices that explode. The video is doctored. It's a fake. It was probably using a non genuine charger. The user probably damaged it. etc, etc, etc.

Let's be real here -- "may overheat and pose a safety risk" -- is just corporate euphemisms. Shameful, Apple. In actuality it should read "the devices explode and are a serious safety hazard".

 

[cerote]

My 1st generation Nano was part of the recall and they sent me the tiny, postage stamp-sized 6th generation Nano as a replacement. While I was glad to get a new iPod with larger capacity and an FM radio, I kind of miss my 1st gen.

That's how I felt too when I did it for my wife's.

 

[0007776]

I wish I could find the one of those that I used to have. I'm pretty sure it is somewhere at my parent's house, but I've been looking for it on and off with no luck since the replacement program started. Those were great iPods.

 

[Traverse]

I initially read this as "Apple official ends the iPod nano."

I was like:

 

[AZ63]

Amazing how long Apple would replace the battery but if you found out "late" about the faulty wake/sleep button replacement program on the 5 as we did last spring, oops "sorry that program ended a couple of weeks ago." The Genius Bar worker was so generous though to sell a refurbished 5 for $300 or $400 I can't exactly recall. I waited for the battery to go and then bought a 6s instead for what was like a $200 difference than buying the refurbished 5.
I loved that black 5.

 

[Mac Fly (film)]

truly a great device

MR-logic 101

 

[dannyyankou]

Move along. Nope, Apple never makes devices that explode. The video is doctored. It's a fake. It was probably using a non genuine charger. The user probably damaged it. etc, etc, etc.

Let's be real here -- "may overheat and pose a safety risk" -- is just corporate euphemisms. Shameful, Apple. In actuality it should read "the devices explode and are a serious safety hazard".

Well if anything, it's shameful Apple ignored this issue with Steve still in charge. Good thing Tim gave the ok on the program.

 

[Mascots]

You know, my iPhone 7 can do everything my 1st and 2nd gen iPod nanos could do but, for some reason, I miss the simplicity of having a music player so small and well built, with a perfectly simple interface.

Nothing beats using a 4th gen iPod Mini on a jog. Wireless headphones are about the only thing that could kill my usage of my little guy D:

 

[kwikdeth]

I've always found it so strange that Apple will support ipods for basically, forever, but if you spend $3k on a Mac you're on borrowed time, like somebody mentioned w the 2011 MacBook pros who's repair program expired at least a year ago. Current iTunes still fully supports my original scroll wheel iPod from 200..2? What makes the iPod so special that it basically gets eternal support while they're happy to force you to get a new Mac every couple years. Why not force that on iPod owners too? Strange ecosystem.